Warning about IPA

[austinbob]

Just a warning about IPA (not the drinkable stuff!!)
I always thought that IPA was pretty safe to use on locos and didn't affect the paintwork.
Wrong!!
I was cleaning some track on my test layout and a couple of drops of IPA ended up on the roof of my M7 tank. Didn't notice at the time but then after a few minutes I noticed that the cab roof had gone white - dissolved the paint I guess.
Not a big problem as a couple of drops of thinned black paint will bring the M7 back to as good as new.

Just thought I'd warn people that IPA is not as safe as I thought.

[cjdodd]

Yeah it is a solvent so it will bleach plastic. It is safe to use, just don't leave it on stuff :-)

[austinbob]

Yeah it is a solvent so it will bleach plastic. It is safe to use, just don't leave it on stuff :-)

you're right of course - but cos of the nature of what I was doing (cleaning track) I didn't know the IPA had dripped on to loco.. A tale of caution. Now where's that black paint??

[Newportnobby]

I have highlighted this before when I managed to let a drop of IPA get onto a coach roof

[Sprintex]

It's done a good job of taking the paint off my Tomix track cleaner


Paul

[austinbob]

I have highlighted this before when I managed to let a drop of IPA get onto a coach roof

Wish I had spotted that before NN... I would have been more careful!!

[Luke Piewalker]

IPA is safe in terms of it won't dissolve plastic, paint however....

[PaulCheffus]

Hi

IPA makes a good paint stripper when mixed with a little water far cheaper than the branded products. From memory you need around a 93% solution for it to work.

Cheers

Paul

[austinbob]

Hi

IPA makes a good paint stripper when mixed with a little water far cheaper than the branded products. From memory you need around a 93% solution for it to work.

Cheers

Paul

I'm sure you're right. I just wish I hadn't found out by accident!!

[dannyboy]

I just wish I hadn't found out by accident!!

You are in good company Bob - some of the worlds greatest discoveries were made 'by accident' - remember that fella who jumped out of the bath shouting "Eureka" and got hit on the head by a falling apple? 

[Dr Al]

It is exceptionally good at this - I've used it to strip paint from models before (ones I wanted stripping!). That's why I don't tend to use it as a track cleaner - just too risky of an error.

Cheers,
Alan

[railsquid]

I just wish I hadn't found out by accident!!

You are in good company Bob - some of the worlds greatest discoveries were made 'by accident' - remember that fella who jumped out of the bath shouting "Eureka" and got hit on the head by a falling apple? 

The discoverer of the waterproof iPad?

I must confess early on I was enthusiastically cleaning wheels of some 2nd-hand stock and wondered how well it would work on the bodies. Luckily I realised very quickly.

[Yet_Another]

I think this should be on a big billboard surrounded by flashing lights somewhere. I've got a big bottle of IPA, acquired when I was about 18, and used to clean the heads on my cassette decks.

I've never seen a reference to it being used as paint stripper, and it never occurred to me that it might work - one sees regular references to brake fluid, but why would one use that when there's such a nice substance as IPA instead?

[Bealman]

Put it on a cotton bud and it'll take all that horrible black sweat and skin remains or whatever from the insides of metal watch strap links 

Mind you, you still have to use a toothpick to get at the really stubbon bits in the hinges and joins 

[Newportnobby]

Thanks for that, George (I think)