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Painting - Stripping Miniatures
majortusk - Jun 23, 2005 - 08:01 PM
Post subject: Stripping Miniatures
Suggested products that I have used. for Plastic and metal.
Gear needed: Brush, Rubber Gloves, Soap
THESE ARE THE PRODUCTS I WOULD RECOMMEND.
Pine Sol - http://www.pinesol.com/ this is something I have used for a while, this tends to clean off the mini fairly well after just a few hour soak. I would recommend 12-24 hours or so, no more for a plastic mini. While soaking in Pine Sol, the mini can discolor a little.
Simple Green - http://consumer.simplegreen.com/ this is a cleaning solution similiar to Pine Sol, except its not as harmful. Basically use the same directions as Pine Sol. I have not tried it yet, but have seen many people recommend it over Pine Sol. I will use it soon and give a report.
Other Products I have heard that work decently
Brake Fluid - I have heard alot of people using this to clean plastic miniatures. Make sure to use alot of soap to clean off the mini.
Oven Cleaner - I have heard alot of people using this to clean plastic miniatures. Make sure to use alot of soap to clean off the mini. and to keep the area ventilated
Products I would not recommend
Mineral Spirits - This did not exactly remove the paint very well. It had an extreme smell.
any kind of industrial Paint remover - I had left some of my minis in the goop, after an extended amount of time, it actually started to eat away at the metal 
my blood thirster now has little holes in his wings.
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No matter what substance you use, Do not leave them in the substance for more than a couple of days.
trokoshea - Feb 15, 2006 - 05:24 PM
Post subject:
I need to strip paint from several miniatures with resin parts (Forgeworld style). Is there anybody able to tell me which stuff to use that is both safe for resin and efficient?
Thanks in advance,
Trok
aanemesis - Mar 06, 2006 - 12:17 AM
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Here's a good article for using Simple Green from the excellent Dysartes.com site:
http://www.dysartes.com/model/modelling/strippingaminiature.php
I have used this, as it's finally available in my corner of the world. And I must say it's great. No, I don't work for simple green. 
frogbear - Oct 27, 2007 - 06:45 AM
Post subject:
For those in Australia, I have found the best paint stripper for miniatures to be Dettol disinfectant (yes, that brown stuff).
On both metal and plastic, and for ease of use (as well as health), there is not a cheaper and more ready liquid. I leave miniatures in there for over a month while doing other projects and the paint slips right off.
Just my findings. Regards...
daloonieshaman - Mar 29, 2008 - 09:34 AM
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I recently got turned on to finger nail polish remover I clean an entire high elf team in 1 hour (and that counts brush time for each figure)
Dennis
Horsebob - Jun 02, 2008 - 02:45 AM
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I tried brake fluid for my dwarf team and they came up a treat I haven't tried it on plastics yet
arturin - Aug 05, 2008 - 05:54 AM
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daloonieshaman wrote:
I recently got turned on to finger nail polish remover I clean an entire high elf team in 1 hour (and that counts brush time for each figure)
Dennis
I have used this weekend a nail polish remover, but a special one without acetone which is available everywhere. It worked perfectly and didn't damage the plastic minis.
Azrael - Jan 28, 2009 - 02:41 AM
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In the UK you need DETTOL Pine Liquid disinectant.
Leave plastic or metal in for 24 hours and all the paint comes off.
cantatta - Dec 17, 2009 - 01:58 PM
Post subject:
Just don't drop them in the garbage disposal when it's turned on... duh! While stripping a mini the other day with Pin-Sol, I was running hot water and the disposal to do away with the paint (silly, yes, I know). Then suddenly I lost grip on the little bugger and he fell into the drain, getting stuck on the rubber boot just long enough for me to hit the power switch. He then fell into the disposal just before the blades stopped and got a few dings. I have to resculpt a bit of armor and a shoe on one of my Orc linemen now, though luckily he is metal and not plastic, or he'd probably be ruined.
Tales from the dumb side...
sierra19 - Apr 18, 2010 - 09:01 AM
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I swear by Simple Green, used at full strength. The paint comes off by scrubbing the mini with a toothbrush, doesn't destroy plastic, and leaves Superglue joints intact. Leave your mini soak for a day or two, scrub it off, and you're done!
keith_reed - Mar 23, 2011 - 09:49 AM
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Pine Sol will "melt" the plastic figures if they are left for 24 hours. I won't use it again for plastics. It makes the plastic soft and it doesn't harden back over time. Very nasty stuff on plastics.
Alkaline13 - May 26, 2011 - 12:21 PM
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I've used simple green in the past -- and I have 2 teams soaking in a bucket of it right now.. they should be ready to scrub tonight or tomorrow.. I love the stuff
razial - Jul 02, 2011 - 10:42 AM
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What I use for metal figures without any plastic parts is non-chlorinated carburetor cleaner. For plastic I use purple engine degreaser...both work really really well. Simple green takes too long for me... I am impatient.
xkobiex - Jul 04, 2011 - 11:18 AM
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As for resin, stick to Simple Green or similar (low toxicity) cleansers. Brake cleaner et al may destroy resin which is by nature very porous. I had brake cleaner totally destroy an old pre-white metal dreadnought and resin is not nearly as resiliant.
Haplo_d_Biggs - Jun 02, 2012 - 06:03 AM
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frogbear wrote:
For those in Australia, I have found the best paint stripper for miniatures to be Dettol disinfectant (yes, that brown stuff).
Jaysol (that yellow all purpose cleaner that you get at the $2 stores) seems to work okay on metal and plastic models, even if they get forgotten and left for a month or so.
Also, it doesn't seem to hurt the bases like the nail polish remover and break fluids have done to my minis.
Yes, more tales from the dumb side...
Pebguin - Oct 03, 2019 - 10:07 AM
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I've had a lot of luck using Purple Power for plastic miniatures. It seems like it breaks down super glue really effectively as well!