Quick tip on stripping paint

After trying isopropanol without satisfaction (seriously it is just not effective :headshake), I decided to go back to EASY-OFF oven cleaner. This trick is nothing new. I've been using the heavy-duty version that gives off undesired, irritating fume.

So the idea hit me (maybe it has hit others already). Why not empty out/depressurize the EASY-OFF spray can as we all do with Tamiya spray can?

Wear a mask for the following steps. I simply inverted the can, pushed down the nozzle against the sink, and waited for a minute for the pressure to escape. I opened the spray can with a regular can opener and transfered the solution into a plastic container. The solution was initially greyish and eventually turned brownish probably due to some sort of oxidation. Most importantly, it does not give off irritating fume and does eat away paint and the base coat under the chrome plating in a few hours!

I'm not sure if the oxidized solution works but I'm gonna test it again and keep you guys updated :biggrin:

http://i707.photobucket.com/albums/ww75/happystevy/DSC03917-1.jpg

I guess I'll be the first to chime in on this one. Others may disagree with me, but suggesting that people go ahead and use and regular kitchen can opener on pressurized cans of any substance seems like astonishing foolishness. Call me overcautious if you must, but I can't see how that's a good idea.

I guess I'll be the first to chime in on this one. Others may disagree with me, but suggesting that people go ahead and use and regular kitchen can opener on pressurized cans of any substance seems like astonishing foolishness. Call me overcautious if you must, but I can't see how that's a good idea.

Absolutely +1.

Castrol Super Clean (CSC--the purple stuff) will strip chrome or paint (any kind) off in literally minutes. It took about 20 for my upcoming '06 RC211V's chrome plated frame to be stripped bare. Amazing stuff and NOT OVERLY TOXIC to the point of having to wear a mask. (People use this stuff all the time on cars. You don't want it on your hands for long, as it's a strong degreaser, but it's darn good at stripping paint...)

Daniel

I guess I'll be the first to chime in on this one. Others may disagree with me, but suggesting that people go ahead and use and regular kitchen can opener on pressurized cans of any substance seems like astonishing foolishness. Call me overcautious if you must, but I can't see how that's a good idea.

Well, TBH, he did also say that you should depressurize the can before cutting it, he also explained how he did that! :rolleyes:

This seems like looking for trouble to me also.

The fumes are easily avoided by not using oven cleaner. Isopropyl alcohol and automotive cleaner/degreaser (Simple green, CSC, Purple Power, etc) will do what oven cleaner does- without having to resort to a more toxic substance in an aerosol can.

What is the benefit of decanting this stuff? :screwy:

TBH I use Easy Off all the time to strip chrome. I just pop the parts in a small plastic bag, squirt the stuff in, tie up the bag and leave it for a short while after which it is all nice and clean.

I get no more fumes etc. than if I had been using the stuff for its intended purpose of cleaning an oven (probably less in fact).

My way, any unused Easy Off stays in the spray can which is a very useful storage device ;) I have been using the same can now for the past 5-6 models and there is still plenty left in it.

:2cents:

Not sure why you would want to open the can to all take the Easy off out of the can. It does come out the spray nozzle when you push it. So it is easy to dispense into a container and onto the parts to be stripped. I have had the same can for nearly 10 years. I don't strip parts that often and it still works. I'll probably try the super clean stuff whenmy easy off is all gone.

Easy off appears to me by the odour to contain ammonia.

You are probably correct about the oxidizing of the material as I suspect that is part of the stripping process. Once oxidation has occurred you may have lost some of the stripping power?

I agree with the comments that prudent safety precautions are in order.

It seems like my “quick tip” is turning into a “quick disaster”. Sorry about that :biggrin:.

First of all, it is my fault not to emphasize on the danger of opening a pressurized can and the precaution one needs to take. Let me say this properly this time: yes, it is absolutely suicidal to open a fully/partially pressurized spray can :nono:. However, once properly DEPRESSURIZED, opening an EASY-OFF can is just like open a can of sardine. It poses no greater danger than opening a Tamiya spray can.

I guess the most debatable point is: why bother? What is the benefit of going through the trouble and danger of opening EASY-OFF? Well, this is probably down to personal preference. I agree that Spray EASY-OFF into a bag works perfectly well but I prefer soaking in a large container, especially when stripping paint from large parts :icon16:.

Oh yes, Castrol super clean is a better alternative. I absolutely love that stuff but recently I can’t seem to find it in my area. Did they change the name or what?

Oh yes, Castrol super clean is a better alternative. I absolutely love that stuff but recently I can’t seem to find it in my area. Did they change the name or what?

No, but you can buy "generic" CSC anywhere (I found mine at Lowe's hardware store on special).

Daniel

It seems like my “quick tip” is turning into a “quick disaster”. Sorry about that :biggrin:.
Well, maybe not entirely a disaster. When I read it last night it seemed to me that perhaps it just wasn't all that well thought out, but the impulse to be helpful to your fellow modelers is always to be lauded.

First of all, it is my fault not to emphasize on the danger of opening a pressurized can and the precaution one needs to take. Let me say this properly this time: yes, it is absolutely suicidal to open a fully/partially pressurized spray can :nono:. However, once properly DEPRESSURIZED, opening an EASY-OFF can is just like open a can of sardine. It poses no greater danger than opening a Tamiya spray can.
Of course, I and probably most others who read this inferred that this is what you meant. But it seems to me that it is never necessary to open a can to empty of its contents. I use a short piece of a drinking straw attached to the nozzle with poster putty and shoot paint into a jar. This method works well, is terribly easy, incredibly inexpensive, and not the least dangerous. Do you really open Tamiya paint cans? And, if so, do you really get more paint out of it than you can by the method described above? And couldn't you just empty the can of Easy-Off the same way by shooting the stuff into an old coffee can or similar container?


I guess the most debatable point is: why bother? What is the benefit of going through the trouble and danger of opening EASY-OFF? Well, this is probably down to personal preference. I agree that Spray EASY-OFF into a bag works perfectly well but I prefer soaking in a large container, especially when stripping paint from large parts :icon16:.
This was the main point running through my mind: why bother, indeed!? I also prefer soaking in a container (I'm not sure why, but I do). I have three containers: 1) Super Clean, 2) brake fluid, and 3) 91% isopropyl alcohol + Super Clean. If one of these doesn't work, I try another then another. Usually the alcohol + SC works without much effort.

Oh yes, Castrol super clean is a better alternative. I absolutely love that stuff but recently I can’t seem to find it in my area. Did they change the name or what?
It is still available here on the other side of Illinois under the name Super Clean without the Castrol.

Thank you all for the comment. Sorry that I messed up the font size; I fixed it already.

A little unnecessary update: the oxidized EASY-OFF solution still works (not that it matters anymore) :biggrin:

Man, I thought they stopped making easy off.