Author Topic: stripping paint from a kato  (Read 6745 times)

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tom mann

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stripping paint from a kato
« on: January 08, 2007, 03:37:55 PM »
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There is always a lot of discussion about this, but will just plain 91% alcohol work?

Sokramiketes

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Re: stripping paint from a kato
« Reply #1 on: January 08, 2007, 03:50:46 PM »
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There is always a lot of discussion about this, but will just plain 91% alcohol work?

I suppose it will take as much time waiting for a reply as it would take to dunk it and see...

tom mann

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Re: stripping paint from a kato
« Reply #2 on: January 08, 2007, 04:07:17 PM »
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There is always a lot of discussion about this, but will just plain 91% alcohol work?

I suppose it will take as much time waiting for a reply as it would take to dunk it and see...

Well, it seems like it could take forever, don't know if I should continue or do something else.

Robbman

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Re: stripping paint from a kato
« Reply #3 on: January 08, 2007, 04:08:15 PM »
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Message deleted
« Last Edit: January 26, 2008, 06:47:30 PM by Robbman »

inkaneer

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Re: stripping paint from a kato
« Reply #4 on: January 08, 2007, 04:50:37 PM »
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There is always a lot of discussion about this, but will just plain 91% alcohol work?

I used 91% to strip some Kato caboose bodies with no problems.  I used it in a ultrasonic cleaner.  The shells came out okay but the alcohol was not too kind on whatever type of clear plastic they use in the lid of the ultrasonic cleaner. 

amato1969

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Re: stripping paint from a kato
« Reply #5 on: January 08, 2007, 11:33:39 PM »
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Cool thread!  I have a few Kato PAs to strip this weekend.  I was going to try ELO, but I'll give the isopropyl a shot first...

  Frank

FrankCampagna

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Re: stripping paint from a kato
« Reply #6 on: January 09, 2007, 07:38:48 AM »
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This comes up from time to time. People who have done it say it is the best for Kato paints. Some colors, however, just don't come off completely. Frank
"Once I built a railroad, made it run......."

CRRNJ

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Re: stripping paint from a kato
« Reply #7 on: January 09, 2007, 07:52:49 AM »
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I have had very little luck stripping paint from Kato locos. I suspect that a blow torch would work as well as anything ::) ;D . I have been advised to just paint over the original.

Len

Chris333

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Re: stripping paint from a kato
« Reply #8 on: January 09, 2007, 08:40:26 AM »
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I used alcohol to strip 4 Kato F3's. Worked just fine.

engineshop

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Re: stripping paint from a kato
« Reply #9 on: January 09, 2007, 10:57:20 AM »
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Cool thread!  I have a few Kato PAs to strip this weekend.  I was going to try ELO, but I'll give the isopropyl a shot first...

  Frank

You might have to be careful with ELO since in can make some plastic brittle. I use alcohol and Badgers sandblaster for best results. The sandblaster even removes the paint in the radiator grooves.

nscalesteve

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Re: stripping paint from a kato
« Reply #10 on: January 09, 2007, 01:56:27 PM »
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91% alcohol and a round brush in a flex on a dremel with low rpm will work ! *
(and if you try to strip a new run Kato Conrail SD40 be prepared to strip them twice - yes, they are painted and pad printed twice !)



* that's how I strip Kato shells...

rmansker

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Re: stripping paint from a kato
« Reply #11 on: January 09, 2007, 03:53:03 PM »
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Whatever you do, DO NOT GO NEAR A KATO SHELL WITH ELO- IT WILL CRUMBLE INTO PIECES!!! :o I lost two SD40 shells trying to strip with ELO not too long ago. As soon as I started to scrub with a toothbrush, they literally came apart in my hands. I have used it on both Atlas and Lifelike shells before with no problem, so I guess Kato uses a different type of plastic for their shell that doesn't react well to the ELO.

amato1969

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Re: stripping paint from a kato
« Reply #12 on: January 09, 2007, 04:34:22 PM »
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Thanks, guys.  Isopropyl it is!

  Frank

Catt

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Re: stripping paint from a kato
« Reply #13 on: January 09, 2007, 06:18:15 PM »
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If it's a single colour KATO I'm working with I don't bother stripping the paint.I will use Acetone (fingernail polish remover for those that don't know) and just remove the lettering then spray the new colour and decal to suite.
Johnathan (Catt) Edwards
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Grande Valley Railway
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RS-27

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Re: stripping paint from a kato
« Reply #14 on: January 10, 2007, 04:27:50 AM »
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I have 5 Kato SD40s + 2 SD45 + 2 U30C (olde).  They still had remanents or more of paint from previous attempts.  I soaked them in 91% isopropyl.  A toothbrush got off the paint off the shells along with a bicarbonate sandblast (99.44%).

There was some slight residue, no prob.  I was happy.

I soaked the sills and handrails, left them immersed for a week.  Not good...  the delrin/whatever engineering plastic of the handrails absorbed the alky.   The curve of the assembly was impressive... NOT. 

Luckily, after toothbrushing (might just as well) and letting them sit for a week, the handrails shrunk to their original size. I was happy again.

Moral of the tale:  even benign(??) solvents might not be...

My mileage (your's may vary):  91% isopropyl or denatured ethanol is the first step.  I have Chameleon: $7 for 8oz, alky is about $1 per quart.  ELO on a q-tip removed some old Atlas(Roco?) paint that 91% didnt touch (neither did oven cleaner).

I will not use brake fluid. Period.  I'm not thrilled with PineSol either.

Be cautious.

Bob in IDaho