Wash or not wash sheet styrene?

nanook177 · Post by **nanook177** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 12:34 pm

I know that before I start working on a model out of the box, I should wash it first to remove all the oils and solvents used to remove it from its mold. Should I do the same thing when I purchase sheet styrene for scratch building? Thanks!

DX-SFX · Post by **DX-SFX** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 12:49 pm

You don't have to. It's not injection moulded.

Chacal · Post by **Chacal** » Sat Apr 28, 2007 3:28 pm

However... after you mark the sheet, cut it following the marks, handle it this way and that, the sheet will have to be cleaned from the ink/pencil from the marking, from the natural oils in your hands etc. So, after I cut it to shape, I like to clean styrene with alcohol (usually isopropanol).

DX-SFX · Post by **DX-SFX** » Sat Apr 28, 2007 5:49 pm

It's good practice not to use a pen at all. The solvent in some paints can make the ink bleed through. A ball point is particularly bad as the ink never truly dries. A sharp pencil is good for marking out. Other than the usual pre-paint cleaning routine, styrene sheet is not subject to any oily residue in it's manufacture.

Kylwell · Post by **Kylwell** » Sat Apr 28, 2007 6:15 pm

Usually by the time I've done with a scratch or bash there is little need to wash anything. All the sanding and priming and sanding and priming has taken care of any residual marks or residue.

Sanding and priming

Sanding and priming

sanding and priming

sandingandpriming

enough to make a sane man go crazy and start building Nascar models.

Mr. Badwrench · Post by **Mr. Badwrench** » Sat Apr 28, 2007 11:28 pm

On the other hand, washing sheet styrene helps to knock down the static charge it builds up. The styrene dust, stray cat hairs, cookie crumbs etc. won't stick to it as bad.

DX-SFX · Post by **DX-SFX** » Sun Apr 29, 2007 4:56 am

Eating cookies while model making always seem to go together.

DX-SFX · Post by **DX-SFX** » Sun Apr 29, 2007 12:40 pm

Classic example of the ink problem right here:

http://www.starshipmodeler.net/cgi-bin/ ... hp?t=50483

In brief, use a pencil.

Chacal · Post by **Chacal** » Sun Apr 29, 2007 3:02 pm

And to use a pencil you may want to "help" the surface of the styrene by gently buffing it with fine steel wool, so it will "grab" the graphite better.