Stripping minis - how nitpicky should I be

[auralius2004]

I\'ve stripped a bunch of old minis so I can give \'em new paint jobs, but there are nooks and crannies that I just can\'t get the paint/primer out of. Example - War Altar griffon statue. Should I be concerned if there\'s paint/primer in some of the cracks (that I can\'t get off even with multiple soaks in Simple Green and careful poking with a pin), or can I go ahead and prime? Thanks.

 

[lizcam]

depends on how i,portant the detail is to the overall mini. If it for an army I would stip as best as possible and let it go. If it\'s for a showcase mini, keep working on it. Them more you gt off the better.

Are the minis metal? If so you can use Windsor and Newton brush cleaner. Just rinse off the simple green, hold the mini over a cap or something with the brush cleaner in it and use an old brush to work it in the detail. Rinse occasionaly and it will melt even stuborn primer off.

But don\'t use it on plastis or resin. It will melt them.

And you don\'t really have to worry about the brush. It\'s brush cleaner. Just rinse the brush really well when you\'re done and work anything out of the feral that may have collected there while stripping and your good to go.

 

[airhead]

If it is metal, get some acetone (finger nail polish remover) and give it a soak.

Get a cheap electric toothbrush (crest for about $2) and maybe a dental pick.

Most of the remaining stuff should rinse off after an overnight soak in acetone.

NOTE: Be careful what you soak it in. Some plastics melt from the acetone, then they run all over the funature and hardwood floors - ruining the varnish. (trust me on this)

 

[Einion]

How nitpicky should you be? Very IMO.

Einion

 

[meanmuttley]

Originally posted by auralius2004
I\'ve stripped a bunch of old minis so I can give \'em new paint jobs, but there are nooks and crannies that I just can\'t get the paint/primer out of. Example - War Altar griffon statue. Should I be concerned if there\'s paint/primer in some of the cracks (that I can\'t get off even with multiple soaks in Simple Green and careful poking with a pin), or can I go ahead and prime? Thanks.

I just got done stripping a Grimgor Ironhide mini the other day and used a saftypin to get the details. Plus if its in an area that isn\'t seen to well I would just go a head and start priming.

 

[hakoMike]

I stripped scores of ebay-acquired minis a couple years ago. It has always amazed me that some paint won\'t come off after being scrubbed with a brush while I knock paint off of mine with casual handling.

The pickiness is enitirely situational. For a face I was very picky. For rank and file troops, you can let some of the deeper crevices go as long as it doesn\'t change the model too much. I used a plastic scrub brush, and found that sometime piercing the paint on those deep areas with an xacto knife would let the brush get hold.

 

[Eryops]

I\'ve found that once you\'ve primed, the bits that will cause problems will stand out. Then it\'s easy to pick them out with a pin. If you can\'t see them with the primer, then you most likely won\'t notice them when painted.