frankthedm
First Post
My experience in cleaning normal metal and plastic minis:
WARNING
Most compounds that can take off paint are toxic in some way or another. If you are using these chems do take care with their use and disposal.
Pine sol: soak a day or so and it removes paint from metal minis and softens plastic minis and bases. Not too toxic and some may equate the scent to cleanliness.
Brake fluid: One of my favorites cause It won’t eat the plastic minis. if you soak the mini in the brake fluid for a few days you can toothbrush away the paint. It does have an odor and can be difficult to clean off completely
Acetone [Nail polish remover’s main ingredient]: Great for metal minis, eats superglue, eats plastics, eats skin, stinks like hell. You can use the nail polish remover to soak your minis but pure acetone is much faster/ stronger. You can get pure acetone at most Beauty Supply Stores along with chemical suppliers. [it might even eat plastic pipes, thoroughly dilute before pouring down the drain unless you want to risk costly home repairs]
BTW
1. If the mini has some very small crevasses you may need a toothpick to get in the small openings
2. Avoid mixing these chemicals together. I got no Idea what may happen if you do mix them.
3. If at all possible put minis into a glass jar and let them soak OUTSIDE your home. Few things eat glass and the possible fumes are best kept outside your dwelling. { I had to use a Gallon pickle jar to clean the tire glue[ a THICK black cyanocrylate based glue in the superglue/crazyglue/zap-a-gap family of glue] off of the WotC Black dragon I bought from a friend who had NO modeling experience and tried to put it together.}
4. Wash minis thoroughly after cleaning them of paint.
5. If the Mini has a lot of glue / epoxy putty work taking the paint of will likely dissolve the putty and glue off.
I have heard about these BUT [I have not verified if they work
Rubbing Alcohol: works on metal, safe on plastic.
Simple Green. Strips acrylic paint won’t eat plastic.
Oven cleaner: some say it won’t eat plastic others say it will. Strong odor. Don’t leave on too long.
Now I want to know
Has anyone successfully removed the paint from a plastic Mage Knight?
Now I am pretty good at stripping the paint from a normal mini but I am having difficulty take the factory paint job off a mage knight. I hear that both the mini and paint are latex based so this really sounds tricky
WARNING
Most compounds that can take off paint are toxic in some way or another. If you are using these chems do take care with their use and disposal.
Pine sol: soak a day or so and it removes paint from metal minis and softens plastic minis and bases. Not too toxic and some may equate the scent to cleanliness.
Brake fluid: One of my favorites cause It won’t eat the plastic minis. if you soak the mini in the brake fluid for a few days you can toothbrush away the paint. It does have an odor and can be difficult to clean off completely
Acetone [Nail polish remover’s main ingredient]: Great for metal minis, eats superglue, eats plastics, eats skin, stinks like hell. You can use the nail polish remover to soak your minis but pure acetone is much faster/ stronger. You can get pure acetone at most Beauty Supply Stores along with chemical suppliers. [it might even eat plastic pipes, thoroughly dilute before pouring down the drain unless you want to risk costly home repairs]
BTW
1. If the mini has some very small crevasses you may need a toothpick to get in the small openings
2. Avoid mixing these chemicals together. I got no Idea what may happen if you do mix them.
3. If at all possible put minis into a glass jar and let them soak OUTSIDE your home. Few things eat glass and the possible fumes are best kept outside your dwelling. { I had to use a Gallon pickle jar to clean the tire glue[ a THICK black cyanocrylate based glue in the superglue/crazyglue/zap-a-gap family of glue] off of the WotC Black dragon I bought from a friend who had NO modeling experience and tried to put it together.}
4. Wash minis thoroughly after cleaning them of paint.
5. If the Mini has a lot of glue / epoxy putty work taking the paint of will likely dissolve the putty and glue off.
I have heard about these BUT [I have not verified if they work
Rubbing Alcohol: works on metal, safe on plastic.
Simple Green. Strips acrylic paint won’t eat plastic.
Oven cleaner: some say it won’t eat plastic others say it will. Strong odor. Don’t leave on too long.
Now I want to know
Has anyone successfully removed the paint from a plastic Mage Knight?
Now I am pretty good at stripping the paint from a normal mini but I am having difficulty take the factory paint job off a mage knight. I hear that both the mini and paint are latex based so this really sounds tricky
Last edited: