Stripping Stubborn Enamel Paint off Metal Miniatures

[ignis-fatuus]

So I picked up a bunch of early Grenadier AD&D miniatures dating to around 1980 and I'm working on stripping them. I generally use acetone on metal miniatures but the paint on these minis are STUBBORN. I am thinking enamel paints (testors) were used. Any suggestions for other cleaning methods? I'm thinking of using paint thinner, carburetor cleaner, etc.

[modelwarrior]

I have used dettol before for stripping minis and as long as you soak them over night it works. Terrible stink though,so outside work ony. Wire brush comes in handy as well.

[Tactalvanic]

Being states side you might find dettol difficult to find.

old simplegreen was similar in makeup but might not be any more.

as it enamel - go dettol, or paint thinners, as easily available and less corrosive on you.

all options should be fine with metal miniatures.

old tooth brush to, wire brush should be ok, but if its a soft lead alloy, might scratch the metal if you are too keen.

if you do a search for paint stripping here on the forum you will find multiple detailed discussions on merits and effect of different approaches

Acetone should work, but here are some additional links on previous threads :

https://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=56238.msg667762#msg667762

https://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=118685.msg1486581#msg1486581

https://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=78463.msg960331#msg960331

[aircav]

I usually chuck metal miniatures in standard household paint stripper - uk brand is Nitromors with never any problems

[zemjw]

I'm sure I've had success with Mr Muscle Oven Cleaner in the past.

I'm about to try to strip some Platoon 20 figures I painted with enamels and gloss varnished back in the 1980s, so I'll find out soon enough if my memory is correct

[FreakyFenton]

In Germany I use Isopropanol, it's based on alcohol I believe and it usually works a treat for stripping paint off of miniatures with paintjobs from other people. Usually just need to apply a toothbrush and as mentioned above maybe a soft wirebrush and a bit of scurbbing and you can get a figure back to bare metal most times.

I also find that warm water helps to rinse anything else off as well while scrubbing, but do catch the runoff as it is waste and shouldn't be chucked down the drain.

[Daeothar]

I used to strip paint (both acrylic and enamel) with Dot3 brake fluid.

Toxic as heck, but it got the job done 

Then I bought a bottle of Simple Green when I was in the US and haven't looked back since. It's been over 12 years, and I still have 1/2 the bottle. Black through and through by now, but it still strips like that one ex

[diehard]

Will second Daeothar, did exactly the same thing.  Used to use brake fluid till I read about Simple Green a while back and that and an old tooth brush always does the job these days.

[ignis-fatuus]

Thank you all for your suggestions. There are definately some options to explore.

As far as using Simple Green, do you soak the miniatures for an extended period of time or do you just get to brushing it on?

Has anyone tried using Citrus Strip by any chance? I've used it for taking the finish off of wood furniture with good success. I might have to experiment as it could be a viable (and less caustic) option.

[Daeothar]

Simple Green: I tend to put the miniatures in a small plastic tub and pour the stuff in till the miniature is fully submerged.

I put the lid on and let it sit for about 24h and then give it a good toothbrushing under running water. However, I recently did the same but only gave it about 3 hours because I was impatient and the paint still came off.

The longer waiting time is probably a left over from my time using Dot3, which usually required about a week of soaking time and then some vigourous brushing afterwards (although acrylics had usually just sloughed off by that time).

[ignis-fatuus]

Thanks for all the tips. While digging through my cabinet of cleaning solutions down in my basement I didn't see any Simple Green, but I did find half a bottle of Purple Power--seems that both are pretty close. I did an experiment by soaking a mini in some of it (undiluted) and it certainly helped a bit. Since that seemed to be working, albeit slowly, I filed up one of my smaller ultrasonic cleaners and ran some minis through it. I found that about 15 minutes per side--flipping the mini seemed to help a great deal--worked really well and sped up the process ten-fold. Both acrylic and enamel paints are cleaning up rather well although there are still some small stubborn bits here and there. I think a dental tool will work to finish them up.

[Cubs]

I'm assuming Simple Green is more affordable in the US, because it's insanely expensive to get hold of in the UK!

I use Dettol, as others too, and the reason I reckon it's so effective is because it contains both isopropyl (cleaning agent) and pine oil (disinfecting agent), which is used to make turpentine (and retsina, although if there's a difference I can't taste it). I'm guessing it's the combination of the two that makes it a winner, though it is smelly (which doesn't bother me) and takes a long time (which doesn't bother me).

[zemjw]

I'm sure I've had success with Mr Muscle Oven Cleaner in the past.

I'm about to try to strip some Platoon 20 figures I painted with enamels and gloss varnished back in the 1980s, so I'll find out soon enough if my memory is correct

So, while I'm sure I've had success with Mr Muscle in the past, my most recent two attempts have failed utterly. I don't know if the formula has changed, but they pretty much just gave the models a bubble bath.

I've dumped them into a jar of Dettol I'd kept from the last time I stripped figures. Unlike Cubs, the smell does annoy me, but paint was at least flaking off when I checked this morning.

I read somewhere that putting the figures in flour for a few days clears the Dettol smell. I have some of that from the last attempt as well, so will put them there when they're clean.

Now all I need to do is get rid of the Dettol smell that's pervading the house

[Cubs]

I get (most of) the smell off the figures by giving them a scrub with hot soapy water (crappy Christmas bubble bath or generic toiletries is my go-to) and a toothbrush after they've been stripped. But you have to be sure not to let water get anywhere near them while you're still scrubbing off the last stubborn bits of paint with your toothbrush, or the paint will set again. Only after they're stripped back clean (or as clean as I can get them) do they go into the hot soapy water bath.