Soot

Soot
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Custom WorkstationCan anyone give me tips for removing old soot from a figure? Specifically, an old Kenner Power Of the Force Star Wars figure. So far I've tried scrubbing with dish soap, soaking in soapy water overnight, and soaking in Coke. I read somewhere that soaking in Alka Seltzer may do it, but I haven't had the change to try it yet. Scrubbing with dish soap got most of the soot off, but there's still a stubborn amount clinging to the top of the head, center of the chest, and arms/hands. Either that, or it's stained, I can't tell.
Barring that, will I be able to paint over the soot effectively? Has anyone tried it before?
This is in preparation for my first custom. Looking forward to getting into the hobby!

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Posted by
tenketsu on Tuesday, February 5, 2013
User Comments
Thor on eBay
If after washing with soap and a brush and the soot doesn't come off, Maybe you can consider sanding with fine grit sand paper and painting if you want to restore the figure
We've got an uncooperative oil stove for heat, so I'm well acquainted with getting soot off myself, and other items. Using that Goop, I've gotten soot off skin, clothing, plastic, metal, etc., so I see no reason why it wouldn't work beautifully on toys as well.
As long as the soot smudging is minimal, you could probably paint over it with no problems. However, If there are any relatively large soot particles, they'll probably get stuck in the paint and create little bumps. Lighter color paints, especially white, might become tinted by the soot as well.