Cleaning before painting - Help

[Guest]

Yes Colin I noticed that one make had oyster shell.

I managed to get Bob Martin's Avia Bird Grit. About £1:47. Does not look much as it comes in a round container about 6" high by 2.5" in dia. I thought there can not be much there but there is masses of the stuff. Put Bob Martin's Avia Bird Grit in your search engine & they sell it all over the place.

Using pound shop plastic containers to do the job.

Just airbrushed some bits & they came up really well nice & smooth.

Colin CDW you could have made a fortune out of this. "Secret ingredients produces fabulous finishes". But the cat is out of the bag.

Laurie

[Ian M]

Hmm mini sand scouring kits. A set of plastic boxes from the pound shop, a half kilo of budgie sand. You should be able to shift that on e-bay for £20 a pop.

I must say that this is a great idea. It must be great for things with loads of surface detail like a tank with all those rivets and handles..... Me thinks I might give this a go one day. Soon.

Regarding the washing off. When I wash a kit down I have found that washing up liquids can vary a lot. Many of them have things in to be kind to hands and small nice. These are the ones I find work the least effective. I have started using Painters cleaner. No fancy smell, and removes all signs of grease. Its the stuff you use to wash down walls and paint work before you get the Dulux out.

Ian M

[Guest]

Bob Martins Avia Grit it is then with an A4 sized plastic container.

What a top tip.

[Guest]

Dammit i could be a rich man if i'd kept my gob shut

if anyone starts up little kits on ebay then i'll sue them as the ideas patented and it's archived on here that the ideas mine

seriously though this works with anything really, it will even "trim off" small amounts of flash, (and it removes the flash on metal figures/parts to a nice dull sheen finish)

One thing ......... has anyone else found that some more expensive versions of washing up liquid leave a "waxy" film on the plastic, even after several rinses??

[Guest]

Yes Colin I remember "now hands that do dishes" advert. My wife being a hairdresser, sometime ago, tells me that a lot of the washing up liquids have a lanolin content attempting to protect skin.

Naturally it has the same effect on plastic leaves a film that you do not really want. Also White Spirit thinner has a slight residue not wanted (though perhaps with enamel that does not matter).

Think this is were grit comes. Also Ian's idea on the paint cleaner. Used just water with a washing up brush after the GritColin treatment. How about that concoction Colin for advertising ?

Another thing. Sorry going on a bit. Would advise only to use grit not sand. The sand will fill every corner & come out at the most inopportune time. Found a couple of pieces of grit in a couple of areas where there are built in crevices. Another good idea to wash the Avia grit as it has a lot of dust in it & makes cleaning easier.

Laurie

[Guest]

Well, invested in a sealable plastic box and a packet of Bob Martins Avia Grit on the way home tonight.

I nervously placed a couple of items into the already grit filled container, did a shake and a shimy for about 30 seconds (the box not me), opened the lid and I've got to say what a great tip Colin. The items came out with the shine gone and an ever so slightly keyed surface ready for a coat of primer, superb!

I think your right Laurie about giving the grit a wash as I noticed quite a bit of dust in the bottom of the container and on the items, but a quick rinse and it's all clean again.

Thanks again chaps for the advice,

Much appreciated,

Colin.

[Guest]

Colin I would just sift the stuff & get rid of the sand. Tried washing it & it is a real swine getting it dried. Best to keep to just a water rinse which you have to do anyway.

It is in the oven at the moment on a baking tray ! Pauline the boss is in charge now. Apparently I put it on defrost ????

This is all to stupid for me. I am going to bed. Colin CDW you just do not know what you have done to me.

Laurie

[Guest]

This sounds a top tip Colin and as soon as I get me hands on some of that ''Cheep'' Bobs bird sand I too will be giving it a go!

Do ''perch'' / ''tweet'' this idea into the quick tips thread as it a great one to share.

cheers

Rich

[Guest]

I know getting rid of the "sandy dust" seems like a good thing to do so as to save a bit of time cleaning up afterwards but i have found that if you are buffing figures or finely detailed stuff you need the sand there to get into all the little nooks and crannies.

I have only sifted the larger pieces of oyster shell out as they can cause damage in the form of scoring.

I actually used normal beach sand at first, then just swapped over to bird grit with shell and found it to be a little more efficient.

I used a normal kitchen strainer to sieve the grit initially, and still use the same strainer to sieve the buffed bits out

Just my own experience here chaps, obviously everyones free to improvise and adjust the idea to their own preferences.

[Guest]

I have to admit I was dubious about this at first, mainly because it seemed that it might damage parts, but now I'm going to give it a try!

Cheers

Patrick

[Guest]

getting rid of the dust is where an old shaving brush comes in handy ) Since I went electric it has been well used! Now all I need is a cure for big, fat fingers... thanks for the tip Colin - another bird grit user in the making :thumbsup:

[Guest]

Shaving brush ... good call!!

I've been using my cheap crappy airbrush to blow the dust off (the only thing i use it for nowadays) .. really need to stock up on some photographers air cannisters again.