discussion Has anyone used nail polish remover to rid unwanted paint from plastic?

[Dave Jay]

Just need your feedback on a query, in the recent past I have experimented using acetone based nail polish remover to take off enamel paint from a scrap car bonnet and bodyshell without any detrimental effect to the plastic, the plastic is from a Revell kit.


I left a piece soaking in the aforementioned liquid in a lidded container overnight and the plastic was fine. I washed the plastic in warm soapy water and dried it with a hair dryer and it had a lovely sheen to it ready for painting, I airbrushed the piece and the finish was great. There has been no sign of a reaction to the plastic or paint.


Just interested to see whether anyone has tried this and to what degree of success or failure had been experienced.


Look forward to your comments.

 

[john i am]

Just need your feedback on a query, in the recent past I have experimented using acetone based nail polish remover to take off enamel paint from a scrap car bonnet and bodyshell without any detrimental effect to the plastic, the plastic is from a Revell kit.
I left a piece soaking in the aforementioned liquid in a lidded container overnight and the plastic was fine. I washed the plastic in warm soapy water and dried it with a hair dryer and it had a lovely sheen to it ready for painting, I airbrushed the piece and the finish was great. There has been no sign of a reaction to the plastic or paint.


Just interested to see whether anyone has tried this and to what degree of success or failure had been experienced.


Look forward to your comments.

I always use fairy power spray to remove unwanted paint. I've never used nail polish remover. But I have a Concorde (airfix) acquired from a friend covered in white enammel. So I might give your method a try and see how it goes. I know others use brake fluid

 

[Guest]

I cant see it being a problem, as its acetone, which is a similar property to styrene.


If im correct, acetone is usd to make acetate, which is a plastic that is also reactive to sytrene cement, or modelling glue. So again, if im correct, that means its not reactive to itself, and therefore safe for the use on styrene.


Of course, knowing my luck, id use it and end up with a melted mess!

 

[Guest]

Oven cleaner works fine on acrylic & enamel - the cheap stuff from a Poundshop is good.

 

[Dave Jay]

I always use fairy power spray to remove unwanted paint. I've never used nail polish remover. But I have a Concorde (airfix) acquired from a friend covered in white enammel. So I might give your method a try and see how it goes. I know others use brake fluid

Let me know how you get on with it.


I've used brake fluid too, very messy and not cheap either!

 

[Dave Jay]

I cant see it being a problem, as its acetone, which is a similar property to styrene.
If im correct, acetone is usd to make acetate, which is a plastic that is also reactive to sytrene cement, or modelling glue. So again, if im correct, that means its not reactive to itself, and therefore safe for the use on styrene.


Of course, knowing my luck, id use it and end up with a melted mess!

Best in your case Dave to try it on a scrap piece (of corsair , couldn't resist)

 

[Dave Jay]

Oven cleaner works fine on acrylic & enamel - the cheap stuff from a Poundshop is good.

I've boycotted the Poundshop, our 99p shop closed down and opened as a Poundshop, everything is a penny dearer now!


Only joking


I find oven cleaner takes your breath away, plus also I run the risk of having to clean the oven if the missus saw me with a tin of it whether it was a pound or 99p!

 

[PaulTRose]

i used to use oven cleaner but since im asthmatic im not too fond of the smell, i tend to use brake fluid.......250ml lasts me a year i find.....just go to a motorfactors not halfords to keep it cheap

 

[Guest]

I've boycotted the Poundshop, our 99p shop closed down and opened as a Poundshop, everything is a penny dearer now!
Only joking


I find oven cleaner takes your breath away, plus also I run the risk of having to clean the oven if the missus saw me with a tin of it whether it was a pound or 99p!

Well I'm not advocating that you inhale it Dave! Get a lunchbox while you're in the Poundshop, spray the oven cleaner in there (outside) pop the model in & spray again.


Put the lid on & leave overnight. In the morning the smell will be gone, along with the offending paint!

 

[Robert1968]

Well I'm not advocating that you inhale it Dave! Get a lunchbox while you're in the Poundshop, spray the oven cleaner in there (outside) pop the model in & spray again.
Put the lid on & leave overnight. In the morning the smell will be gone, along with the offending paint!

I might try that Patrick as I recently bought some Isopropyl ( IPA ) did a soak overnight with a tamiya race car I tried to spray paint gunmetal but the primer Vallejo never sat right with the overspray and left blotches.


It's now cleaned but I found the IPA had to be used twice to get the kit back to white plastic and no tru damage done.


The oven spray is it just bog standard make?


You seem to find a lot of cheap ideas there don't you


Robert

 

[Guest]

I might try that Patrick as I recently bought some Isopropyl ( IPA ) did a soak overnight with a tamiya race car I tried to spray paint gunmetal but the primer Vallejo never sat right with the overspray and left blotches.
It's now cleaned but I found the IPA had to be used twice to get the kit back to white plastic and no tru damage done.


The oven spray is it just bog standard make?


You seem to find a lot of cheap ideas there don't you


Robert

I've learnt all I know about cheapo solutions from Tony ( Yakface)! Many excellent hints are buried in the Unconventional Modelling thread.


I've used branded stuff like Mr Muscle & the generic types from Poundland, Poundshop etc and found no appreciable difference. In fact, the cheaper stuff is better as it's less smelly!

 

[yak face]

I did once try to use nail varnish remover to get paint off a kit - it was a total disaster , the acetone degraded the plastic and it turned all crumbly and started cracking eventually falling to pieces. So i would say dont try this , it didnt work for me , ive heard plenty of people have used the Fairy power spray with no problems so i would get that first , cheers tony

 

[Guest]

Does a great job in removing my nail polish.


Blue I think for this weekend. Perhaps just varnish on the toe nails.


Ahhh--------


Laurie

 

[Guest]

I might try that Patrick as I recently bought some Isopropyl ( IPA ) did a soak overnight with a tamiya race car I tried to spray paint gunmetal but the primer Vallejo never sat right with the overspray and left blotches.
It's now cleaned but I found the IPA had to be used twice to get the kit back to white plastic and no tru damage done.


The oven spray is it just bog standard make?


You seem to find a lot of cheap ideas there don't you


Robert

If you are using either of the Valljo Model Robert then their airbrush cleaner will remove. Spray wait for it to soften remove as much a possible and repeat.


If you only want part and to retain the rest. Mask and as above. Use kitchen roll soaked in cleaner to remove parts up to the masked area.


Laurie

 

[flyjoe180]

I've used oven cleaner successfully. Not something you do often, but when required it's easy and effective and it won't hurt the plastic, even clear parts are safe.


http://www.scale-models.co.uk/threads/paint-removal-and-kit-restoration.15763/#post126491