Using alcohol to clean parts.

General Discussion General Modeling Discussion
1

If you clean parts with alcohol, do you need to scrub them as with soap & water or just let them sit in the alcohol. I’m concerned about breaking small parts when scrubbing.

2

Just let them sit. When I clean parts, I usually let them sit in a bath of undilluted Simple Green for an hour or two. Then I rinse them under hot water and follow up with a quick dunk in an alcohol bath to speed up evaporation and shorten drying time. Any time I have to do any scrubbing though (usually not necessary during a general parts cleaning) I use a cheap electric toothbrush. That does the scrubbing in tiny, gentle movements so it doesn’t break things off like manually doing the scrubbing does.

3

I actually rarely scrub. I usually wipe them with alcohol and let them air dry.

4

Try to find 91%. I get mine online as it’s hard to find in store.

Bill

5

Thanks for the explanation. Much appreciated.

6

will do, thanks.

7

Just soaking them in 91% alcohol does not guarantee you get all the film off. Of course, that’s better than nothing. It’s best to use a lint free cloth with alcohol as much as possible. Of course, you can’t do that with all parts. But the parts where you’re most likely to have problems are the larger parts that are more likely to be handled often after painting and that have smooth surfaces that don’t help with adhesion. Barrett

8

I was using alcohol for a while but switched back to odorless mineral spirits. I just soak a tissue and wipe things down. Follow up with dry tissues and just use an empty airbrush to blow off any lint. I use Stynylrez primer and noticed with alcohol a funny pattern in the finish of the first coat of primer, almost a motor oil on water look. It still worked but I didn’t like that and don’t see it with the ms wash.

You need detergent and the like for resin imo.

9

Try Walgreens for 91%

10

I use 99% aviation grade isopropyl alcohol. One of the advantages of working at an airport with an aviation supply warehouse close by. [H]

11
12

I could be wrong, but I think the OP was talking about cleaning model parts, not airbrush parts. Cleaning model parts with lacquer thinner would be bad. [;)]

13

Hey, Eagle - Nope, you’re not wrong, I guess I had airbrush on my mind. Disregard all.

14

I have been modeling since the early 1970s and have NEVER washed any model parts at all. The exception is when using resin parts then I wash them in Dawn and air dry them. Never had issues with paint adhesion except when I used Acryl primer which is junk and will peel when masking tape is removed.

15

[dto:] what film ? Maybe on some old eastern European kits which I have heard but never seen,an unnecessary step in my modeling.