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Removing Paint From Surfaces To Be Glued?

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  • Member since
    April 2008
Removing Paint From Surfaces To Be Glued?
Posted by Kizzy on Monday, January 25, 2010 8:55 PM

I have been airbrushing a few pieces of a model assembly (some black, some gold) with Tamiya acrylics, and it is now time to glue the assembly together.   I am going to be using Testors Liquid Cement (black bottle, red label).

There was a bit of overspray along the edges in the areas where the pieces fit together, so I am wondering if it is best to first scrape or in some way remove the paint from those areas before applying the glue?  Or will the glue work fine as is, with no scraping?  Even though it is a very thin layer of airbrushed paint, if I opt to leave the paint there prior to gluing, it seems it could cause a mess.

If paint removal is necessary, what tools are best for this purpose?  I suppose I could use a scrubber sponge, or maybe the edge of a flathead screwdriver, but is there something a bit more precise avaiable?  Is there a known technique that works well for removing paint from specific areas without disturbing the good areas of paint?

  • Member since
    September 2015
  • From: The Redwood Empire
Posted by Aaronw on Monday, January 25, 2010 9:16 PM

I just use a knife blade to scrape away paint. If the blade is nearly perpendicular to the piece it should just scrape away a very thin layer and won't gouge into the plastic, in fact it frequently takes several passes just to scape off a little paint. 

  • Member since
    October 2007
  • From: Scotland
Posted by Milairjunkie on Tuesday, January 26, 2010 3:21 AM

Likewise to Aaronw, I have always scraped paint of with a craft knife - with the knife at right angle to the surface it is very easy to remove the paint without taking any plastic as well.

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: Twin Cities of Minnesota
Posted by Don Stauffer on Tuesday, January 26, 2010 8:56 AM

Aaronw

I just use a knife blade to scrape away paint. If the blade is nearly perpendicular to the piece it should just scrape away a very thin layer and won't gouge into the plastic, in fact it frequently takes several passes just to scape off a little paint. 

That is my normal method too.  However, in certain cases, like a recessed surface, or any place I see it will be difficult to scrape, I frequently  mask that surface before painting.  I also keep a small, cheap screwdriver on my bench just for scraping recessed areas (use it just like the knife blade- pull it along perpendicular to the surace).

I never glue painted surfaces.  While solvent cements may etch through a thin paint layer, CA will NOT.

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: A Spartan in the Wolverine State
Posted by rjkplasticmod on Tuesday, January 26, 2010 9:05 AM

I always mask the edges of parts that will be glued, for example fuselage halves of an aircraft when painting the interior.  If I do have any paint, I also use the knife blade procedure.  Solvent glues should never be osed on  painted surfaces.  CA can be used, but the bond will only be as good as the paint adhesion.

Regards,  Rick

RICK At My Age, I've Seen It All, Done It All, But I Don't Remember It All...
  • Member since
    August 2006
  • From: Neenah, WI
Posted by HawkeyeHobbies on Tuesday, January 26, 2010 9:07 AM

Scrape, sand, pick and deburr. The back side of a #11 blade makes a great scraper, don't use the cutting side, it only dulls your blade and can lead to an accidental slice in either the model or you.

In my blog recently I showed how I remove paint using deburring tools like the dentist uses on your teeth to remove paint from tight or irregular shaped places that can't be accessed with a knife or scraper.

Modeling Tip: Deburring Paint

Gerald "Hawkeye" Voigt

http://hawkeyes-squawkbox.com/

 

 

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

  • Member since
    April 2008
Posted by Kizzy on Tuesday, January 26, 2010 1:38 PM

Great suggestions.  Thanks!

Has anyone used one of these?

Mission Models Micro Chisel

http://www.missionmodels.com/product.php?productid=16464

In addition to a hobby knife and de-burring tools, this sounds like it could also be useful.

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: Twin Cities of Minnesota
Posted by Don Stauffer on Wednesday, January 27, 2010 9:19 AM

HawkeyeHobbies

Scrape, sand, pick and deburr. The back side of a #11 blade makes a great scraper, don't use the cutting side, it only dulls your blade and can lead to an accidental slice in either the model or you.

 

I too find it dulls edge quickly.  So I use a second handle with an old blade just for scraping. It hangs right above the "cutting" blade on the back of my bench.  When I replace a blade in the cutting knife, I move that old blade to the scraping knife.  Handles are cheap these days.

 

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

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