How to Remove Paint from Plastic Miniatures

Plastic miniatures can be a time-consuming hobby; many enthusiasts spend hours searching for the exact piece they need, whether it be new or used. Often when the only miniature available to a collector is pre-owned, the piece is purchased even though the paint may be less than perfect. Plastic miniature collectors take great pains to re-create the authentic costume for each individual piece; often the process begins with removing an unsatisfactory paint job from the plastic miniature.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 1 cup Pine Sol household cleaner
• 1 pint-sized jar with sealing lid
• 1 hard-bristled toothbrush
• 1 drop dish soap
• Latex gloves

1. Pour 1 cup Pine Sol into a 1 pint jar.

2. Place your plastic miniatures in the jar, making sure there is room for the cleaner to circulate around all sides of the pieces.

3. Seal the jar and allow to stand 24 hours, shaking the jar periodically to redistribute the plastic miniatures in the cleaner.

4. Remove the miniatures from the Pine Sol and scrub with a hard-bristled toothbrush. The old paint will come off immediately; rinse the piece and the toothbrush several times as you work.

5. Pour one drop of dish soap on the toothbrush and scrub the plastic miniature once more. This will remove the cleaner and prepare the piece for a new coat of primer.

6. Examine the plastic miniature. If any paint residue remains in cracks and crevices, repeat the process one more time.

Tips & Warnings

• Remove any plastic display bases before using this process.
• Work in a well-ventilated area (outdoors is preferable), and wear latex gloves when using Pine Sol.

References

• how-to-paint-miniatures.com