What's the best alcohol for cleaning plastic parts for painting?

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

When I got settled in my new apartment and could finally start painting with acrylic paints (I’d used only Floquil lacquer and Polly-S latex paints in the past), I bought a bottle of 91% isopropyl alcohol for cleaning metal and plastic parts, but mostly for cleaning my airbrush. My first use of it was for cleaning the brass parts of my O scale gondola-mounted snowplow, built from the Paul Larson article in the January, '57, MR, and for cleaning the airbrush after each use.

I’ve since used this alcohol for cleaning styrene and other plastic items for painting, but I’m wondering if there might be a better type I could use, maybe with less water—or does it matter? I’m sure other old-timers would agree with me that that old saw about old dogs and new tricks is BS of the purest ray supreme–or should be, anyway. I’m currently preparing the 22 window castings from my 20-year old IHC “Big 2 Stall Engine House,” most of them with 30 panes each, and of course, I want the best coverage possible. What have you guys been using to pickle plastic parts before painting?

Remember, Model Railroading is FUN–even if it no longer says so on MR covers… Deano

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Denatured Alcohol is more powerful for paint removal and cleaning. I’ve used it on all kinds of plastic shells and metal castings for years without any problems.

Mel

Modeling the early to mid 1950s SP in HO scale since 1951

My Model Railroad
http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/

Bakersfield, California

I’m beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.

3

Dish detergent in not-too-hot water works fine as paint prep for plastic or non-ferrous metals. Rinse well and allow to dry.

If I’m going to be spending money for alcohol, it’ll be the drinkin’ kind. [swg]

Wayne

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I’ll second that Wayne, just hope it doesn’t get me in trouble with the admin.

Randy

5

Thanks, guys, for your input. I have just four window castings to go–smaller but still 30 panes each–and I’ll want to get them airbrushed, ready to go, once I get the walls reworked. This is the IHC/Heljan “Big 2 Stall Engine House” I asked about a few weeks ago. I’m reconfiguring its footprint to make it shorter by one window panel per side, and using those panels to widen the house for a workshop/office/toolroom/washroom setup. And in case you haven’t seen one of these things “in the flesh,” so to speak, it’s HUGE! Heck, even the box it came in is a monster–with well over 150 parts. It will keep me out of mischief for months!

Deano