Simple Green - Stripping paint from plastic models, How long does it take? Options

[GuessRange]

So pretty much in the title.

Have had a test mini soaking in Simple Green Concentrate for about 24 hours, tried to brush off the paint, no joy. How long does it need to be soaking to allow the paint to be just brushed off?

Side-bar: If a mini has a sealant coat, like varnish will this effect the process?

[Crusader169]

i think with a varnish on it will take longer to break through it, and it may be abit more sticky when u brush it off.

[Zippy Wonderdog]

Its not so much brushed as scrubbed off. You should sit the container in a bath of hot water which will accelerate the process. You shouldn't do that for resin models though as the heat will affect the resin.

[ds]

simple green doesnt take off undercoat. use dettol concentrate instead (takes undercoat off and is cheaper and more effective - can be pruchased from any supermarket).

make sure that you use gloves and a face mask in a well ventilated area if you are going to work with dettol concentrate.

[Zippy Wonderdog]

I've never used it myself, at least simple green isn't so toxic that you need a respirator, a simple face mask wouldn't do anything, though you may want to use gloves if your stripping more than a few models.

[ds]

simple green is more toxic than dettol and will give you headaches if you are working on your models for a long time.

[GuessRange]

More time and warm water no probs. When you say 'scrubbing' are we talking with a brush/steel wool/ or other?

[Chaplain_Fortis]

Old toothbrush. Anything harsher will damage the models.

It's probably the varnish. I don't know if simple green will eat through that and if it can it wlil take a while I imagine.

@Mark: Do you soak with dettol or just rub it on? Is it safe on plastic?

[ru486baby]

@Mark: Do you soak with dettol or just rub it on? Is it safe on plastic?

Im currently doing this, submerge plastic model in pure detol for 24hrs.
Then scrub with old toothbrush under water comes off very very easily

[pdogs]

Another vote for dettol, 24 hours and scrub with old toothbrush

[GuessRange]

I'll give it another 24 hours then take a tooth brush to it...see how it goes.

[ds]

dettol is safe on plastic, and takes undercoat off. Just use it in a ventilated area and wear gloves.

[tenabrae]

I just don't like that the models smell of dettol afterwards It does work well though.

[VisOne]

I just don't like that the models smell of dettol afterwards It does work well though.

That is true, I have a set of terminators sitting in one of my tool boxes that just reek of the stuff.

As for simple green I've found it does not always work. I had a squad of assault marines and two OOP rhinos sitting in it for quite and while and it has no effected the paint at all. This is the commercial stuff your told to use not the household variant you can get from say bunnings.

However I have used it on white metal minatures to great effect. Then got my $10 demel with a fine copper brush attachment and stripped the paint off with that.

But just Dettol works, it works on everything and it works quickly!

[awesomeshotdude]

Dettol is the go and is safe on plastic. I've used it a few times.

The thing to remember with dettol though is, DO NOT introduce water into the cleaning process until you have finished scrubbing with the toothbrush...otherwise it turns to gunk and is heaps harder to get off. If you feel it needs to be swished around in water to clear it a bit before scrubbing some more....swish it around in the dettol instead.

The best way to do it is;

1) Soak in dettol for 24 hours, fully submerge mini's and keep them submerged,
2) Use toothbrush to scrub paint off (it'll actually mostly just falls off when you pluck the mini out of the soup at this stage),
3) Once finished scrubbing, toss them into a bucket of warm soapy water,
4) Once finished all mini's. Take them out of the warm soapy water and rinse under tap.

[Big K]

I use simple green, I normally leave the models for a week personally. Never tried Dettol mainly due to the fact my 2 and 4 year old help me.

[GuessRange]

So the extra time did help with some of the paint, however it looks like i'm am just starting in on some of the under layers of paint. This may need to soak for quite some time. I'll let you know how it turns out...in a week or so.
Thanks for the advice and comments.