08-31-2021, 07:59 PM
(08-31-2021, 12:45 PM)jim currie Wrote: 20 hrs.' in super clean and so far no effect on paint or plastic .
Well, at least the model hasn't been destroyed.
My former go-to paint stripper was methyl hydrate, which doesn't have much effect at all on many current-day models, but may work on on your older models.
I got this Athearn caboose for a couple of bucks...
...then dropped it into a container of methyl hydrate. Within minutes, the paint began to blister...
It took only a few minutes and a little work-over with a toothbrush to get all paint off the body shell.
While methyl hydrate is used primarily for thinning shellac and varnish, it is also a good paint stripper...but not for all paints. You should be able to find a pint (or gallon) of it at any hardware store or home improvement outlet.
I'd consider it a type of alcohol, but one that's on steroids when it comes to stripping paint. Work in a well ventilated area if possible.
If you chose to use it, make sure to use nitrile or heavy rubber gloves, as methyl hydrate is readily absorbed through your skin, and can cause severe damage to some internal organs.
At one time, it was also one of the components used in Gestetner copying machines...a co-worker used to use it to wash the ink off his hands after a day of making copies, and I wouldn't be surprised if it contributed to his demise.
Wayne