Paint Stripper

[up148]

I know this is an old topic, but new products seem to sprout up all the time, so I thought I ask. I need to strip the chassis of the 2-10-2 and once I get the boiler/cab back from Gary, it will need to be stripped too. Anything new out there that is water soluble and does a decent job. Paint has to be 35-40 years old, but no idea what was used.

BH

[Rufus T. Firefly]

I'm still using the old fashioned nasty solvent based stuff...........

[riogrande491]

No doubt it depends on what kind of paint. A friend recently soaked an Overland GP-35 in Simple Green for 2 days and that worked beautifully. Acrylics perhaps? He soaked the parts in a home made tank made from PVC pipe.

On the other hand, some years ago I fought to strip an SD9. That required the nastiest gel from the hardware store plus healthy doses of MEK. This one was definitely an outdoor job.

[big bad jim]

I tried Citrus Strip on an Atlas mp15dc frame. 91% IPA worked fine on the shell, but wouldn't budge the paint on the diecast. I wanted something more "green" since I didn't want to have to deal with disposing of used (and unused remaining) chemical strippers, and I was working in the kitchen of my one bedroom apartment. The Citrus Strip did a good job on the frame, there was very little additional effort required to clean up any small areas with stubborn paint.

The product comes in at least two styles, I used a spray on version, it behaved much like oven cleaner. There is a liquid version as well if you have a dip tank or tray. But you usually need more volume for that method. The spray was nice because you obviously specifically apply it where you need it.

Jim

[RDSRR]

https://www.brasstrains.com/video/Monda ... /Episode-3

About 3:37 into the video. Works well.

[Chris Webster]

No doubt it depends on what kind of paint. A friend recently soaked an Overland GP-35 in Simple Green for 2 days and that worked beautifully. Acrylics perhaps? He soaked the parts in a home made tank made from PVC pipe.

I have been reading the A&O forum and am awestruck by the beautiful work you and Craig have done with the OMI GP35 and Centuries - they look gorgeous. It is amazing how you guys are able to take 30-year models and turn them into state-of-the-art with your Loksound+TangBang installations.

However, being originally from the northeast US, I also have to admit that part of my heart broke when I saw your pictures of the beautiful Reading paint jobs being stripped! I do understand that stripping was probably necessary to turn them into operating models (given the cold solder joints and all.)

[up148]

Good suggestions guys and I appreciate it.

He soaked the parts in a homemade tank made from PVC pipe.

I built one of those back in the 90's and still have it. Used brake fluid back then and don't care to go that route again. The tube with capped ends works great.

I'll have to check out the rustoleum A/C paint remover. We used one around here, but not water soluble.

Thanks guys!

BH

[Robert]

This can be a very frustrating task. Last summer I needed to strip the factory clear coat off a NJCB RS-3. I tried soaking in lacquer thinner which has worked well on several brass projects over the years...but it wouldn't touch that clear coat at all. I tried Jasco Premium Paint & Epoxy Remover bought at Lowes...and again zero results. It' easily the toughest coating I've every tried to remove from a brass model. I parked the project for the winter. I will definitely give that Rustoleum stuff a try this summer. Good luck.

Robert

[riogrande491]

Chris -

Sorry about stripping the Reading paint. I had to remove the end of the long hood to gain access to the number boards and lights. I'm planning 24 LEDs on this one, just like the C425. I'll also re-solder all the structural joints.

After this C424 I have 2 more to rebuild. Those are currently E-L.

[PRR Man]

for water soluble, find a good quality citrus (orange) stripper.
if you can get a hold of Castrol Super Clean, it also does a good job. some paints are overnight, others are days and days. water soluble.

I was startled to find that a highly diluted (with water) batch of Simple Green used to wash a floor wound up softening industrial enamel floor paint that had been applied 5 years earlier!

[rex desilets]

Howzabout Easy-Off oven cleaner-the strong stuff with lots of lye. Seems to work on metal..

[Rufus T. Firefly]

The variability of stories on what works, what doesn't, what caused damage, what was safe seems endless.

Probably best to test to make sure that 1st test a bit to assure that no damage is apparently going to happen.

[E7]

Dan D;s link to the MME video looks like the answer to me. Only catch is it probably wouldn't do Butch's PVC sink any good. Reyes has been painting and unpainting for a long time! Rich