Help with fixing GI Joe?

[theantiquetiger]

I have this 1964 GI Joe painted head, but he was stored with a wetsuit shorts and they dried to him. i got alot of it off, but what you see here is REALLy stuck. Any help on how to get it off w/o damaging Joe?

[MIB41]

Have you tried soaking him in hot water and soap? I would think a soaking in that for 15 to 20 minutes would help lift that remaining section off.

[Mikey]

Try alcohol swabs ...
Lay a few on it for a minute and then try wiping it off.
You might have to do this a few times.
Don't put it in water or you'll rust the metal joints -- and it will never dryout inside and rot the internal elastics

[toys2cool]

Have you tried soaking him in hot water and soap? I would think a soaking in that for 15 to 20 minutes would help lift that remaining section off.

That's how I took it off mine

[SpaceCrawler]

Usually meticulous chipping away is the best way to get old wet suits off a Joe. Often the wet suit is brittle and hard and not very well attached, so attacking it with a small tool (or maybe toothpick- something that won't gouge the plastic) might work. If these pieces are stuff solid, try immersing just those areas in really hot water until they become workable.

The rivets on the Joe look to be in decent shape and still painted so rust may not be a huge concern (just make sure you dry him off well). The inner elastic and metal parts should be treated with care though, as stated, but water should be ok if they are in decent shape. I have hundreds of Joes and have washed every one (and they are all fine).

Sean

[theantiquetiger]

Thanks for the suggestions, it did work!!!

OK, after a nice warm bath (I think he pee'd in it), me and Joe got very personal and a couple of the shaves was more than he bargained for. Lets just say, he sings soprano now:

[generic]

Wow! Glad to see it worked!

Side note: Awesome figure! Is he a new acquisition?

[theantiquetiger]

Wow! Glad to see it worked!

Side note: Awesome figure! Is he a new acquisition?

He is a garage sale find.

BTW, he is going on eBay tonight at 8 pm central time. My ebay name is my MM name.

[60'schild]

Glad the operation was a success (and the patient seems to have completely recovered!)

Never realized that Joes pee blue, though .....

[Captain]

...Being that he is sans wee wee, I'm surprised he can pee at all

Got to be a rough day when your swimming trunks stick to you and you need to soak them off in hot water or use rubbing alcohol to remove them. Can you imagine the hard time the other Joes gave him over at the command center?

For what its worth, I'm sure he appreciates your using the gentler, non sandpaper and dremel tool approach!!