ok, ok. I was only being light-hearted. Yes, it's a toxic chemical. Don't drink it like Kool-Aid. That being said, I'm merely stating that it's easier than anything I've ever used, and it is especially wonderful for styrene plastics. I just disagree with the other ideas I hear when there is a perfect product (rarely mentioned) waiting in line that is so fast-acting, easy to use, and therefore safe and effective if used correctly. It won't even stink up a room if left open.
I'm not going to argue that it's not toxic. The liver issue was labeled under chronic overexposure, and I might have a reason to strip something once every 5 years, so I'm probably not in that category. I can't really think of any compound used to build models that won't do that to you with chronic overexposure, unless we're talking snap-tites. How many of you out there have used lacquer thinner to clean paint off your hands??? Probably not a great idea either. That cold sensation you get isn't evaporation -- it's the chemical penetrating your body.
And if we're going to accept a certain level of toxicity in our hobby, I promote it because it is part of a product line (Floquil) that has sadly gone out of existence and replaced by what my experience has deemed to be inferior products (Testors Model Master) in comparison. I don't know why most of the Floquil/Polly-S line was so decimated after the merger in the late '90s but it has my performance vote over what they call paint now -- and ELO has managed to saunter on because it does such a good job.
It hardly takes very much to strip paint either. You just brush a little on the surface, wash it off after a few minutes, and viola. Hence, you're not outside dunking your model in a frothy container, fumigating a room with your little project, or potentially ruining your surroundings with drips that are caustic to other types of surfaces (brake fluid). ELO is pretty neutral to almost everything it touches (except paint and decals) and can be washed off whatever surface easily.
It will start to dissolve pavement if left on too long so be careful if you use it on your asphalt driveway...
