Brasso use

[The Blue Knight]

I've read several posts mentioning Brasso as an agent used for removing unwanted paint (or whatever it is) from torsos, sheilds and so forth. I bought some and tried it out. It worked, but only after a great deal of rubbing. I want to do some detail work and I'm looking for some pointers from the community. I've soaked pieces in nail polish remover in the past, only to see them disenigrate (sp) before my eyes. Specifically I want to remove the sweater/tie paint from Potter figs, but leave the house device in the lower left corner. I've got enough that I'd like to see if I can make a small unit out of them (with new heads and helmets of course).

Any help would be appreciated! Richard

[Glencaer]

Richard,
Best I can recommend is either use Brasso carefully or use an x-acto knife and carefully scrape off the printing you don't want.

Rev.Brendan Powell Smith uses the knife to trim off the glasses on the Harry fig, and other detail work.

I've scraped paint off with a knife before, and it is tricky to get it just right, where you don't scar up the piece.

Either way, doing a regiment of Potter torsos is gonna be a labor of love (the again, so would be painting all those roman shields that you have done would be about as much work)

-lenny

[Mr. D]

Yes, I've used a knife to scrape off unwanted paint; mostly on heads. It works, but as Lenny pointed out, I've also scared a few heads.

mD

[Todd]

Where do you buy brasso?

[architect]

Hi Todd,

Brasso or other metal polishing products are available at grocery stores, walgreens, and larger chain stores such as Walmart, Target, etc.

Ben

[Lord Resta]

I've also seen brasso in nic nac stores, and hardware stores. Hope I helped a bit!

[TwoTonic Knight]

You can buy Brasso at the local supermarket - that's where I got mine.

I use my Dremel rotary tool and a buffing/polishing wheel with Brasso applied to speed things up (I just did 20 shields, and believe me, you don't want to do that by hand - oh, and for those of you at home, keep the speeds real low or you going to have liquid Brasso sprayed off the wheel everywhere). I haven't tried to use this as a precise way to remove selected prints, though. It might be useful in some instances, and not useful in others. Yes. Brasso takes some rubbing to remove prints, but that's why it doesn't damage the plastic.

I'd go with a blade (good old X-Acto #11) for fine precise removal. Practice on some beat-up expendable pieces first.

And where can you not use Brasso? Computer games.

Yes, I know that sounds obvious, but I tried to slip "Brasso" in as a character name in Bard's Tale III (if anyone remembers back that far now) and at the last second the bean-counters at Electronic Arts realized it was a brand name (and if you saw a "Brasso" wandering around "Everquest", that was me).

[Todd]

Okay, thanks for the info guys.

-Todd

[The Blue Knight]

I appreciate the responses. I put a little Brasso on the print I wanted off and let it soak for a few minutes. It didn't seem to make much difference. So I'll go back to buffing forever, gee what else do I have to do... I'll try a knife on those annoying microphones.

I'll post the pics in a couple of weeks when the new Palace Guard is ready. Then, I'll build a palace to guard!

Got the Brasso at Wal-Mart where everything ever invented, and some things not yet intevented are on sale!

[LEGOFREAK]

I use my Dremel rotary tool and a buffing/polishing wheel with Brasso applied to speed things up (I just did 20 shields, and believe me, you don't want to do that by hand - oh, and for those of you at home, keep the speeds real low or you going to have liquid Brasso sprayed off the wheel everywhere). I haven't tried to use this as a precise way to remove selected prints, though. It might be useful in some instances, and not useful in others. Yes. Brasso takes some rubbing to remove prints, but that's why it doesn't damage the plastic.

Hey cool! - I have a Dremel myself, and I had thought of using it. I was afraid that the wheel would rub off a bunch of the plastic. Do you use the little white cloth wheel? or do you have a specific part number? I can go to the local walmart (everything emporium) to find out if they have one.
Also - you suggested the slowest speed?
I have a bunch of those walls that have the snake on them from the harry potter sets. I would like to to remove that pattern, but i wasnt willing to sit there with a rag for hours and hours and hours.
I am going to have to give this a try, and thanks for posting Two-Tonic

freak

[TwoTonic Knight]

Hey cool! - I have a Dremel myself, and I had thought of using it. I was afraid that the wheel would rub off a bunch of the plastic. Do you use the little white cloth wheel? or do you have a specific part number? I can go to the local walmart (everything emporium) to find out if they have one.
Also - you suggested the slowest speed?
I have a bunch of those walls that have the snake on them from the harry potter sets. I would like to to remove that pattern, but i wasnt willing to sit there with a rag for hours and hours and hours.
I am going to have to give this a try, and thanks for posting Two-Tonic

freak

There's a cloth wheel which is sewn through, and a felt wheel (various sizes). I used the felt wheel, mostly because I had more of them.

I used a fairly slow speed (my model is a smooth progression adjustable) - fast works faster, but since the Brasso is liquid, it will come flying off the wheel onto the furniture, the carpet and worst, your eyes (wear eye protection). At slow speeds it stays on the wheel. My advice is to do it outside.

[porschecm2]

For using Brasso in small spaces, such as taking the glasses off Harry, I suggest using either a Q-tip or a tooth pick with a small amount of cotton wrapped around the end. I've used both, and had excellent success. Using the tooth pick, you can basically Brasso any detail, no matter how small. And the Q-tip would work well for taking large sections of torso printing off. It doesn't take very long(maybe a minute or two), and gives you great control over how much you take off. If you're super careful, you can even take off layers of paint, to leave base colours.

Cm2