Paint Remove 101

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Ok I have had my R&D people play with some blends for removing paint. The criteria was:

  1. Use avaliable chemicals that will not kill anybody (we have some real nasty stuff)

  2. Cost should be as low as possible

  3. ALL things should be able to be used by chidren in the hobby with the parents looking on.

The Test subjects:

  1. AHM 44 ton factory painted

  2. Varney Stock car , Factory painted and weatherd

  3. Brass Tender with custom paint

  4. Life Like Box car NEW out of package

  5. Roundhouse kit, Orange color factory paint.

They came back with (4) useable answers. They are listed in order of strongest to weakest solution with the mechanical requirements listed. (all formulas yield 16oz mix)

Formula A: 91% IPA in an ultrsonic cleaner. (Flood the object) wear gloves and eye protection and wash under warm water.

Formula B: 91% IPA (6 oz) Industral purple cleaner for Home Depot (4 oz) Water. Soak and use a toothbrush to scrub, we found and electric toothbrush for $5.00) wear gloves and eye protection and wash under warm water.

Formula C: 91% IPA (3 oz), Hydrogen Peroxide (1oz), Simple Green (4oz) Water.Soak and use a toothbrush to scrub, we found and electric toothbrush for $5.00) wear gloves and eye protection and wash under warm water.

Fromula D: 91% IPA (4 oz). Vinager (2oz) Water Water.Soak and use a toothbrush to scrub, we found and electric toothbrush for $5.00) wear gloves and eye protection and wash under warm water.

I used Fromula “A” with the electric toothbrush and stripped the Varney car in about 15 min.

Used Formula “A” with the ultrasonic and stripped the bars in a little over 30 min.

Formula “B” was used on the AHM it took a little over 30 min of soak time and a lot of toothbrush work

Formula “C” was great to remove deacls and lettering but not strong enough for the paint.

Formula “D” Did a great job Cleaning but not much on the

2

Easy Off oven cleaner always did the trick for me.

3

I have foundthat 91% isopropyl alcohol from Wal-Mart will remove paint from most engines. Soak for 30 minutes. Scrub with tooth brush and repeat as needed in 30 minute increments. Clean with warm soapy water.

4

We have the BASE for that and I did not let them use it. The R&D guys are in ther slow time so it was a fun thing for them to play with.

5

That is what they found they added some things to it to make it work faster. The Ulrasonic did a freight car in 15 min with no help. The electric ttothbrush was neat since it got into everything and made it clean.

I liked the addition of the Hydrogen Peroxide since it slowed down the evaperation rate and let the IPA work better.

They used our mass spec to get the print out of each formula. These folks need more time off!!![:D]

Side bar was that the combination of the IPA and HP does a great job to degrease trucks, gears and with the ultrasonic it makes them VERY clean.