I used bare metal foil as a mask for my canopy, but now have the residue from the foil all over the canopy. I tried using solvents , lighter fluid, and new tape to remove it, but they seem to want to attack/lift the paint on the framing. Anyone out there have any other ideas/techniques that they use?
Thanks!
Frank
I have used a product called Goo Gone to get rid of the adhesive residue left from Bare Metal Foil with great success. You can get it at most hardware stores, Home Depot and Lowes. I use a q-tip dipped in Goo Gone to get the adhesive in the center portion of a window. Because this stuff will remove paint, I work very carefully near the painted frame. A toothpick dipped in this stuff does a great job on the corners where the adhesive residue piles up once it has been loosened. A piece of masking tape can get those last few bits of adhesive as well.
I went back to using masking tape to mask canopies before painting because of Bare Metal Foil’s residue. Tamiya and 3M Blue are both very good for this purpose. It’s tedious work masking this way but cleanup is no problem if up dip your canopies in Future before masking. Any bleeding that occurs can be cleaned up with a toothpick dipped in Goo Gone.
I hope this helps.
Thanks! I’ll give that stuff a try.
I tried rubbing it off with a soft cloth, and it seemed to get it off with a bit of elbow grease. Just used a soft piece of lint-free cotton and voila! No more residue. A little bit was still down in the crevices, but I figure I’ll call that stuff “accumulated dirt”. [;)]
The most important step before you do ANYTHING to a canopy is to dip it or coat it with Future and let it dry for at least 24 hours. That single step can save you more grief down the road than just about anything else, unless you want to pay someone else to mask and paint your canopies for you.
ditto to the above, I future, then when using BMF (a must for certain German and USN WWII canopies for me) I get it off by using almost pure handsoap (just a tad of water) apply, let sit a bit then start rubbing with my fingertip… it takes a time or two sometimes but it doesn’t lift the paint (if given time tocure first) and doesn’t attack the future either!
It’s just plain antibacterial handsoap in the pump bottle that I use, I think Dial makes it…
I just noticed this is the forum and thought I would throw in what I use. Take a Q-tip and spray it with a little WD-40 and use that to wipe away the residue - it come right off very easily. I have been using this for some time and have had no paint lifting problems at all.
BE CAREFUL!
This stuff is EXTREMELY CAUSTIC AND ODOROUS!! Make sure to use with much ventilation!!!
The WD40 way is what I’ve used as well!! This would be a safer way, at least-all it is is fish oil!
Daywalker I have been using 91% alcohol for micro metal foil adhesive to remove residue with great results, doesnt seem to hurt the clear parts either. I pour a little alcohol in the cap and just barely wet the tip of a q-tip with it then stay away from the painted frames ( if painted with acrylic). I have tried goo gone and well ruined a canopy with it as it indeed does attack the plastic. I have heard paint thinner will work also but havent tried it. Microscale says to clean up wet adhesive with water and dry with paint thinner, I just dont know what that would do to acrylic paint.
What kind of BMF didi you use?
“Model Master”'s is the WORST. Don’t even use it for cars. It has horrible properties.
Get the “Bare Metal Foil” type–that’s all its called. It leaves absolutely no residue at all. I used it to mask my Space 1999 Eagle and it left nothing whatsoever–
–near the bottom of the page:
/forums/4/1094738/ShowPost.aspx#1094738
WOW! Haven’t thought about this thread in a while. I quit using BMF as a masking medium, as I have found other techniques that work better for me. As for the foil I used, I used the BMF brand, and the best way I found to remove the residue was to simply burnish it off with a Q-tip. [tup]
I use the BMF brand as well over my future dipped canopies and any residue left over comes off very well using a cotton swab with the previously mentioned GooGone. While you need to be careful with it as it is flammable and you don’t want to drink it, the odor is fine (orange ‘flavored’ actually in my bottle) and it does not seem to attack the plastic -future or not. My canopies really shine after the Goo Gone wash.