Washing a new kit

Glorfindel

I wash only because I know it can't hurt and takes very little effort.

Exactly.

The day before I start working on it, I wash every kit with some Dawn or Simple Green, rinse in warm water and let the sprues dry overnight in the dish drain.

Before I paint, I wipe the parts down with alcohol and a lint free cloth.

Manstein's revenge

litemup17:

I am getting back into the hobby after many years of being away from it, my question is, is it necessary to wash a new kit with warm soapy water before assembly, and should a kit be primed before assembly, thanks for any help

 

Washed: No...

Primed: Yes...but usually after assembly of most components...

Washed? No, not in over 2000 kits, with the exception of maybe a half-dozen resin ones..

Primed, No, generally.. Sometimes,  Yes, but only if the plastic is dark-colored like Navy Blue or Olive Drab and the finish is going to be a light color, and then only after about 95% of it is assembled.. NEVER prime the parts on the sprues, you'll be scraping more paint than you ever imagined possible in order to glue parts together..

Other exceptions to the "No Priming" is metal parts, resin parts, and figures...

Hi, Glorfindel!  Are you the same Glorfindel from the Nerd Herd?  I'm the Baron over there, too.  Welcome to FSM!

I wash only because I know it can't hurt and takes very little effort.

In the three plus years I've been back in the hobby I've never washed a styrene plastic kit and never had an issue with paint sticking.  Now, that having been said, I do use enamel paints, which I think do adhere better.  I do, however, wash off my PE with mild soap and water and then give each fret a bath in vinegar to etch it a bit to give it a little "tooth" for the paint to adhere to.  Resin is a totally different matter.  If I'm using a resin replacement part I always wash it with Plastic Prep and then follow with a rinse and a soap and water rinse.  I started doing that after an experience with resin replacement parts where they did not want to take and hold even enamel paints.

Bob

Tojo72

I don't wash my plastic kits,nor have I primed them and I have never had any problems. I have washed resin parts and friul tracks.

with regards to plastic. As to metal and resin, i have never washed or primed these either and have not had any problems.

I think it depends more on the paint that you use. From my knowledge, enamel and laquer paints have strong solvents that are able to cut through grease, and adhere well without primer (for the most part). However, acrylics generally have weaker solvents, so they are more suceptible to oils, so a clean surface is ideal.

Personally, I always wash my kits (no reason not to, really) by letting them soak in soapy water for an afternoon. Then, I let them airdry. I rarely prime, though, because I find that the Humbrol enamels I use adhere well for my purposes. I also never wash my model during the build. I use tack cloth before I paint, though.

Good luck!

litemup17

I am getting back into the hobby after many years of being away from it, my question is, is it necessary to wash a new kit with warm soapy water before assembly, and should a kit be primed before assembly, thanks for any help

Washed: No...

Primed: Yes...but usually after assembly of most components...

I always keep alcohol handy and I frequently wash my hands with it while Im doing alot of painting and detail work.....   I use nitrile gloves when the main paintjob begins..... including during the micromesh polishing between priming ...

litemup17

I am getting back into the hobby after many years of being away from it, my question is, is it necessary to wash a new kit with warm soapy water before assembly, and should a kit be primed before assembly, thanks for any help

I do, but I have moved from using liquid soap/dishwashing liquid, to using a couple drops of the de-greaser Super Clean.  I started using SC last year, first to strip chrome from plated sprues, and then to remove paint.  I noticed that the plastic was cleaner than I had ever seen it.  You could feel the difference on the surface.  Then it occurred to me to use SC when cleaning the sprues prior to construction, and I switched over.

carsanab

usually the gloves come out when AB painting....before that I regularly use the alcohol....on the kit as well as the builder...

That would make an interesting GB. "2012, buzzed builder alliance".

One reason I wear gloves, is all the interesting colors I get all over my hands if I don't.

usually the gloves come out when AB painting....before that I regularly use the alcohol....on the kit as well as the builder...

gunner_chris

So for those that wash their kits, do you wear gloves when handling?

I washed a kit for the first time last night, when it dried I was curious about handling it.  I held it by the sprues but obviously I can't do that when assembling.  

I wear nitrle gloves during all aspects of the build. I have tried not weaing them but I always leave a finger print if I don't

I always wash my kits. I use warm, lightly soaped water (dawn dish soap). I have come across situations in the past where there was a very small amount of oily residue on the kit from the moudling. I dry it the best I can, so there are few spots.

When handling, I wear a cloth glove or, at least wash my hands really well. Oil on your fingers can cause problems.

So for those that wash their kits, do you wear gloves when handling?

I washed a kit for the first time last night, when it dried I was curious about handling it.  I held it by the sprues but obviously I can't do that when assembling.  

Washing?

Styrene no

Resin, Vinyl yes.

 Priming?

Yes, everything.

carsanab

another thing is to wipe it down with alcohol especially after sanding....

That has always been my shortcut to washing

another thing is to wipe it down with alcohol especially after sanding....

I always wash my kits with dish soap and water. It only takes a few minutes and I don't see a reason to risk an easier finish.

In another current thread someone mentioned cleaning with Windex. I'm going to try that next time as well.

I also wash my kits.....just be careful which soap you use...some of those "moisturizing" soaps can leave a residue....happened to me once,,,,drove me crazy until I figuered it out....when I would brush paint the paint would pull off...

good luck..

C

I don't wash my plastic kits,nor have I primed them and I have never had any problems. I have washed resin parts and friul tracks.

Funny...I just had this debate with myself last night.

I usually don't wash, (I do primer) but after the last kit I did when the primer came up (Valeijo) I decided that I would give washing a try, I can say that I could really feel a difference on the plastic after I washed. It seemed to take away some of the "slick" feel.

I will see how much that 10 minutes really helped.

Thanks for the advice

I'm the opposite from Checkmateking. I almost always prime, but do not always wash.  I probably should, but frequently do not. I always wash resin, and occasionally do styrene.  I generally use Krylon primer, which is pretty aggressive.  That may be why I get away without always washing.  Washing is in general a good thing, as long as you rinse well, but if you prime with a good primer you may be able to get away without washing, though I hate to recommend that as a general rule. It is a case of "do what I say, not what I do!"

The kit makers say to wash the things in the instructions.

I have over 100 kits to my credit and I have yet to wash 1 polystyrene kit. I do wash resin because it seems to always feel greasy to me.

However, I do use a lacquer primer.

I always wash a new kit.  It only takes water and dish detergent.  If I don't, I usually pull some paiint off after masking.  I also wash them again after sanding and handling them--right before painting.  Oils from the fingers can interfere with paint adhesion, too.

I don't prime.  Others do.  I think of the first coat of paint as the primer, but I use laquer for thinning, and that's fairly "hot."  If you are using acrylics, maybe you should prime first.

Good luck.