I want to strip my Ithilien Boromir (metal), but not often having much luck with past stripping techniques, I decided to ask here. What is the best way to strip miniatures fully?

I'm pretty sure everyone wil have different techniques, but I'll be open to try a different range of techniques anyway. As long as they work anyway

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It sort of then became a Hobbit

I use dettol, pure. leave the miniatures for a day, then attack them with a toothbrush and some clean dettol. Then when most of the paint has gone I drop them in to a tub of warm water with a dash of washing up liquid, and give them another quick scrub with a different toothbrush. I try not to get any, or very little paint scraps in to the water- it goes hard again, and you're back to square one.

Sometimes, with really caked minis (I've had a few from ebay which look like they've literally been dipped in a pot, and all detail is gone) I sometimes repeat the process and give them a second soak.

Oh, and I use washing up gloves. Makes a ghastly mess, and the missus is generally rather unimpressed. Again, as soon as you get the paint flecks wet they go hard again, and that applies just as much on the wall, sink, floor or counter top as it does on the miniature or toothbrush!

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I used house paint thinner. I dipped my model in for 10 seconds, got a toothbrush and scrubbed gently until my thick and crappy paint job was gone (I'm much better now ). Although make sure you're using metal mini as the plastic base melted on my test mini. Did this to my breaking of the fellowship minis and a successful first stripping attempt (lol )

I use nail polish remover.
It is important you take theone without acetone!
Because theone with acetone does not work nearly as good.

Just put the models in the acetone free remover for like 5 minutes and then brush the paint off with a tootbrush.
It should come right off. And if it doesn't, let the model soak a little bit longer.

I use a product called nitro mors.

You can get it from DIY shops and it works brill.

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Veni Vidi Vici

Tell them they'er boarding a Ryan Air flight and clothes and weapons are extra!

haha good one Bilbo , although the Americans on here will have no idea what you are refering too , maybe the irish people will.

Sorry, I really couldn't resist!

I use Dettol Antisceptic Disinfectant (Brown) Undiluted which I get from Woolworths, which is an Australia wide supermarket, so it should be available around the world, particularly UK if thats where you are from. Works on metal and plastic. I use a margarine/butter container - put the models in and completely submerge them with the liquid. Leave them overnight (about 12 hours and you shouldn't have any issues).

Follow mertaal's instructions. Some additional tips:
Don't use over grass. I wouldn't use it on any nice furniture if you can help it.
You will want to be outside, sitting and with something to put your minis on which is within easy reach.
Lay down some newspaper to catch the drips, to put the dettoled minis on, and one for water washed minis. Then throw away the paper (in an outdoor bin is best as it is a little bit smelly if you leave it for a few days).
Don't do too many minis - I am always eager to do heaps then it takes me quite a while. Keep it under a dozen. A minute should be enough to do each mini, maybe more if you have a lot of paint on it as it is more likely to get caught in grooves.
Use fluid, direct brushing motions for the first few strokes. The paint will come with your brush and fall off at the end of the stroke. If you start off by swirling the brush around, you break up the paint and it takes a bit longer to remove.
Use dishwashing gloves, I used 2 pairs the first time, one for the dettol one for water, second time I didn't bother with the gloves when water washing, but you definitely want it for the first one.
To make your dettol go a little further, remove all the minis from the soaking container and put them in another container. Pour an amount of the dettol into your second container from the first so you have enough to be able to dunk a model in and give it a quick swish around (which I do at the end to wash off any broken up paint I have left on.
Don't use a nice bucket to water wash - the paint takes back its normal properties (mostly) when put in water, so I ended up with a bucket with streaks of paint over the inside which I had to scrub off (hard!). Instead, use an ice cream container of warm water (can be smaller I just find it easier/faster using these size containers which I have an abundance of).

I know that I have made quite a few points - its all in the interest of saving you time and money. I would recommend Dettol as an A+ stripper - it works quickly and effectively and smells just as bad as anything else you could use but it is a cleaner so I find it to be nice enough. Give it a go!

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I kind of like the smell!

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I use "Simple Green" which is a multi-purpose cleaner in a spray bottle, let it soak over night in a covered container and and use a tooth brush to remove the paint the next day. I also like to use nail polish remover on metals (do not use on plastics it will melt the models) the same process but I usually let it soak just a few hours not over night, the fumes are very strong so leave it in a well ventilated area.
hope this helps

I use my sister's nail polish remover Not sure she even noticed it yet...
2 minutes in it and 1 minute of toothbrush attack is enough to clean the model

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Pretty sure that's the US branded equivalent of UK and Oz Dettol.

Mmmmm…. piney.

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I use white spirit (paint stripper)
Works a treat. =)

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If anyone is concerned about fumes try "Clean Spirit". It's a white spirit substitute that's virtually odourless. Available in B&Q (uk & Ireland).

I don't know how well it will work. The only thing I ever tried was Nitromors without a great result.

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Last time I tried to strip a miniature was 19 years ago when I used Nitromors, which I would frankly not recommend! Has anyone out here actually had satisfactory results with a paint stripper where all the paint has been removed, and the model looks as new? I wonder is a dish washer could be used to get rid of paint in crevices after it has been loosened up by solvent? The only thing is not wanting to poison your family next time they out the crockery in for a wash?

Dettol gets you like new from my experience. There is a little darkening of the metal on some minis but I am 90% sure this is dependent on the paint that was used.
My original mini's come up with a more grey look, though the paint is definitely gone. I used acrylic paints which I had for art at school to do the base coat on these (beserkers) and Vallejo Red gore on top. Newer models which I know I have used only GW/Vallejo on have come up as new or close to. Not sure why this is the case, it just is.

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I've had a few pieces which look brand new after stripping but it depends on how the figure was painted, if they were not primed the paint comes off easily after an overnight soak, also the type of paint too, latex paint will come off much easier than oil based

as for the dish washer, I don't think that would do the job, however you could try an "ultrasonic" cleaner, it's used to clean jewelry. I've recently picked one up and I've been experimenting to find the best practices to remove paint, I don't have an absolute guide yet but I've had some exciting results

Does this work on plastics?

Dettol does. Cant speak for the rest.

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