There are a couple things I'd be curious to get feedback on:

Safety First





There are some great environmentally friendly options for removing paint. There are also a lot of people who still push the use of chemical paint strippers that used to be really popular back in the day and people who take their advice, not realizing the side effects of what Internet has told them to use. I'm a firm believer of using non-toxic solutions instead of resorting to the nastier ones.





The following is going to sound a little "tin-foil hat" but it's worth pointing out because it discusses a serious chemical we're apt to encounter in our daily lives without realizing it and something being recommended on plenty of forums and Facebook groups.





What am I talking about?



The 3 primary offenders are Brake Fluid, Nail Polish Remover (containing Acetone) and straight Acetone.



[UPDATE] I'm adding Oven Cleaner to this list as it's been recommended by a few people as an alternative. Oven Cleaner seems to have less long term effects, but MUCH more dangerous immediate effects due to how corrosive it is. (Blindness and respiratory damage.)





At some point, when people were looking for paint strippers that don't melt plastic, they chose miniatures over their own health. I have no idea why Brake Fluid began being used, but I can see someone trying Nail Polish Remover - it's a chemical used for removing strong and sealed paint. If it's widely used, then it's got to be safe, right? The next step was undertaken by people seeking out the active ingredient that made nail polish remover so great at stripping paint - Acetone. Again, if people everywhere were soaking their fingers in it, it had to be safe, right?





Wrong





And lets not forget,





And then,









Now, this brake fluid isn't anywhere near as bad as Acetone, but it's still not great. It's one more thing to keep out of reach of kids, and can cause a lot of irritation. When you're handling and scrubbing a miniature covered in this stuff, residue's going to cover your fingers, get under your nails (Which is why you wear gloves.) and fly all over. (Which is why you wear goggles.) But the bits flying around still add a chemical residue to your workspace that you don't want on your hands if you have to scratch an eye or are eating a snack.





Conflicting Information





Dermatitis, defatting, coma, liver and kidney damage, mutagenicity, affect the central nervous system, traces of cancer & birth defect causing agents, among other things. But keep in mind, we're talking about a chemical that is still widely used by the cosmetic industry and people everywhere, (Walmart sells cheap "professional" nail polish remover that is DON'T DO THIS.) There are other tests which it was decided, 20 years ago, not to perform. But keep in mind, we're talking about a chemical that is still widely used by the cosmetic industry and people everywhere, (Walmart sells cheap "professional" nail polish remover that is 100% acetone .) so there is wildly varying information on it. (For example, the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety says it's ok to drink acetone .) There are other tests which it was decided, 20 years ago, not to perform.





"Prolonged Exposure" and "Over Exposure"





Taking off the tin-foil hat, many (but not all) of the side effects of these chemicals deal with situations where you're using them on a daily basis (Prolonged Exposure) or are exposed to way more than you normally would. (Over Exposure) This reduces the chances of being harmed by these chemicals if you're just stripping paint from time to time, but certainly doesn't make the risks go away. Some media outlets are shining a light on the lack of testing and dangers that face people like beauticians, who work with this stuff all the time.





A Cautionary Tale of Chemical Reactions Safety Measures



If you are going to go the route of using a chemical in your hobby efforts, always wear protective gear like safety goggles



Proper Disposal If you are going to go the route of using a chemical in your hobby efforts, always wear protective gear like safetythat hug the face (and fit over glasses) and rubber / latex gloves. Depending on what you're working with, a face mask and proper ventilation / working outside is a good idea. Be aware of potential health risks and how to deal with accidents by searching manufacturers for the product's Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) which they're required to provide to you, BEFORE beginning. Read instructions fully and be aware of how chemicals can react to things around them.

In addition, there are the environmental effects. All these chemicals (including nail polish btw) are supposed to be dropped off at your local chemical disposal unit. (Usually a separate building at the dump.) That includes the leftover liquid you have after stripping paint.



In Conclusion





Material Safety Data Sheet - Simple Green Since there are natural, environmentally friendly alternatives, that work just as well, why not use them in the first place?



Don't be that person who swears by chemical strippers and continues to suggest them to other hobbyists because you've "used them for years and never hurt yourself." Maybe you do take all the necessary precautions, but people get hurt from accidents every day. Consider the audience - that there are a ton of people, including kids, who turn to Internet for information and assume that if others are doing it, it's perfectly safe. Reducing the chance of injury makes our hobby a safer pass time. I've yet to read a compelling argument that defends the use of chemicals in comparison to healthy alternatives. Since there are natural, environmentally friendly alternatives,, why not use them in the first place?Don't be that person who swears by chemical strippers and continues to suggest them to other hobbyists because you've "used them for years and never hurt yourself." Maybe you do take all the necessary precautions, but people get hurt from accidents every day. Consider the audience - that there are a ton of people, including kids, who turn to Internet for information and assume that if others are doing it, it's perfectly safe. Reducing the chance of injury makes our hobby a safer pass time. I've yet to read a compelling argument that defends the use of chemicals in comparison to healthy alternatives.



[Update] Lead Miniatures



A good point was brought up through the comments on this article that another thing to be concerned about when handling and scrubbing old miniatures is that minis used to be made out of lead. This means more residue and chemical baths full of stuff you don't want to handle.



Removing Paint from a Single Spot







You can pour a little in to the cap and Q-Tips work great for removing the paint. Either rub the surface or twirl it in a recessed area.



On Thagrosh Gesso





Stripping Miniatures







Plastic miniatures may take longer to strip and you could end up with some of the primer left bonded to the plastic.



Taking Minis Apart (Optional)



It can be helpful to take miniatures apart before starting over from scratch. It lets you reposition parts, modify them, gain access to hard to paint areas, clean off gobs of glue and can make cleaning off paint easier. This is optional though, since many paint strippers will also weaken glues and can make this process easier if you dismantle after soaking the miniature.



[Update]A good point was brought up through the comments on this article that another thing to be concerned about when handling and scrubbing old miniatures is that minis used to be made out of lead. This means more residue and chemical baths full of stuff you don't want to handle. Alcohol is a good go-to if you've got a spot you want to remove the paint from. You can get it from drug stores and look for the 99% instead of the ones diluted with water.You can pour a little in to the cap and Q-Tips work great for removing the paint. Either rub the surface or twirl it in a recessed area.On, I decided to redo his face and wanted to start from pewter to prevent paint from caking too thick. Paint someon the model's surface before painting again so you have a primed surface. Pictured are the two miniatures I'll be stripping of their paint. Both are pewter, though the Marine on the left is probably over 10 years old and the elf on the right is about a year. This gives an idea of how the process works on paint jobs of different ages.Plastic miniatures may take longer to strip and you could end up with some of the primer left bonded to the plastic.It can be helpful to take miniatures apart before starting over from scratch. It lets you reposition parts, modify them, gain access to hard to paint areas, clean off gobs of glue and can make cleaning off paint easier. This isthough, since many paint strippers will also weaken glues and can make this process easier if you dismantle after soaking the miniature.

Stripping the Model





The brush might not catch everything, so for the nooks and crannies I like to use a dentist pick, but tweezers or a hobby knife can work as well. You shouldn't have to scratch the miniature, just pull and push the paint off. Remember that any paint left will obscure details once you prime the miniature.





Taking Apart the Rest



As I mentioned above, paint stripper also does a good number on super glue.



At this point you can use a hobby knife to cut and pry off stuff like glued flock or caked on glued areas.





Cleaning Up



Use some hand soap with your brush and scrub the miniature clean to remove any residue from the stripper or pieces of paint left on the model.







Completed



Seriously, looks good as new.







Leftover Paint Stripper



You can usually use paint stripper multiple times, but you'll need to store it somewhere. This is another reason to use something like an old margarine or yogurt container.



Careful about storing chemicals



If you're not using a safe stripper like Simple Green, look up the MSDS sheet for the chemical you're using to know how to safely store it.



Disposal



MSDS sheets also instruct you how to dispose of chemicals. Simple Green's website instructs you to just make sure you don't pour out used liquid near a storm drain, but chemicals should be brought to your local chemical disposal, usually a unit at the city dump.



The brush might not catch everything, so for the nooks and crannies I like to use a dentist pick, but tweezers or a hobby knife can work as well. You shouldn't have to scratch the miniature, just pull and push the paint off. Remember that any paint left will obscure details once you prime the miniature.As I mentioned above, paint stripper also does a good number on super glue.At this point you can use a hobby knife to cut and pry off stuff like glued flock or caked on glued areas.Use some hand soap with your brush and scrub the miniature clean to remove any residue from the stripper or pieces of paint left on the model.Seriously, looks good as new.You can usually use paint stripper multiple times, but you'll need to store it somewhere. This is another reason to use something like an old margarine or yogurt container.If you're not using a safe stripper like Simple Green, look up the MSDS sheet for the chemical you're using to know how to safely store it.MSDS sheets also instruct you how to dispose of chemicals. Simple Green's website instructs you to just make sure you don't pour out used liquid near a storm drain, but chemicals should be brought to your local chemical disposal, usually a unit at the city dump.