Brake Fluid

[bookie]

Does it matter if the brake fluid is synthetic or not to strip paint
Thanks

[btaylor]

I am no expert on paint stripping, But synthetic brake fluid wont harm the paint on a 1;1 car, so i doubt it would be a good stripper for models. And regular brake fluid can be pretty hazardous to your skin. I would use alcohol.
Bob

[bookie]

I let it soak in alcohol 2 days and no good... I'm stripping enamel

[Czar]

In my experience brake fluid will cause micro cracks throughout the body that can cause it to shatter upon impact. I used on Ninco and Scaley bodies. I'd show you a picture but those bodies are no longer in existence. Aside from the fact that brake fluid is really NASTY stuff on your skin, it will ruin your cars. Do not use it.

[waaytoomuchintothis]

I never use brake fluid at all. Insanely corrosive stuff, unless it changed radically since the 1960s. Just use sandpaper on the body to scratch up the surface of the enamel (rub hard, its tough on the surface), and use fresh 91% isopropyl. What the heck kind of body has enamel on it? Is this an old static model?

[dge467]

I used brake fluid on a Scaley body a few years ago. It made the plastic really brittle. Broke off the body posts putting the screws in.

[RichD]

Denatured alcohol is a stronger solvent than isopropylalcohol and it will not harm the types of plastic used for slot cars.

[RazorJon]

I use Super Clean degreeser the last car I did was a Smilin Rays resin, left it in all week and the paint fell off, no harm done to the resin

[blizzard]

My experience with brake fluid is don't leave it to soak too long. I ruined a scaly mini once that way but I've had good results and no damage by soaking a couple of hours, washing it off and repeat if needed.

[TattoosbyJayBrown]

Mineral spirits may do the trick, and they'll wash right off....lacquer thinner would probably cause damage...

[RichD]

I bought a can of mineral spirits to clean up after caulking the tub with silicone, it is also called Specs Paint Thinner. Laquer thinner is usually MEK (methylethylketone) which will attack plastic. On the Cole-Parmer site there is a lot of info on chemical compatibility: http://www.coleparmer.com/Chemical-Resistance
Slot car bodies are mostly ABS or styrene I think. According to that reference mineral spirits do not play well with ABS. Denatured alcohol is ethanol with some nasty stuff added so you can't drink it, it is OK with ABS if you don't soak it for very long periods of time.

[Racie35]

Oven cleaner works...won't touch flat black though....not sure why

[Fubar Motorsports]