Cleaning minis...

[The Allamistako]

Hi guys.
I just realized I've got a whole pile of old miniatures I'd love to repaint, as the paintjobs I did 5 - 10 years ago is *Awful*. Anyone got an idea how I can get the old Acrylic Paints off the figures without damaging the figure itself?

-Alla

 

[Glyfair]

1) Pine-sol: The magic solution. I've heard that a mixture of 50/50 Pine-sol works well, although I usually use 100%. Works best if you leave it on overnight, I

2) Oven Cleaner: Works fast and thorougly. However, it's dangerous. Do only in a well ventilated area, wear the long rubber gloves and keep it away from anything else.

Glyfair of Glamis

 

[AuraSeer]

For metal minis, sure. But if you happen to have any plastic ones, I think you're out of luck. Solvents that can remove the paint will also soften and "rot" the plastic.

 

[Glyfair]

For metal minis, sure. But if you happen to have any plastic ones, I think you're out of luck. Solvents that can remove the paint will also soften and "rot" the plastic.

I don't have any plastic miniatures and never have. However, I have heard reports that Pinesol does almost nothing to plastic miniatures. After being taken out the plastic was slightly softer to the touch, but after drying was fine. I would keep on eye on this, though. I don't have any idea what the time frame tested was.

Glyfair of Glamis

 

[Scarab]

I've heard people recommend brake fluid. Haven't tried myself, so take with an appropriate amount of natrium chloride.

 

[Enforcer]

I've heard people recommend brake fluid. Haven't tried myself, so take with an appropriate amount of natrium chloride.

Natrium is sodium for us Americans who didn't get Scarab's play on words... (and that's why it's NaCl).

 

[Gospog]

If none of the above methods suit you, nail polish remover works fine.

You may need to soak the mini in it for a while, and scrub it with a toothbrush, but I have stripped dozens of minis using it.

Good luck.

Tom

 

[Dieter]

You can also try a solvent called naptha, careful...it's a pretty toxic to both skin and mucous membranes.

 

[frankthedm]

My experience:

WARNING!
Most compounds that can take off paint are toxic in some way or another. If you are using these chems do take care with their use and disposal.

Brake fluid: One of my favorites cause It won’t eat the plastic minis. if you soak the mini in the brake fluid for a few days you can toothbrush away the paint. It does have an odor and can be difficult to clean off completely

Pine sol: soak a day or so and it removes paint from metal minis and softens plastic minis and bases. Not too toxic and females may equate the scent to cleanliness.


Acetone [Nail polish remover’s main ingredient]: Great for metal minis, eats superglue, eats plastics, eats skin, stinks like hell You can use the nail polish remover to soak your minis but pure acetone is much faster/ stronger. You can get pure acetone at most Beauty Supply Stores along with chemical suppliers. [it might eat plastic pipes, dilute before pouring down the drain unless you want to risk costly home repairs]

BTW

1. If the mini has some very small crevasses you may need a toothpick to get in the small openings

2. Avoid mixing these chemicals together. I got no Idea what may happen if you do mix them.

3. Put minis into a glass jar and let them soak OUTSIDE your home. Few things eat glass and fumes are best kept outside your dwelling. { I had to use a Gallon pickle jar to clean the tire glue[ a THICK black cyanocrylate based glue in the superglue/crazyglue/zap-a-gap family of glue] off of the WotC Black dragon I bought from a friend who had NO modeling experience and tried to put it together.}

4. Wash minis thoroughly after cleaning them of paint.

5. If the Mini has a lot of glue / epoxy putty work taking the paint of will likely dissolve the putty and glue off.

I have heard about these BUT I have not verified if they work:

Rubbing Alcohol: works on metal, safe on plastic.

Simple Green. Strips acrylic paint won’t eat plastic.

Oven cleaner: some say it won’t eat plastic others say it will. Strong odor.

 

[Zappo]

I've obtained fair results dropping them in alcohol, leaving them there overnight, and then scrubbing with a toothbrush. It's very safe and doesn't damage plastic.

Since you said you don't use plastic, however, there are a lot of things that will work well and most of them have already been mentioned. Don't leave the mini in a strong chemical overnight. Some can permanently soften metal.

Also, and I'm dead serious, NEVER EVER MIX CHEMICALS unless you know exactly what you are doing. There are a few (very simple) combinations that will release gases capable of burning lungs cells with potentially lethal effects, and you won't even notice it until too late.

Apart from that, worst thing you can do is melting a plastic mini to a shapeless lump (very good for green slime minis, though; if you're lucky the shapeless lump might even become solid again after a while), or turning a metal sword into something that looks like a scimitar until you accidentally step on it (then, it will look like a boomerang). I did both.