| There are two basic types of paint strippers, | | | | evaporate through the plastics it doesn't dissolve. |
| solvents or caustics. The caustics are lye based | | | | It should be noted that a safety label should be |
| and are generally used to strip paint from wood. | | | | affected to the container and the container should |
| The solvent strippers range from some of the | | | | be stored in a safe place. Even though you know |
| "green" ones based on the chemicals in citrus | | | | what is in the jar, others may not. After carefully |
| (oranges) to the most aggressive, usually | | | | dissembling your model put metal parts in the jar |
| containing methylene chloride. Methylene Chloride | | | | and let them soak. The paint will usually slough off |
| will burn skin almost instantly. You must wear eye | | | | in a few minutes. You can snake the casting out |
| protection, have adequate ventilation and wear | | | | of the jar using a wire hook or pick it out with |
| protective clothing when using Methylene Chloride | | | | tweezers or forceps Although using a metal |
| strippers. | | | | screen to pour through is faster and removes |
| Automotive brake fluid is another alternative | | | | more of the paint residue. Light brushing with an |
| although maybe not as fast as conventional | | | | old toothbrush will usually remove any stubborn |
| strippers, it is one of the safest. Not only is it less | | | | spots. Use a wooden toothpick to get any |
| likely to harm skin, it won't hurt most plastics. | | | | remaining paint out of door and hood lines. If the |
| Model railroaders have used it for years to | | | | paint is stubborn, you can just keep repeating the |
| remove the paint from their diecast model trains | | | | soaking. One advantage of acetone is that it |
| and accessories. It is important to thoroughly | | | | completely evaporates and won't leave any |
| wash the stripped casting before repainting or any | | | | residue to interfere with repainting. The primary |
| remaining residue could hinder future paint | | | | problem with acetone and skin is that it removes |
| projects. | | | | the natural oils. Just avoid skin contact as much as |
| Acetone is another commercially available stripper | | | | possible. Keep the acetone away from windshields |
| that can be found with the paint thinners at any | | | | and other plastic parts as it will destroy them. |
| paint store or with the paint products at Wal-Mart, | | | | As a final thought I would like to stress the |
| Home Depot, etc. Although flammable and the | | | | importance of safety when stripping diecast cars |
| concentrated vapors can be toxic, it is safer than | | | | trucks or any type of metal model. If you are |
| most of the commercial strippers. Store it in a | | | | unsure of whether or not the solvent you are |
| glass jar with a metal screw top. Acetone will | | | | using will cause harm to yourself or the model |
| dissolve will dissolve some plastics and tends to | | | | then it is recommended to use brake fluid. |