Tim Warris of Fast Tracks:
“My go-to paint stripper has always
been Easy Off oven cleaner. Use the full strength stuff. Soak the
body thoroughly and let it sit in the sink for 20 to 30 minutes.
Clean the paint off with a toothbrush. Works great and doesn’t
harm plastic.”
Easy Off requires more attention than alcohol. “I didn’t sug-
gest Easy Off, since the OP asked about alcohol, but that would
be my first choice as well,” Ken Rickman said. “It is somewhat
more reactive than alcohol, so some testing and care would
likely be in order. I find alcohol to be quite safe.”
Ralph, who goes by CN6401, added another caution:
“There
are two types of Easy Off, one that gets sprayed on the oven
and the oven turned on – it’s very corrosive and the gas is
dangerous.”
The other works on a cold oven. The fume-free version is cur-
rently sold in a blue container. So read the instructions to avoid
buying a can of the wrong stuff.
“The second type is the one that works for modeling. This type
is sprayed on, let sit and then wiped off. It works the same way
with models. It’s less corrosive but it still gives off gases, so
don’t lean directly over the model while you’re scrubbing with
that toothbrush,” Ralph said. “I suggest you wear latex gloves
when handling the model. It washes off with water.” Open a
window and run an exhaust fan to get some ventilation.
With these suggestions, Retired Alex ran his own tests
. “I took
leftover parts and sprayed one with oven cleaner and soaked
the other in a container of alcohol. Both worked without doing
any damage to the diecast, which was my main concern.”
