MESSED UP!! (stripping..!!!)

Most acrylics can be stripped by using Windex with Ammonia. Windex is mostly isopropyl alcohol with a dash of ammonia to give it some 'teeth'.

Wet acrylics can usually be cleaned up with plain soap and water, but if you've let it dry in your airbrush (naughty boy!) then you'll have to resort to lacquer thinner to get it loosened up enough to remove. BE CAREFUL! As some airbrushes have parts that will be dissolved in lacquer thinner!

Let us know what make and model of airbrush, and a resident expert will chime in with more precise instructions.

i know i know haha...Its a Paasche VL model Double Action....I waited too long last time.. wont happen again! haha

Ethan

Soaking parts in pure mineral spirits probably weakened the glue joints---I'm sure it can't be good for the plastic either...

Castrol Super Clean (found in the automotive section) is very good at removing MM Acryl.  I've also had success using Simple Green.

Super Clean or Easy-Off Oven Cleaner is what I've always used.

Mineral spirits and acrylic paints are incompatible. Do not mix. Soaking an acrylic paint in mineral spirits often turns it into goo.

However, mineral spirits should not affect styrene unless you soak it forever. Nor should it affect a solvent joint. Are you using tube glue?

yep, red tube glue..

thanks for all the help guys!

Ethan

Simple Green.  Wonderful stuff.  Doog suggested it when I was stripping and not liking what mineral spirits were doing (/forums/t/109054.aspx).

And I use mineral spirits all the time to undo a solvent glue joint.

Ah, your story brings back memories.  When I wanted to strip the bad acrylic paint job from my Tiger I, I was advised to use brake fluid.  It worked great.  Took the paint off easily and didn't damage the plastic--- however, it also dissolved all my glue joints, so I had nicely stripped plastic parts which had to be almost completely reassembled.  Live and learn..................

Tom

padakr

And I use mineral spirits all the time to undo a solvent glue joint.

A true solvent joint is welded—the plastic is partially dissolved, intermixed, and resolidifies. While such joints are generally weaker than the surrounding plastic, they should not be affected by a solvent, such as mineral spirits, which is not particularly aggressive to styrene. "Paint thinner" on the other hand, may contain solvents that will attack styrene. Regardless, if you are soaking a model in either for long enough for a welded joint to be affected, then the rest of the styrene has also been affected. While mineral spirits is not particularly aggressive to styrene, prolonged soaking will soften the plastic.

And Simple Green is the greatest thing since sliced polymers…

Triarius

 

padakr:

And I use mineral spirits all the time to undo a solvent glue joint.

 

 

 

A true solvent joint is welded—the plastic is partially dissolved, intermixed, and resolidifies. While such joints are generally weaker than the surrounding plastic, they should not be affected by a solvent, such as mineral spirits, which is not particularly aggressive to styrene. "Paint thinner" on the other hand, may contain solvents that will attack styrene. Regardless, if you are soaking a model in either for long enough for a welded joint to be affected, then the rest of the styrene has also been affected. While mineral spirits is not particularly aggressive to styrene, prolonged soaking will soften the plastic.

And Simple Green is the greatest thing since sliced polymers…

While I don't soak anything in mineral spirits any more, I have brushed mineral spirits on a joint and been able to separate the pieces. Usually it is in an "Uh Oh!" situation where I glued something wrong, so maybe all I'm doing is interfering with the joint setting up.  I think I need to experiment.

I use MM Acryl and strip with Gunze Mr. Thinner on a Q-tip.This takes it off easily. I also use it to blow through the airbrush when done painting. I haven't had to disassemble an airbrush in years as this seems to keep them very clean.

Mineral spirits will definitely interfere with the liquid welding process. Good tip!