There are two basic types of paint strippers, solvents or caustics. The caustics are lye based and are generally used to strip paint from wood. The solvent strippers range from some of the “green” ones based on the chemicals in citrus (oranges) to the most aggressive, usually containing methylene chloride. Methylene Chloride will burn skin almost instantly. You must wear eye protection, have adequate ventilation and wear protective clothing when using Methylene Chloride strippers.
Automotive brake fluid is another alternative although maybe not as fast as conventional strippers, it is one of the safest. Not only is it less likely to harm skin, it won’t hurt most plastics. Model railroaders have used it for years to remove the paint from their diecast model trains and accessories. It is important to thoroughly wash the stripped casting before repainting or any remaining residue could hinder future paint projects.
Acetone is another commercially available stripper that can be found with the paint thinners at any paint store or with the paint products at Wal-Mart, Home Depot, etc. Although flammable and the concentrated vapors can be toxic, it is safer than most of the commercial strippers. Store it in a glass jar with a metal screw top. Acetone will dissolve will dissolve some plastics and tends to evaporate through the plastics it doesn’t dissolve. It should be noted that a safety label should be affected to the container and the container should be stored in a safe place. Even though you know what is in the jar, others may not. After carefully dissembling your model put metal parts in the jar and let them soak. The paint will usually slough off in a few minutes. You can snake the casting out of the jar using a wire hook or pick it out with tweezers or forceps Although using a metal screen to pour through is faster and removes more of the paint residue. Light brushing with an old toothbrush will usually remove any stubborn spots. Use a wooden toothpick to get any remaining paint out of door and hood lines. If the paint is stubborn, you can just keep repeating the soaking. One advantage of acetone is that it completely evaporates and won’t leave any residue to interfere with repainting. The primary problem with acetone and skin is that it removes the natural oils. Just avoid skin contact as much as possible. Keep the acetone away from windshields and other plastic parts as it will destroy them.
As a final thought I would like to stress the importance of safety when stripping diecast cars trucks or any type of metal model. If you are unsure of whether or not the solvent you are using will cause harm to yourself or the model then it is recommended to use brake fluid.
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Many NASCAR fans collect NASCAR memorabilia. If you want to start collecting such items, there are several benefits that you could have, such as: the feeling that you are showing support for the sport and the potential of making a profit. There are a lot of variations in NASCAR collectibles but there is a big difference between the NASCAR merchandise and the NASCAR memorabilia. NASCAR merchandise are those items that fans use and wear, like clothing, and home decorations. On the other hand, NASCAR memorabilia is used to refer to the objects that have some deeper value and often times expensive.
There are a lot of professional NASCAR collectors and dealers that consider limited edition car models, die cast cars and others to be memorabilia. If you are new in collecting NASCAR memorabilia and have a friend who is a total hardcore fan of the sport, you may want to seek his advice on how to start your very own collections. There are also several Web sites that can help you get started and NASCAR fan clubs that sell memorabilia.
Now that you have the idea between a memorabilia and merchandise, the next thing you need to think about is how you can start to collect such items. There are a number of options you could choose from. There might even be local shops near you that sell NASCAR collectibles. Most of these items can be found in specialty sports and racing stores and try to find those that have a collectables theme. To find local shops that cater your desire to collect NASCAR memorabilia, try searching for them on the Internet or a local phone book.
Using the Internet can also help you in finding the information you need about several other collectors out there. Some of these collectors might even sell NASCAR memorabilia. Additionally, most shops that specialize in the sports of racing also operate online. If you want to use the Internet as a way of getting started or finding the collectable you need, a simple search using phrases such as “NASCAR collectibles” would suffice. However, if you want to search for something particular, you may choose for something like “Dale Earnhardt die cast car”. These are just alternatives and examples you can apply in your searches and they mostly depend on how patient you are in looking for the right memorabilia you want.
Another great way to help you find a NASCAR memorabilia for sale, are the races. However, most of the items you might find in racetracks are considered to be merchandise, there are other items that can be categorized as a memorabilia. A lot of NASCAR racetracks have shops in them and some of them even allow other NASCAR dealers to set up shops. Third-party dealers are a great way in finding collectibles.
There are also garage or yard sales, thrift stores, flea markets and online auction Web sites that can help you in finding a NASCAR memorabilia. These sites typically specialize in selling used items but most of them are still in great conditions. You might be surprised to find memorabilia from retired drivers and other collectibles when you check the mentioned locations out.
NASCAR memorabilia that are ideal to collect are autographed NASCAR photos and helmets that are also autographed by your favorite driver. There is a Web site, namely www.redline-7000.com that contains a number of memorabilia depending on who your favorite drivers are. This is just one Web site example that you can visit to help you get started in collecting NASCAR memorabilia.
Those mentioned methods on how and where to buy NASCAR memorabilia are just a few of the many ways that you can apply. There are fans out there that create their own methods through the use of their own creativity and patience. These traits are important for a collector. You should also know the reason why you want to start collecting NASCAR items. If you are collecting for the sole reason of enjoyment, you may have more freedom in buying the items you want. Others who collect to make a profit should try to buy a NASCAR memorabilia using a business standpoint; purchases must be made wisely. Additionally, you should have experience in researching as this can help you in determining the estimated value of rare or limited edition collectibles. This will prevent you from being ripped off from the original price.
