Which I’m sure has been asked and answered MANY times in the past but since I can’t remember the answers I’m asking it again:
What is a safe way to strip paint from a plastic tender shell? I want to get the old stuff off but don’t want to wreck the plastic underneath.
(Someone suggested in a past thread Easy-Off oven cleaner, I tried the spray-on kind but it didn’t work so well, it barely dented the paint.)
So if anyone has some good suggestions I’d love to hear them! Thanks!
I use Purple Power degreaser ,soak it for a few hours and use a tooth brush to remove the old paint Then wash it thoroughly with Dawn .Hold it under the spigot and let it air dry.Primer than paint.
I’ve had good luck with brake fluid and a tooth brush
I’m not doing plastic bud do have old crappy tender shell so may try it, I use Zep heavy-duty citrus degreaser, and it works well, leave over night. Again I have not used on plastic and don’t recomend with out testing on something that doesn’t matter.
Thanks everyone!
I’ve used 90% isopropyl alcohol which worked well.
Thanks! Out of curiosity how long did you let it soak? Time is not of the essense in my case but I’d like to get an idea.
Overnight, then scrub with a toothbrush, and if necessary, soak some more. Most of the paint easily comes off this way. I had one that was stubborn but ultimately came clean.
Do you do it in a covered container to keep the alcohol from evaporating?
Hey everyone!
Just a progress report for those interested. I took Bill’s suggestion and tried the 90% isopropyl alcohol treatment, it seemed the safest, most economical, and least messy way to go.
I worked like a champ! I immersed the tender shell in the alcohol and in a closed container overnight and sure enough the paint sloughed right off! I was amazed! There’s still a few stubborn spots I’ve been hitting with a hard suede brush and more soaking but those are giving way as well. And NO damage to the plastic!
Great suggestion Bill! Thanks!
[I] Are you going to share the before and after pics you took…[?]
Uh, sorry. I didn’t think to do “before and after” pictures. [:$]
I’ll put it this way, it started out with too many coats of paint so rivet detail was lost, and then looked really skuzzy after the Easy-Off oven cleaner attempt. It looked so bad I was going to throw it in the recycle bin.
NOW it’s solid plastic black with all the rivet detail restored.
[sigh] O-Kay…
Does it have Jersey Central green in it’s future? [;)]
It’s got Jersey Central in it’s future, but basic black. I’ve got a Lionel 736 Berkshire to Mikado conversion in mind. It’s easily do-able and don’t worry, my 736 isn’t “minty,” it runs great but has quite a bit of wear on the exterior so a re-paint and re-model isn’t a mortal sin. I’d NEVER do this to a mint condition one!
I use one of those plastic shoe boxes with a lid.
You are welcome. Glad it worked. I too was amazed at how easy it was and how some of the thicker paint can actually peel right off.
That’s just what mine did, like peeling a banana!