MM Acryl, Stripping?

dmk wrote:

MikeV wrote:  dmk wrote:  MikeV wrote: That brake fluid you used is not much better. If you get brake fluid in your eyes it will blind you!   Mmm, that's not necessarily true. I got a good shot once, right in the eyes when changing brake lines. Didn't go blind, but I did ruin an expensive set of contact lenses. Obviously, flush your eyes immediately with a very generous amount of water if this ever happens to you! OK let me rephrase that, it can make you blind and I was taught that from my dad who was a heavy equipment Master Mechanic in Operating Engineers Local 3 for a long time.  My brother Rich has followed his lead and now does the same thing.  Oh, I wasn't really disagreeing with you. Just throwing out a "fate sometimes favors the young and stupid" story.  Brake fluid is nasty stuff, no doubt. And I definately do not work around it without eye protection any more.

No problem my friend.

MikeV wrote:

dmk wrote:  MikeV wrote: That brake fluid you used is not much better. If you get brake fluid in your eyes it will blind you!   Mmm, that's not necessarily true. I got a good shot once, right in the eyes when changing brake lines. Didn't go blind, but I did ruin an expensive set of contact lenses. Obviously, flush your eyes immediately with a very generous amount of water if this ever happens to you! OK let me rephrase that, it can make you blind and I was taught that from my dad who was a heavy equipment Master Mechanic in Operating Engineers Local 3 for a long time.  My brother Rich has followed his lead and now does the same thing.

 Brake fluid is nasty stuff, no doubt. And I definately do not work around it without eye protection any more.

dmk wrote:

MikeV wrote: That brake fluid you used is not much better. If you get brake fluid in your eyes it will blind you!   Mmm, that's not necessarily true. I got a good shot once, right in the eyes when changing brake lines. Didn't go blind, but I did ruin an expensive set of contact lenses. Obviously, flush your eyes immediately with a very generous amount of water if this ever happens to you!

OK let me rephrase that, it can make you blind and I was taught that from my dad who was a heavy equipment Master Mechanic in Operating Engineers Local 3 for a long time. 

My brother Rich has followed his lead and now does the same thing. 

MikeV wrote:

That brake fluid you used is not much better. If you get brake fluid in your eyes it will blind you!

Intruder38 wrote:

To one and all, thanks for some very interesting ideas. Although I'm a little hesitant about using anything with lye as an ingredient, a little extra care (check that, a lot of extra care) should create a non-problem. I will be looking for the Super Clean for starters.

I wouldn't consider lye as being overly dangerous. Just don't let it get on your skin for too long.

That brake fluid you used is not much better. If you get brake fluid in your eyes it will blind you!

dmk wrote:

Dave, I tried that once also and didn't get as good of results as I did with Super Clean.  Are you talking about Castrol Super Clean? I think I even have some of that in the garage, but I've never tried it for stripping paint. I'll have to give it a shot. I've been quite pleased with Purple Power, but if Super Clean works better, that's ...well, even better.

Yes that is it Dave. 

They changed the name and it is now just called, "Super Clean" so maybe Castrol no longer owns it? Not sure.

Dave, I tried that once also and didn't get as good of results as I did with Super Clean.

 Are you talking about Castrol Super Clean? I think I even have some of that in the garage, but I've never tried it for stripping paint. I'll have to give it a shot. I've been quite pleased with Purple Power, but if Super Clean works better, that's ...well, even better.

dmk wrote:

There are many w ays to skin this cat, and most are much better than brake fluid IMO.  I use Purple Power. It's a pretty strong degreaser, similar to Simply Green, but purple instead of green. You can get it in the automotive section of Walmart.  Just soak the model in PP and scrub the paint off with a soft brush. I keep a plastic pan full of the stuff for just this purpose.

Dave, I tried that once also and didn't get as good of results as I did with Super Clean. 

Look at your Purple Power label of ingredients as I don't remember what it said when I had some but I don't believe it had any Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH....aka Lye) in it like Super Clean and Easy-Off oven cleaner have. That is what makes them so effective.

I would assume you could also use Draino or Liquid Plumber as they also contain Sodium Hydroxide. Has anyone tried them? Not sure if the concentration of NaOH is too high in them for Polystyrene or not.

There are many w ays to skin this cat, and most are much better than brake fluid IMO.

 I use Purple Power. It's a pretty strong degreaser, similar to Simply Green, but purple instead of green. You can get it in the automotive section of Walmart.  Just soak the model in PP and scrub the paint off with a soft brush. I keep a plastic pan full of the stuff for just this purpose.

Once again check this link:

http://www.bonediggers.com/1-3/strip/strip.html

Super Clean is the best product out there IMHO and it is not toxic like brake fluid as it is biodegradable. My second choice would be Easy-Off oven cleaner in the yellow can as it contains Sodium Hydroxide (Lye) as does the Super Clean. 

Gerald,

After each of the attempts, I used a toothbrush under running warm water to no avail. I did manage to get some spots off using my fingernail and the point on my #11 blade (not the brightest move I must admit), that after a chisel shaped toothpick and a chisel pointed popsicle stick proved ineffective. I did not dip the canopy in Future, but will make that a routine operation in the future (Ooops, no pun intended). About all I haven't tried are pure ammonia and the MM Acril Dried Paint Remover.

And, lest I forget, Thanks for the quick response.

LEAVE THE BRAKE FLUID IN THE CAN...Do not use for stripping!

Have you tried washing and rubbing the part under warm water now that the solvents have softened it? You might just have to take a polishing stick and wet sand it to remove the paint. Then dip in Future...always predip your clear parts before painting. That way you can strip them easier with just Windex if you goof up.

You can make a scraper out of a craft stick to remove unwanted paint that may have slopped over off the framing.  Just use your #11 blade to cut a chisel end and go at it...the wood should be hard enough to strip the paint away yet soft enough not to damage the plastic.