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 Posted - November 04 2014 : 1:10:27 PM
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Hey all. I'm going to be stripping paint off of some old PSM trolley shells. The shells are all metal, paint is 30+ years old, most likely enamel. What would work best without risking harming the old metal? Brake fluid, acetone, etc. I've never stripped metal before. Thanks!
Cheez
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Posted - November 04 2014 : 1:44:40 PM
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before you do that
Could we see a before pic? 
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Posted - November 04 2014 : 2:31:39 PM
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Simple Green should do it w/o damaging the shell. I use it to strip styrene all the time. I can't imagine it doing anything to metal.
Tim
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Posted - November 04 2014 : 4:12:51 PM
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I use brake fluid. Just wash the shell with hot soapy water afterwards. Never had a issue doing this way.
" Heck with counting 'em rivets, TRAINS ARE FOR FUN! Not called the Mad Scientist for nothing either!"
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Posted - November 04 2014 : 4:41:21 PM
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quote:Hey all. I'm going to be stripping paint off of some old PSM trolley shells. The shells are all metal, paint is 30+ years old, most likely enamel. What would work best without risking harming the old metal? Brake fluid, acetone, etc. I've never stripped metal before. Thanks!
Cheez
Originally posted by DaCheez - November 04 2014 : 1:10:27 PM
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Good thing about stripping paint from metal is that as far as I know, it's next to impossible to harm a metal shell with any solvent you might get your hands on.
I used to use this solvent that we had with the offset presses in our printshop at work. Forget the name but I think it's illegal now  Stuff used to frost the rag if you let it sit.
http://tycodepot.com/
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Posted - November 04 2014 : 6:19:38 PM
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I'll put them in their respective OTW posts when I get around to photographing them, Ben.
Thanks for the advice guys. I'll try the brake fluid first since I happen to have some already. Failing that (although I can't imagine that failing) I'll try the Simple Green. Generally I use Pine-Sol, but that takes a lot of scrubbing. Seeing as the shells are metal there is really no need for that trouble. 
Jerry, that sounds like overkill for my purposes...
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Posted - November 04 2014 : 6:33:43 PM
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Any paint stripper that you can get at a local hardware store will do. Done that plenty of times myself.
Also, I've used a bead blaster set to about 40 psi and not had any problems. Prolonged blasting will give the metal a slightly rough finish.
I"ve used Easy-Off oven cleaner, also. It has to be Easy-Off, generic brands don't work.
Unspoken expectations are premeditated failures.
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Posted - November 05 2014 : 12:55:45 AM
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I've used acetone on enamel over 30 years old with good results. I always wash with Dawn in warm water, rinse with hot water, rinse again with rubbing alcohol and finish off with a 20 minute white vinegar soak and warm water rinse.
I let the model soak in the acetone overnight to begin with. Additional time if needed.
Then I wash real well with Dawn in warm water to eliminate any remaining acetone.
I find that doing a rubbing alcohol soak will help it dry rather quickly and removes any kind of residue.
The vinegar soak helps prepare the surface for primer and then paint.
Hope this helps.
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Posted - November 06 2014 : 12:35:42 PM
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| Thanks guys! I'll see what works and get back to you.
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Posted - November 08 2014 : 3:06:21 PM
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I use lacquer thinner for stripping paint from metal. I've been using it for brass, diecast, and tinplate for a few years now, and in most cases, the old paint will practically float off or dissolve in no time! It does destroy plastic and glue though, so you have to watch out for that.
Darth Santa Fe, doing weird and challenging projects for the fun of it!
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babuff
Little Six
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Posted - November 09 2014 : 8:37:54 PM
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Jerry the stripper you described may be an Eathanol based product. I have used M.E.K to strip metal for years. you can get it at hardware stores in the paint aisle. Some states have outlawed organic Keytone solvents for public sale. There is a M.E.k. substitute that is a Toluene based solvent avail to the public and works just as well.
Cheez if you use these to strip paint use an airtight glass or metal container, as these products dissolve any kind of pastic ( coincidentally they can fuse plastic like Pliobbond or Tenex)
I restore my old Varney cars by removing any plastic parts and soaking them for a day or so. Will take it right down to the metal in a matter of hrs. Just remeber to use in a well ventilated area and use rubber gloves. Also If you use a metal container make sure it is grounded for static electricity.
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