Tips: Removing lettering/foam blades (Was "That 1 Percent...")

[Dave V]

Maybe the tissue that you use to pick out donuts at the grocery store would work? It's thin and looks strong....and you have an excuse to get some donuts!

That's wax paper...  Coated with wax so as to prevent fluids from passing through.  I'm guessing it wouldn't work.

[sirenwerks]

... leaves a slight ghost image of the lettering.

That has possibilities in its own right.

[peteski]

Paper towels (like Bounty) are too thick, too stiff and have too much quilting (texture) to be very useful for this application.  I would say that regular tissues (single or double ply) would be the closest to the thin industrial TP.  Make sure to get the cheapest generic plain tissues (not the fancy lotion-infused Kleenex).

While they made this look so easy, I also have my doubts that it is a universal solution. There are just too many variables at play.  But it does work wonderfully in certain instances (as clearly shown in the video).

As far as the Coleman white fuel goes, if it is just pure naphtha then there are also other similar products:  for smaller quantity get Ronsonol lighter fluid (in a squirt bottle), or for larger quantities VM&P Naphtia in quart and gallon sizes (it is a paint solvent sold in hardware stores).

[ryan_wilkerson]

That's wax paper...  Coated with wax so as to prevent fluids from passing through.  I'm guessing it wouldn't work.

Good point...I hadn't thought of that. What about a$$gaskets?  

[GaryHinshaw]

Good tip DRD.  This thread would be even more useful with a different title.

[C855B]

Paper towels (like Bounty) are too thick, too stiff and have too much quilting (texture) to be very useful for this application.  I would say that regular tissues (single or double ply) would be the closest to the thin industrial TP.  Make sure to get the cheapest generic plain tissues (not the fancy lotion-infused Kleenex). ...

There you have it. It seems silly to discuss the attributes of TP like this, but it's somewhat important in this technique. You want something just absorbent enough to hold the Microsol in place but not so absorbent it wicks away from the work area, or, worse, spreads to places you want to keep. It also needs to be flat, not embossed like the "luxury" TP brands, and to some extent, paper towels.

Regardless, if it works on most or at least many models, it's something to keep handy in the bag o' tricks. Where in the H did I hide my bottle of Microsol?

[Denver Road Doug]

Pics or it didn't happen

 

Sorry, you're right.   I've been out of town since posting this, but now I had a chance to show my work.   

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

And here is a closeup of some of my foam work...

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

[mu26aeh]

So would this work on MT cars ?  I vaguely remember trying to remove lettering on some duplicate number CSX ortners with micro sol and it did nothing.  Maybe I didn't leave on long enough ???   

[Denver Road Doug]

So would this work on MT cars ?  I vaguely remember trying to remove lettering on some duplicate number CSX ortners with micro sol and it did nothing.  Maybe I didn't leave on long enough ???   

Hmmm, I think I have some Micro-Trains cars that I need to renumber. (BN Triple Hoppers come to mind, among others)   I will try to test on one of them when I get a chance.   The problem I've always had with MTL cars is the paint coming off before the lettering.

[James Costello]

Hmmm, I think I have some Micro-Trains cars that I need to renumber. (BN Triple Hoppers come to mind, among others)

You mean MTL still haven't done a runners pack of this slam dunk yet?

[Denver Road Doug]

You mean MTL still haven't done a runners pack of this slam dunk yet?

Ha, not sure if you're mocking me or not.   

Neither Atlas nor Micro-Trains has much interest in doing the incredibly ubiquitous BN rotary scheme.   Atlas swears their three-bar BN's sell better, even though the four numbers of the rotary scheme they've done in the past 15 years sold out instantly, and are almost impossible to find.  (I suppose technically they're right, since they've done--I think--NINE numbers of the three-bar now during that same period.   So simple math tells you they outsell the rotary scheme.  Pretty sure I could buy at least 20-30 of the three-bars at tomorrow's train show....and zero of the rotaries.  EDIT:  I was pretty close, I think I only counted 18 of the three-bar scheme.)   

Micro-Trains just won't return my calls about getting a custom run done.  And they're Micro-Trains...they'll put a million oddball goofball schemes on something before a real scheme...it's simply a matter of time--measured in decades.   

[James Costello]

Ha, not sure if you're mocking me or not.   

Nah mate, I was trying to remind @Shipsure about it but the tag didn't want to work from my phone....

[bbussey]

Hmmm, I think I have some Micro-Trains cars that I need to renumber. (BN Triple Hoppers come to mind, among others)   I will try to test on one of them when I get a chance.   The problem I've always had with MTL cars is the paint coming off before the lettering.

Doesn't work on MTL cars.  The paint comes off with the lettering.

[Denver Road Doug]

Doesn't work on MTL cars.  The paint comes off with the lettering.

So I guess Coleman white gas is the way to go then.

[Denver Road Doug]

A similar technique is being discussed so it reminded me of this thread.  Check out https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=38763.0 for more info.

Thought I would follow up regarding removing lettering from MTL.   The technique out-of-the-box does not generally work.    However, I eventually acquired some of the Coleman camp fuel/"white gas" and essentially used the same technique but substituting the camp fuel for the MicroSol.  I have had some success with it.  It seems to take a little longer in some cases and/or require multiple applications.  The major problem is that it evaporates quickly so in the course of the 5-10 minutes "soak period" the chemical doesn't hang around long enough.

Anyway, no pics but I have removed lettering from MTL Z-Scale Husky Stack cars, both TTX and BN.