A guide to removing paint from plastic & metal miniatures
Do you have some plastic miniatures you painted that need correcting or refreshing? Have you bought some pre-owned classic metal miniatures and want to repaint them? Then you will need to strip the miniatures down, and you want to make sure you do it properly. Stripping paint from miniatures is a delicate process and you want to ensure you don’t damage the underlying plastic or metal of the miniatures.
Before we get started, here are some tips that apply to all techniques.=
- Always read the chemical instructions, this guide is just that, is a guide, and you need to ensure you work safely when handling chemicals.
- Ensure that your workspace is well-ventilated.
- Wear protective clothing such as gloves and eye protection to avoid contact with the chemicals.
- Be gentle when rubbing/scrubbing the miniatures.
- Test the process on a test miniature to make sure that the process works for you and to practice the technique. If you don’t have any spare miniatures and you are unsure about the impact of the chemical on the miniature then make sure you test it on a small, inconspicuous area of the miniature.
- Thoroughly clean your miniatures with warm water and dry them using paper towels when you have stripped off the paint.
- Do not over-soak the miniatures, especially the plastic miniatures, as prolonged exposure can pose risks, especially for plastic.
- Properly dispose of chemicals and soaked paper towels responsibly, following your local regulations.
Here are some techniques for safely removing (most) paint from plastic and metal miniatures.
Removing paint from plastic miniatures
Plastic miniatures are more delicate and prone to damage when stripping paint so make sure you take extra care when removing paint.
Here are a few methods you can try:
Enamel-based paint stripper
- Read the instructions on the paint stripper.
- Apply the paint stripper according to the instructions on the bottle (Do not submerge the miniature in the stripper, as this runs the risk of causing damage to the miniature).
- Allow to sit for the product’s recommended time.
- Gently scrub the miniature with an old toothbrush.
Isopropyl alcohol (or Non-acetone nail polish remover)
- Read the instructions on the Isopropyl alcohol.
- Soak a cotton ball in the alcohol.
- Gently dab it onto the miniature (working in small sections and avoid rubbing too hard, as this can damage the plastic).
- You should start to see the paint dissolve.
- Some people also have success in soaking the miniatures in a tub overnight to loosen the paint. If you try this, ensure you test on a miniature you are happy to lose and cover the container while soaking.
Removing paint from metal miniatures
Metal miniatures are generally more durable than plastic miniatures, so you can typically use a more aggressive technique to strip the paint from the miniature.
Degreasing solution
The following technique should remove paint from metal miniatures without too many issues.
- Read the instructions on the degreasing solution
- Pour some into a suitable container
- Submerge the miniatures and leave them to soak for a few hours
- Scrub gently with an old toothbrush
If the above doesn’t remove the paint, then we might need to try an enamel-based paint stripper.
Enamel-based paint stripper
- Read the instructions on the enamel-based paint stripper
- Apply it to the miniatures as per the institutions
- Scrub gently with a small brass brush (Do not use steel wool as this will damage the metal miniature)
Check out our Warhammer Blister Packs section if you are looking for classic Warhammer miniatures still in their original blister packs.
