Bathing metal figures

[Tarok]

In case you thought this was a post about figures bathing you would be sadly mistaken.... :lol:

My question (and probably one asked and answered before) is about the washing of white metal figures.

I read somewhere that metal figures should be washed in a vinegar & water mixture before commencing with priming. Is there any sort of recommended ratio between the water & the vinegar? Should white or brown vinegar be used? Does using either one make any difference? Are there any precautions that should be taken?

 

[megroot]

Rudi,

Welcome to the planet. You find all your answers here.
As far as washing the figure's go. I have washed two figures before priming. All the others are not washed.
There was no different with the priming. I don't use automotive primer but Citadel primer.
Maybe that's make the different.

Marc

 

[pgarri27]

I wash all my figures, resin and metal, with Dawn dish detergent and water to remove any residue or oil from handling them. It only takes acouple of minutes to dry with a hair dryer before priming. I think is is good to have them warm when priming. I use automotive primer.
Pete

 

[Tarok]

Hi Marc

Thanks for the feedback. I don't normally wash kits, but these are my 1st metal figures, so i wasn't quite sure. I paint in Humbrol enamels, so I will prime with a light grey or matt white.

Also, thanks for the welcome. Although I am new to FigurePlanet I have been a member of another great modeling site for almost a year now...

Rudi

 

[Tarok]

Pete,

Thanks for replying. Is there any particular advantage of having them warm while priming?

Rudi

 

[Guy]

I've been painting metal figures for over 30 years and have never washed one. I also use Humbrol with a light gray Floquil primer underneath.

All of my resin figures are washed with dish detergent and left overnight to air dry.

Guy

 

[Kisifer]

I very rarely wash my figures (metal or resin). If i feel like that the figure needs a bath.. then i wash it, but mostly i prime them right after then are cleaned from lines etc. I use the Andrea spray primer and i'm very satisfied so far.

 

[Einion]

Originally posted by Tarok+Jun 8 2005, 09:28 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Tarok @ Jun 8 2005, 09:28 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>I read somewhere that metal figures should be washed in a vinegar & water mixture before commencing with priming. [/b]

Hi Rudi, the advice about using vinegar comes down to us from the old school, I believe supposed to be partly intended to prevent a form of corrosion of the metal called lead rot or lead disease, but in actual fact this procedure could have completely the opposite effect! Regardless, modern 'white metal' casting alloys are usually lead free so we should treat them differently anyway.

These days the advice to wash figures is to remove any mould-release agents as well as finger grease from handling during cleanup, to ensure a good bond with the primer or paint. I don't wash my figures but instead brush over them with a soft brush and isopropyl alcohol/methylated spirits or acetone.

Particularly if you don't use a robust spray-on primer I would advise you to use either cleaning method as it's all to easy to rub the figure down to metal on the high spots during handling for assembly if you don't (and Humbrols don't grip that well) plus it only takes a few moments' effort so why not?

<!--QuoteBegin-Tarok@Jun 8 2005, 11:48 AM
Is there any particular advantage of having them warm while priming?[/quote]
It's definitely a good idea to warm spray primers in the can before use. I have experimented with warming metal castings with a hairdryer to speed-dry watery sprays from an airbrush but for priming there would seem to be little benefit and if you're priming by brush it could have a tendency to dry the enamel more quickly than you'd like.

Einion

 

[Tarok]

Thanks to all for the feedback.

 

[Kandor8]

Welcome Rudi,

The old, OLD school was to wash the figue with dish soap, steel wool it LIGHTLY with 0000 weight steel wool, prime the figure with the old greenish Floquil railroad primer with an airbrush (it was not available in a spray can) this was great stuff, it went on really thin and did not clog up any detail. The only drawback was that it had no tooth to it thus requiring a second coat of the Floquil spray gray primer. Eventually, the lead content of figures has lessened and the green Floquil has been dropped (I bet Augie Rodriguez is STILL using it though, he swore by it).

Nowadays, I still wash the figure in warm dishwater, do the clean up (filing, scraping, sanding, cursing) steel wool it, NOT THE RESIN FIGURES! and I prime it. Right now I'm trying out Mr. Resin primer, and Mr. Metal primer. Mr. Resin is good, warm the can in a pot /bowl of warm water hot tap is good not too hot though, this helps to reduce the "pebble effect" all us figure painters detest. I'm about to try out Mr. Metal tonight on my Wolf Scout Indian I'll let you know. Floquil made a figure primer called Base White that was fantastic, I'm going to check Squadron and see if it's still available.

Later!
Ric

 

[KeithP]

For those of you not washing figures before priming, is there no concern about dust, steel wool fibers or oils from your hands? for metal AND resin?

Heck, I wash everything :lol:

Keith