how to strip lacquer off...

[WillyChang]

got reacquainted with a well-used WildOne acquired some yrs back & been stored since...

For some unknown reason, the PO who built it saw it fit to LACQUER the whole car! [*-)] yep, he just removed the shell and driver then sprayed the entire chassis with lacquer, even the lexan roof... and also all the (Acoms) electronics!

Any ideas how to get this lacquer off... will caustic stuff hurt the chassis tub & gearbox plastics?

(thinners and strong alcohols will melt the gearbox plastics - found that out yrs ago with my childhood original runner)

[bdrmbully]

brake fluid or acetone free nail polish remover should help.do a test spot 1st obviously.

 

[Live Steam Mad]

I have an original genuine white Styrene Sand Scorcher shell that was painted in what seemed to be metallic gold lacquer paint. It would not come off with any of my normal chemicals that I had, so I bought some Tamiya brand Lacquer Thinner and it then allowed me to get the paint off. It has absolutely NO effect on the plastic of this body shell whatsoever, no matter how long you have it on the shell for. However I don't know what effect it has on Nylon-66 or ABS that Tamiya plastic chassis parts tend to be made from.

Just imported (from Burbank, CA) some E-Safe model paint stripper. Have read in (I think) Simensays showroom that it is completely harmless to Styrene (was in his LWB Wild Willy showroom entry - which reminds me, my own SWB WW1 is due to arrive this morning from San Diego CA, plus 4 extra spare unused WW1 tyres, I can't wait, that's why I am up early typing this LOL) and so far I tested it on my original genuine white SS Styrene nose cone and it did not affect the plastic at all as far as I can see, even after many hours of exposure. Although I made a mistake and put some of the liquid into a container with a crack and after I came back the 2nd time after several hours later, nearly all the liquid had gone onto the carpet in the back porch. **** it LOL. However it is managing to strip off the white (slightly yellowed) paint from the nose, which is more than my other substances managed to do, so it's the most effective paint stripper that I have found so far.

BTW here's what the various chemicals do to Styrene ;-

E-Safe : Does NOT harm genuine white Styrene SS shell

White Spirit : EATS genuine white Styrene SS shell

Methylated Spirit : Very Slightly eats genuine white Styrene SS shell

Surgical Spirit : Does NOT harm genuine white Styrene SS shell

Tamiya Acrylic Thinner : Does NOT harm genuine white Styrene SS shell

Tamiya Enamel Thinner EATS genuine white Styrene SS shell

Tamiya Lacquer Thinner : Does NOT harm genuine white Styrene SS shell

Easy Off Oven Cleaner (YELLOW label) : Does NOT harm genuine white Styrene SS shell

Sodium Hydroxide / NaOH / Caustic Soda : Does NOT harm genuine white Styrene SS shell

Usual dislaimer LMAO!

Best Regards,

Alistair G.

[Gruntfuggly]

Alternatively, get your missus to scrape it along a curb - works a treat on the alloy wheels on my car... [:'(]

[markellie]

lmao, oh my god, how true is that. Mine somehow managed to scrape the rear trunk lid (or boot lid for brits   )spoiler on something, god only know what but the black paint has become white plastic, grrrrrr