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Post by bugaboo on Aug 18, 2011 9:55:25 GMT -6
Hi guys Heres a tip that I just tested, and it works perfectly. I dont know if this has been mentioned in here earlier, if so, I apologize for repeating it. Anyway, here we go... In some kits there are goldplated chrome trees. Several times I have been annoyed by this, wishing the manefacturer would drop the gold, and leave the tree chrome plated. Well, thats not a problem anymore. Ordinary household white spirit will do the trick. I tested it on a gold plated radiator from the Paddy wagon. I dropped it in white spirit for a couple of hours, cleansed it in clean water, and there we have it. A nice chrome plated radiator. It doesnt look like the white spirit affects the chrome plating, and it doesnt look like it rubs off, in fact it looks and handles exactly like any other chrome tree part... A couple of pics to illustrate:
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Post by BigDave on Aug 18, 2011 10:38:55 GMT -6
Cool, but what are white spirits
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Post by bugaboo on Aug 18, 2011 11:37:24 GMT -6
Hmm, okay. I´ve been told that white spirit was the english name for it, but I can see now that it is not. Lookin in the dictionary I cant get a clear answer. But these are the translations: rubbing alcohol, surgical spirit, or methylated spirit.
I hope you now know what I mean :-)
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Post by ShowRodFreak Don V. on Aug 18, 2011 12:13:21 GMT -6
RUBBING ALCOHOL
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Post by BigDave on Aug 18, 2011 12:33:28 GMT -6
Hmm, okay. I´ve been told that white spirit was the english name for it, but I can see now that it is not. Lookin in the dictionary I cant get a clear answer. But these are the translations: rubbing alcohol, surgical spirit, or methylated spirit. I hope you now know what I mean :-) Got it, thanks
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Post by badroadahead on Aug 18, 2011 14:09:54 GMT -6
Nice tip! I can't wait to try this.
Dave
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Post by bugaboo on Aug 19, 2011 8:37:11 GMT -6
My pleasure ;D ;D ;D
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Post by Paul B. Canney on Aug 19, 2011 17:52:25 GMT -6
Cool, but what are white spirits Casper
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Post by Starry Eyes on Aug 19, 2011 19:00:13 GMT -6
Cool, but what are white spirits Casper
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Post by RodBurNeR on Aug 20, 2011 2:51:24 GMT -6
This has to be the best tip I have seen in a long time! I lothe (just don't like them) them gold plated parts, but now I don't have to pass up some kits because of them!
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Post by Mysterion on Aug 20, 2011 13:30:03 GMT -6
I googled white spirit and found sites saying it's mineral spirits. So is it mineral spirits or rubbing alcohol?
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Post by bugaboo on Aug 20, 2011 15:29:57 GMT -6
Rubbing alcohol....
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Post by ira on Aug 21, 2011 8:33:02 GMT -6
[glow=red,2,300]GREAT TIP!!![/glow]
Thanks!
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Post by old school modeler on Aug 28, 2011 9:44:44 GMT -6
Be careful guys all alcohols aren't equal in concentration and some of them do remove chrome plating which isn't all equaly formulated or applied either. The gold is clearly a tint overcoat on top of the vacuum metailzed coating, which is usually clear coated. I'd say that the solvent is removing the petroleum based, tinted overcoat which is cool, but you are also exposing the aluminum underneath so you should re-clear the parts to avoid deterioration over time, aluminum will oxidize without protection, turning dull and whiteish. This is a great tip though, assuming use of the right stuff, and trying it out on a section of the sprue before wholesale dunking of your precious parts! I'd love to get that gold off the Monogram 1/8 Golden T issue, always hated that gold color. I think the mineral spirits side of the argument on what white spirit is wins. Its a solvent, not alcohol, a mixture of petroleum based products together. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_spiritwww.facebook.com/pages/White-spirit/110118669017459
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Post by bugaboo on Nov 13, 2011 17:35:05 GMT -6
Well, heres the Wiki page on husholdningssprit, translated to english: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denatured_alcoholAs mentioned earlier, I dont believe that it will affect the chrome in any way. That is also what I have been told, by guys who have done this before..
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Post by old school modeler on Nov 13, 2011 18:39:13 GMT -6
White spirit and Methylated Spirits are not the same thing, as your reference states Methylated Spirits is denatured alcohol with additives that make it undrinkable but useful for non consumption purposes. It is mostly ethanol with some methanol and perhaps other additives which are not drinkable. White Spirit is not the same, it is a petrolem based product as described before. Confusion with the "spirit" in both names but they are different products. Now the question is which one is the one actually being used that works? If it smells like alcohol it is denatured alcohol or methlyated spirits. If it smells like turpentine, kerosene or mineral spirits, it is white spirits. here's some more info on the two: www.greenlivingtips.com/articles/357/1/Uses-for-methylated-spirits.htmlwww.experiencefestival.com/a/White_spirit/id/1995865I haven't gotten around to trying this yet, still would caution to try it on a test part or sprue portion first, and overcoat with clear after you are done. Strong concentrates alcohol can loosen and remove chrome from my experience.
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Post by bugaboo on Nov 20, 2011 4:47:44 GMT -6
Well, the one I use smells like alcohol, not turpentine, so it must be denatured alcohol
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