gold leaf removal, any suggestions?

prowannab

Member since
February 2005
From: springfield

gold leaf removal, any suggestions?

Posted by prowannab on Thursday, November 20, 2008 3:54 PM

I started a new model the other day ( before the whole tenex fiasco ) and gold leafed the frame rail on a semi, well needless to say it turned out like DUNG!!!!! So I need to try and remove it so I can do something else with it. I haven't the slightest clue as how to do this, well I did think about the brake fluid but I'm not sure if that will work.So any and all suggestions will be greatly appreciated.One more thing this isn't actually the real gold leaf it's the fake stuff.

Patriae Fidus (FAITHFUL TO MY COUNTRY)

Reply

cardshark_14

Member since
June 2004
From: Tucson

Posted by cardshark_14 on Thursday, November 20, 2008 5:30 PM

Very small razor - You might be able to scrape the gold leaf off.

Heat gun - Be VERY careful you don't burn yourself, or melt the plastic.

Nitric Acid - DANGEROUS chemical. Do yourself a favor and carefully read the MSDS sheet before using this stuff.

http://physchem.ox.ac.uk/msds/NI/nitric_acid.html

HTH!

Cheers,
Alex

Never trust anyone who refuses to drink domestic beer, laugh at the Three Stooges, or crank Back In Black.

Reply

HawkeyeHobbies

Member since
August 2006
From: Neenah, WI

Posted by HawkeyeHobbies on Thursday, November 20, 2008 5:36 PM

Use a high tack masking tape to pull it off.

Gerald "Hawkeye" Voigt

http://hawkeyes-squawkbox.com/

"Its not the workbench that makes the model, it is the modeler at the workbench."

Reply

cardshark_14

Member since
June 2004
From: Tucson

Posted by cardshark_14 on Thursday, November 20, 2008 5:58 PM

Prowannab,

If you end up using Gerald's method, let us know how it works. I've never tried that idea, and its a great candidate for KISS... A lot less can go wrong.

Cheers,
Alex

Never trust anyone who refuses to drink domestic beer, laugh at the Three Stooges, or crank Back In Black.

Reply

prowannab

Member since
February 2005
From: springfield

Posted by prowannab on Thursday, November 20, 2008 6:33 PM

Thanks gents for the info. I tried the tape method and it worked ,but didn't work. It took most of the leaf off, but the size( glue ) is still left behind with tiny little fragments that seem like they don't want to move. I think if I soak the rest in lukewarm water for an hour or so I can use a stiff paint brush to get the remaining peices.

Patriae Fidus (FAITHFUL TO MY COUNTRY)

Reply

the doog

Member since
January 2007

Posted by the doog on Thursday, November 20, 2008 6:42 PM

What about "Simple Green"?

That's the stuff that just about all the car modelers say to use to take off old paint coats. It's supposed to be amazing stuff?

Reply

cardshark_14

Member since
June 2004
From: Tucson

Posted by cardshark_14 on Thursday, November 20, 2008 7:16 PM

Heh...Good call, Doog. That's 2

hats for me...darn cold medicine.

Prowannab, glad to hear that you've found something that'll work.

Cheers,
Alex

Never trust anyone who refuses to drink domestic beer, laugh at the Three Stooges, or crank Back In Black.

Reply

bondoman

Member since
March 2007
From: Carmel, CA

Posted by bondoman on Friday, November 21, 2008 1:29 AM

If it were real leaf, the old sign painters would use turpentine. Amazing stuff- it removes epoxy.

Reply

Triarius

Member since
January 2003
From: Peoples Socialist Democratic Republic of Illinois

Posted by Triarius on Friday, November 21, 2008 8:45 AM

In addition to Simple Green, Windex might be effective.

Ross Martinek A little strangeness, now and then, is a good thing… Wink

Reply

cardshark_14

Member since
June 2004
From: Tucson

Posted by cardshark_14 on Friday, November 21, 2008 6:18 PM

Windex, eh? What's the chemistry behind that one, Ross?

Cheers,
Alex

Never trust anyone who refuses to drink domestic beer, laugh at the Three Stooges, or crank Back In Black.

Reply

Triarius

Member since
January 2003
From: Peoples Socialist Democratic Republic of Illinois

Posted by Triarius on Friday, November 21, 2008 7:39 PM

Nothing in particular—but I've noticed that Windex is often effective on the same things as Simple Green. Ammonia, in particular, works "well" on anything aqueous. Purely as a matter of practical application it's worth trying both, as one may be more effective than the other, and sometimes they work wonders together.

Ross Martinek A little strangeness, now and then, is a good thing… Wink

Reply

hkshooter

Member since
December 2003
From: Indiana

Posted by hkshooter on Friday, November 21, 2008 9:29 PM

I'll second Simple Green and throw in Castrol Super Clean. Soak in SC and paint falls off too. Also takes off chrome plating like you find in car kits.

Reply

prowannab

Member since
February 2005
From: springfield

Posted by prowannab on Tuesday, November 25, 2008 7:51 PM

Thanks for the help gentlemen. I used the tape method , and then used brake fluid,only because that's all I had lying around. Since the paychecks keep seeming to shrink. I had to go for it. It actually worked quite well. Even those little places that I couldn't get the tape to go in at all. Just soaked them for awhile and then took a paint brush to them and all clean.

Patriae Fidus (FAITHFUL TO MY COUNTRY)