RC10Talk - The Net's Largest Vintage R/C Community

When my old buggy racing buddy got out of RC cars back in the late 80's, he sold me his parts car (Turbo Optima) and almost a half-full third box of parts (Kyosho Salute). I'm certainly not lacking for parts! Anyway, among the parts were a set of stock Turbo Optima wheels that he'd brush-painted silver. They look like a$$ and I'd like to remove the flaking, chipping paint and return them to their original white color.

What's a method of removing paint from those nylon wheels without damaging the wheels themselves? Thanks!

Personally, I would try one of two things... first, I'd soak them in a bath of SuperClean for a day or two. That should take the paint off with the help of a toothbrush or other straight, stiff bristle brush—no problem.

If that wasn't working, my next attempt would be a bath of brake fluid (clear, non dyed fluid). Brake fluid takes the paint off of anything and shouldn't harm the nylon in the least.



Good luck,

doug

Some of the paint on these wheels is turning out to be pretty stubborn. It appears that the guy I received them from not only painted them silver, but originally painted them gold--but no primer.

I've had them soaking overnight now and scrubbed them with a toothbrush, and there's still some gold paint encrusted in places on the wheels...any ideas to kick it up a notch, or just let 'em bathe longer?

At least they're starting to look better!

What are you using to strip the paint?

Ahh sorry, using brake fluid per your suggestion.

They came silver from Kyosho I believe .

P

RC10Eh wrote:They came silver from Kyosho I believe .

P

Not these. I have some that are Option House silver and also a few pairs of white T.O. wheels, but these were originally white, and painted gold, then silver. I recall now why he painted them gold, probably to match his Option House gold aluminum frame parts.

Let 'em soak. If you have ever spilled brake fluid on ANYTHING painted, you have seen first hand what it can do to paint when left to its own devices.

They'll be soaking all day while I'm at work. Hopefully that'll do it. Can this same procedure be used to remove paint from lexan bodies? I assume brake fluid won't attack lexan?

My prefered method of stripping paint from plastic is easy off oven cleaner in the yellow can.

Coel', bottom line is try it on the invisible part first, like anything. My favorite is the ELO (Easy Lift off) products either with a Testor's label or this is the same...http://www.rcslot.com/pc-radio-control-slot-cars/FLO542143.html

Coelacanth wrote:I assume brake fluid won't attack lexan?

http://www.rc10talk.com/viewtopic.php?f=39&t=16255
http://www.rc10talk.com/viewtopic.php?f=56&t=16689&start=15
http://www.rc10talk.com/viewtopic.php?f=62&t=12610
http://www.rc10talk.com/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=12430
http://www.rc10talk.com/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=8924
http://www.rc10talk.com/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=8474
http://www.rc10talk.com/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=8141
http://www.rc10talk.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=4497
http://www.rc10talk.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=4360
http://www.rc10talk.com/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=2717
http://www.rc10talk.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2629

..wheres that little winded breathing hard smilie when you need him?

and then there's..

http://www.rc10talk.com/viewtopic.php?f=54&t=4559

Thomas Jefferson - "those who do not study history are doomed to repeat its mistakes"

shodog wrote:My prefered method of stripping paint from plastic is easy off oven cleaner in the yellow can.

Thanks shodog, I'll have to try that. Update: The wheels sat in brake fluid over 24 hours and there was still a good amount of pesky gold paint encrusted on the wheels, it couldn't be removed by toothbrush. So, on to Plan B. I was planning to update the topic with pics of the rims as they are now, but was busy building a computer for a client last night.

I done tons of paint stripping in the past and have found there is no sure fire way to do it. Sometimes oven cleaner will work where castrol super clean, brake fluid and nitro fuel fail and the inverse is also true.

lacquer thinner.

Update: I bought some Easy-Off (yellow aerosol can with yellow cap) and sprayed it liberally on a few wheels, let it soak for 10 to 15 minutes (about double what the can suggested) and it didn't do much. The stubborn areas of gold paint are still there, even after vigorous brushing with a toothbrush. Lacquer thinner might be next. I assume that's safe on nylon wheels? And if so, what is the exact procedure? Soak it for X minutes? Brush it on & brush off? Thanks!