How to clean a painted wood model boat...

[D-train]

I have an old painted wood model boat. (for display not for water use) It's probably from the 60's. I would assume that it is painted with an oil base.

I need to clean years of dust and dirt off of it. I'd prefer not to have to repaint it. I was figuring on blowing the loose dust/dirt off, then using a well-diluted **** N Span powder/water mix and a rag and toothbrush. ...taking care not to get it very wet at all.

Any other suggestions/thoughts?

Thanks,

Mark

 

[astroracer]

I would use Dawn and warm water. Use a soft bristle paint brush. You can try the toothbrush in an inconspicuous spot but go easy as the stiffer bristles may dig into the paint.
The Dawn is a grease cutter and will do a really good job of loosening up the old crud that is sitting on the paint.
Use a straw to blow water out of the nooks and crannies so it doesn't sit to long.
Mark

 

[rsanter]

I would start with compressed air.
You can crank the pressure down and go up from there.
Combine with the use of a couple paint brushes while using the compressed air.

Then look at how good you have it from there. If there is still stuff on it then odds are there is some oil/grease holding it on

 

[slowtwitch73]

I'd get some hemostats and cut up some rags/paper towels and use with water/dish soap/ rubbing alcohol and gently wash away. Q tips are good also. Test whatever solution you use to make sure the paint isn't affected. Nice thing about alcohol is it evaporates off so quick as compared to water.

 

[MoonRise]

Caution, alcohol will soften/dissolve a lot of acrylic paints.

Also caution, paints (especially white paints) from 'back then' were often lead based.

Step one, GENTLY use a vacuum with a soft bristle dust-brush attachment to remove 'loose' dust. A soft artist-type paintbrush can be used in conjunction to help loosen dust in nooks and crannies.

Step two, start with the gentlest 'solvent' you can. Often a dilute soap/detergent and water solution.

Test for compatibility in a hidden spot first!

Gentle application, gentle rubbing with small artist-type SOFT paint brushes, I'd probably skip Q-tips as they always seem to shed LOTS of cotton fibers.

Remember to gently rinse off any soap/detergent with clean water so you don't leave any residue behind.

Gently dry by blotting and GENTLE low-pressure compressed air used GENTLY.

Did I mention the word "GENTLE" yet?

 

[Monza Harry]

To add to MoonRises post Alcohol will wash many paints right off, the age of this ['60's based from your post] will have harder paint on it so alcohol will not likely wash off aged enamel but it will wash of most spray bombs I have had access to. And gentle is GOOD advise. To remove dirt from crevices using "Chip brushes" [cheap and disposable available from HF in box Qty's] try cutting the bristles shorter to stiffen them up "as required" never more than needed as pointed out in the above posts. Please share finished results both winning and those that are "less than winning". You have some good advise here now add lots of patients and let's see that Beauty. Harry https://www.harborfreight.com/search?q=1 inch chip brush

 

[Kevin54]

I like the hemostat idea. Myself I would go the route and cut up a soft rag and use some 409 on it.

 

[davethorik]

When you get the boat clean...display it in an upside down aquarium...never need to dust again!

 

[D-train]

Thanks for all of the info/advice. I will hopefully get to it this weekend. I'll take some pics (before and after) and let you know what I did.

I neglected to mention that the white paint (which is mainly what I wanted to clean) is a flat finish. (I can't recall if they made oil base paints in flat back in the day)

Thanks,

Mark