Back in my "Dark Ages" of stripping paint I used brake fluid. I found if styrene was left soaking in it the plastic deteriorated and actually crumbled in some cases. Haven't used it in 40 years. Just my experience. Yours may vary. *NM*

Messages In This Thread

Post script: Stripping AMT Lacquers
- I also used ELO, pricey, but worked when nothing else would. I assume it's also gone the way of Testors. *NM*
  - Are they still making glue? *NM*
    - It looked like it to me when I went to the site - but see my message above *NM*
      - I'm pretty sure there's a modern version of ELO on the market. *NM*
- Dot 3 would’ve worked much better. *NM*
  - Back in my "Dark Ages" of stripping paint I used brake fluid. I found if styrene was left soaking in it the plastic deteriorated and actually crumbled in some cases. Haven't used it in 40 years. Just my experience. Yours may vary. *NM*
    - I never had a problem even after 3 weeks. *NM*
      - ELO basically dissolved a snap kit Caddy Eldo after a few days. Never happened with dot 3. *NM*
        
        I've seen Clorox, ELO, and brake fluid destroy styrene. I can think of even more chemicals that will destroy resin. Best bet id to experiment on some "throw-away" parts made of the same material you plan to strip. *NM*
        
        A friend of mine had a plastic shoebox of Scalecoat paint remover for soaking models in. Only problem we had was occasionally parts would fall off and get lost in the gunk at the bottom for a few months only to randomly turn up again, completely unharmed. Except for resin...
        
        Brake fluid, for me, never "dissolved" styrene. Just RUINED it. Never have used Dot 3. I have enough other chemicals to remove paint.� ️ *NM*
        
        I've got a Jo-Han '65 Chrysler that someone stripped with brake fluid. It's fragile and unworkable, like an acid-dipped 1:1 car body that wasn't neutralized after dipping *NM*
        
        So, the moral of the story is whenever you attempt to strip paint from old plastic, the possibility exists that it can damage the plastic material so user discretion is advised. Maybe soda blasting could work to ensure no damage is done. Anyone try soda blasting yet? *NM*
        
        But were you soaking it in ELO? Because it specifically states on the container not to soak plastic in it. I've not heard of anyone damaging plastic parts with ELO if the directions are followed. *NM*
        
        Never soaked anything in ELO. That is a very dangerous thing to do. *NM*
  - Instructions are clear: DO NOT SOAK
    - I didn’t soak it in ELO. Didn’t have enough product to do that. I just applied liberally on all surfaces and let it sit in a plastic bag for a day or two. Dot 3 doesn’t give me those problems. No embrittlement, no crazing, no nothing. It works beautifully so far. *NM*
    - That kind of is soaking - my experience is that its better in hours, not days - but glad you get good results from the DOT 3 *NM*