Stripping Paint with Windex (is it possible)

Tools, Techniques, and Reference Materials Techniques
1

I have a KV2 that has been painted, however I am not happy with it and want to start back at square one. Usually I use CSC, but currently do not have any. It is painted with tamyia acrylics and over coated with future. I know windex will remove freshly sprayed paint, but this model has had several months to cure and so I am unsure of what will happen. Does anyone have any advice? I figure it probably wont hurt it regardless, but am not sure.

2

Windex will soak it off. It may leave some residue, but the vast majority will come right off.

3

most likely it will work with a little “Persuasion” from a tooth brush of the like.

4

[#ditto]

5

I agree, it may require a little scrubbing in places since the paint’s sat on there that long.

6

Yup - it’ll soak off paint, Future, decals, everything if left in it long enough! The only problem is getting a contianer big enough to be bale to cover the model with windex. If you don’t want to use that much WIndex, you could do it one side at a time and turn it over, etc. . .

7

Yea, it’d take a LOT of Windex. It may take 2-3 of the big Refill size jugs.

8

Update

I attempted the windex paint removal this evening. I had only a 1/3 of a spray bottle of windex, so I placed the model in a disposable tupperware type container and started spraying it. After a good coating, I left it for five miniutes while I left the room as I dislike the smell of windex. On returning I sprayed more on it and watched as the paint washed right off. I have never had success like this even with CSC as it always required a soaking, however this had the paint removed down to the primer almost immediately.

9

I thought it’d work…

10

Good news!

I never even attempted to just spray it on. [banghead]

I use Windex for cleaning my AB and save the residue in a large jar for soaking bad paint jobs in.

11

Does Windex work on enamel? How about Lacquer? [?]

Jerry

12

No, Jerry, acrylics only.

13

Thanks for the info, Ross

Jerry

14

91% Isopropyl Alcohol works great on removing Tamiya paints. A short soak will loosen it right up.

Mike

15

That is interesting as Super Clean has worked far better than anything I have ever tried.

16

I was surprised by it as well. It was not a very heavy layer of paint + future on the model so that may be part of the success, another maybe in the difference of paint vs. primer. The model was spray primed with Citidel Chaos Black primer which was not disturbed at all by the windex. There may be a poor adhesion between the paint and the primer?

17

Jerry,

For enamels and lacquers use Super Clean or Easy Off oven cleaner (yellow can).

Here is a good read: http://www.bonediggers.com/1-3/strip/strip.html

18

I’ve never had any problems using Windex to remove acrylic paint. Even paint that was on for 2 years came off in moments with a couple of spritzes of windex and a rinse in water.

19

I came across this thread and read it eagerly because I have made some painting mistakes and wanted to strip off the paint and start over. After reading the suggestions, I used some denatured alcohol I had around and a few minutes in that and scrubbing with a toothbrush worked wonders on acrylic paint. Chalk up another alternative!

20

Spontanious Stripping Tank…err bag!

I needed to strip the paint off a set of wings I had pre paint then changed my mind about the scheme. Dumped a little Windex and some Simple Green into a Ziploc bag…bingo it only took a few minutes. Poured the mix back into the storage jar and I was done.