{"id":946,"date":"2023-08-28T08:57:47","date_gmt":"2023-08-28T12:57:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tabletopdash.com\/?p=946"},"modified":"2023-08-28T08:57:49","modified_gmt":"2023-08-28T12:57:49","slug":"strip-paint-from-miniatures","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tabletopdash.com\/strip-paint-from-miniatures\/","title":{"rendered":"Strip Paint From Miniatures in 3 Quick Steps (Plus Ultrasonic Cleaner advice)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>How Do I Strip Paint Off Of Miniatures?<\/strong>&nbsp; Removing paint from miniature, models, plastic or resin is done with the use of solvents, cleaners, soap and water.&nbsp; Acrylic paints are easier to remove.&nbsp; Oils and Enamels are typically more challenging than Acrylics but can be stripped successfully without harming a plastic or resin model.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I mostly paint plastic Warhammer models and I&#8217;ve stripped a fair few of them.\u00a0 I&#8217;ve also had to strip paint from miniatures made of pewter and metal.\u00a0 Lastly, I have stripped the paint job off of 3D printed resin and PLA minis.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The process for all of them is very similar, the difference being that resin is much less sturdy, so go easier on it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you are looking to strip resin prints, plastic models or metal minis, either 3D printed or from a manufacturer, I&#8217;ll give you my first 3 steps.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We&#8217;ll go into advanced steps beneath that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Strip Paint from Miniatures: Simple 3-Step Process<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Step 1: Apply a Paint Stripper or Cleaner<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Choose a suitable paint stripper or cleaner. I recommend <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3QRmTa0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">simple green<\/a><\/strong> or <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3KXpxam\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">99% isopropyl alcohol<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ensure you&#8217;re working in a well-ventilated area and wearing appropriate safety gear, such as gloves and goggles.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use a plastic container or <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YQKWb6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ultrasonic Cleaner<\/a> and fill with your cleaner.&nbsp; Enough to cover the minis want to strip.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Put your models in the cleaner and let it sit for a good while.&nbsp; If you used an Ultrasonic cleaner, run it through a cycle and let it sit for 30 minutes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>For Resin models I would let it sit for 10 minutes at a time and check it.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">&nbsp;<strong>Step 2: Brush or Wipe Off Paint<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>After the print, model or miniature has had some time in the cleaning solution take it out using nitrile gloves for protection.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use a soft-bristle brush, old toothbrush, or a cloth to gently scrub the miniature&#8217;s surface. This will help loosen the paint that has been softened by the paint stripper.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Be extra careful with resin miniatures. You don&#8217;t want to damage the details or the material.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I tend to use other tools around the house like Q-tips and toothpicks to get paint out of creases.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Step 3: Repeat as Needed<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Depending on how the first round went, you can adjust as needed.&nbsp; Either more or less time in the cleaner.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sometimes the cleaner will only get a single layer off and simply repeating exactly what you did will get results<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You might need to repeat Steps 1 and 2 multiple times until you&#8217;ve successfully removed all the paint from the miniature.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>It&#8217;s a simple but very effective process to remove old paint.&nbsp; Remember that you&#8217;re using cleaning products, and isopropyl alcohol is highly flammable.&nbsp; Use safety gloves, cover the container to reduce fumes, and wear a mask if you need to.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Solvents:&nbsp; Simple Green and Isopropyl Alcohol for Paint Stripping<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Using Simple Green Cleaner for Paint Stripping<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Description:<\/strong> Simple Green is a popular household cleaner. It&#8217;s one of the most commonly recommended solvents for stripping miniatures, and I&#8217;ve had luck with it personally.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Application:<\/strong> To use Simple Green for stripping paint from miniatures:\n<ol>\n<li>Dilute the Simple Green cleaner with water. Typically, a 1:1 mixture with water is what they recommend and that&#8217;s what I start with.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Place the miniatures in a container or ultrasonic cleaner, make sure they are fully submerged.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Allow the miniatures to soak for a few hours or overnight, depending on the paint and its thickness.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>After soaking, use a soft-bristle brush, toothbrush, or cloth to gently scrub and wipe away the softened paint.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Repeat the soaking and scrubbing process as needed until the paint is fully removed.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Advantages:<\/strong> Simple Green is relatively gentle on miniature materials like plastic and resin, which is one of the reasons it&#8217;s popular in hobbying. It&#8217;s also easy to find and available.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Considerations:<\/strong> While Simple Green is effective, it might not work as quickly as some stronger specialized paint strippers. Thick or multiple layers of paint might require multiple soaking and scrubbing cycles.&nbsp; You can also cycle between simple green in a container, and isopropyl alcohol in an ultrasonic cleaner.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Using Isopropyl Alcohol for Paint Stripping<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Description:<\/strong> Isopropyl alcohol is a common solvent used for cleaning, disinfecting, and in some cases, paint removal.&nbsp; I use it all the time for cleaning my resin 3D prints.&nbsp; It&#8217;s easy to use and not too expensive.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Application:<\/strong> To use isopropyl alcohol for stripping paint from your plastic mini:\n<ol>\n<li>I prefer 99% isopropyl alcohol, but typically between 90% and 99% is fine. Higher concentrations are more effective.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Place the miniatures in a container and pour the isopropyl alcohol over them, ensuring they are fully submerged.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Allow the miniatures to soak for between 10-30 minutes.&nbsp; Check it after 10 minutes and see how it&#8217;s doing, return if needed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use a soft brush, toothbrush, or cloth to gently scrub and wipe away the softened paint.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Repeat the process if needed until the paint is completely removed.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Advantages:<\/strong> Isopropyl alcohol is easy to find and inexpensive.&nbsp; It has a lot of uses in the miniature painting and 3D printing hobby world, so i always have some available.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Considerations:<\/strong> Isopropyl alcohol can be harsh on certain miniature materials if you leave it soaking too long, particularly resin.&nbsp; &nbsp;Be sure to use gloves and be aware of any fumes.&nbsp; Isopropyl alcohol is flammable so be careful with it.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember, both methods require some trial and error, as the effectiveness can vary depending on the type of paint, the number of layers, and the miniature material. At a minimum use gloves and work in a well ventilated area.&nbsp; If you need to grab an inexpensive respirator mask.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So now that we know the cleaners and basic stripping process, we can move on to my favorite method of getting old miniatures super clean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Ultrasonic Cleaner Guide: Using Isopropyl Alcohol or Simple Green<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Safety Precautions:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Always wear gloves and consider eye protection if needed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Work in a well-ventilated area.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Keep flammable substances away from open flames.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>1. Preparation for the Ultrasonic Cleaner:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>a. <strong>Choose the cleaning solution you want to use:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Isopropyl Alcohol:<\/strong>&nbsp; This is my preference with the ultrasonic cleaner.&nbsp; Use at least 90% isopropyl, I like 99%.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Simple Green:<\/strong> I break this out in my cleaner if the paint is being stubborn and the alcohol doesn&#8217;t work..<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>b. <strong>Fill the ultrasonic cleaner:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Pour your chosen solution into the cleaner&#8217;s tank. Ensure you have enough solution to completely submerge the items but don&#8217;t overfill.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>2. Pre-cleaning (optional but recommended):<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>a. Give your miniatures a quick rinse in warm soapy water.&nbsp; I like to use a very soft brush on them also.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>b. You can dunk them in hot (not boiling, just hot) water right before you put them in the cleaner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>3. Ultrasonic Cleaning:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>a. Place the items in the cleaner&#8217;s basket or on the platform to ensure they are not touching the bottom of the tank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>b. Turn on the ultrasonic cleaner. If your cleaner has a heater (mine doesn&#8217;t), set it to a suitable temperature (usually between 50-60\u00b0C \/ around 100 F).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>c. Set the timer. For resin I would check after 10 minutes.&nbsp; If it&#8217;s sturdy plastic or metal you can go as high as 30 minutes.&nbsp; Some people run the cleaner and leave it in overnight, I haven&#8217;t had to do that personally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>4. Post-cleaning:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>a. Rinse models and miniatures thoroughly with warm soapy water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>b. Give it a final rinse with clean water then dry thoroughly. Clean cloth or paper towels are fine for this and then let them air dry<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>c. If needed, repeat the whole process or spot clean with alcohol and brushes..<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tools for Stripping Paint from Miniatures: Get the Paint off Easily<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Safety First<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Nitrile Gloves:<\/strong> Protect hands from chemicals and solvents.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Eye Protection:<\/strong> Safety goggles to protect you against splashes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Well-ventilated Workspace:<\/strong> Essential for using strong chemicals to strip miniatures.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Containers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Glass or Plastic Containers:<\/strong> For soaking miniatures in stripping solution.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Small Containers or Trays:<\/strong> Organize miniature parts.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Brushes and Tools for Detailed Cleaning<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Soft-bristle Toothbrush:<\/strong> For gentle scrubbing.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Stiff-bristle Brush:<\/strong> Be careful with this, but you can get paint off tough areas with them.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Pipe Cleaners:&nbsp;<\/strong> These can be great to scrub hard to reach places<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Toothpicks:<\/strong>&nbsp; Good old toothpicks are great.&nbsp; Just be gentle if you can, the paint comes off in chunks sometimes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Application Tools<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Cotton Swabs (Q-tips):<\/strong> Targeted application and cleaning.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cloths or Rags:<\/strong> Wipe paint away and clean surfaces.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Alternatives to Stripping Paint from Warhammer, Metal, Resin, 3D Printed Miniatures<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Overpainting<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Instead of stripping the old paint off, you can paint over the existing layer with a new color. However, this can obscure details on the miniature if too many layers are added. It&#8217;s essential to ensure that the surface is clean and free from oils before painting over it. Primer can be applied again over the old paint to provide a better surface for the new paint to adhere to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If there is too much paint caked on, this isn&#8217;t a great option.&nbsp; You can try to remove the paint layer by layer until you reach a good spot.&nbsp; Leave the remaining paint and start over with a fresh primer.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Retouching<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Rather than repainting the entire miniature, you can just touch up areas where the paint has chipped or faded. This is especially useful if only small areas need attention.&nbsp; If you just hate the paint scheme and want to change one color, you can simply paint over it for example.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Varnishing or Sealing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If the paint is only slightly faded but still mostly intact, a fresh layer of varnish or sealant can revitalize its appearance. A matte or glossy finish can be chosen based on preference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Replacement<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Sometimes, it&#8217;s more time and cost-effective to simply purchase a new, unpainted version of the miniature and start fresh, especially if the miniature in question is easily available and affordable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Warhammer 40k models aren&#8217;t too cheap, but if you can just 3D print a new mini, I&#8217;d do that rather than go through the whole process of stripping it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Thermal Methods for Plastic and Metal Miniatures<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This isn&#8217;t common and is risky, but some hobbyists use controlled heat to soften and then gently peel away paint. This method is tricky and can damage plastic miniatures, and don&#8217;t use this method with resin miniatures.&nbsp; I&#8217;ve only tried this with plastic and metal figures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sanding or Abrasion<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Fine-grit sandpaper or a rotary tool can be used to remove paint, but this method is aggressive and can remove material from the miniature, potentially damaging the details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember to always test what you&#8217;re trying to do on either a practice model or in an out of the way spot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Creating Save Points on miniatures with varnish<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you&#8217;re concerned with stripping a model or stripping minis, I would get into the habit of varnishing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you can varnish the miniature at different levels, you create a &#8216;save point&#8217; to go back to.&nbsp; You can use paint remover to get the paint from off the varnish layer and go back to that point.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How Do I Strip Paint Off Of Miniatures?&nbsp; Removing paint from miniature, models, plastic or resin is done with the use of solvents, cleaners, soap and water.&nbsp; Acrylic paints are easier to remove.&nbsp; Oils and Enamels are typically more challenging than Acrylics but can be stripped successfully without harming a plastic or resin model.&nbsp;&nbsp; I&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":948,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_kadence_starter_templates_imported_post":false,"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"normal","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[9,8],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tabletopdash.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/946"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tabletopdash.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tabletopdash.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tabletopdash.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tabletopdash.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=946"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/tabletopdash.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/946\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":949,"href":"https:\/\/tabletopdash.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/946\/revisions\/949"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tabletopdash.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/948"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tabletopdash.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=946"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tabletopdash.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=946"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tabletopdash.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=946"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}