Do you wash your lead before painting?

[Norm]

Just wondered. I do, but wish I didn't

I do soapy water in the sink and with a toothbrush (not mine :-) ) everything gets a quick scrub, especially vehicles and then a cold rinse and left to dry off.

But I find it fiddly and have read comments from others that this is not necessary - does anyone know the 'real' answer?

I use Vallejo airbrush primer (hand brushed).

[FierceKitty]

I've never troubled to do it. A good priming and later a fixative seem enough.

[Leman]

I do it with 28s but nothing smaller.

[Fenton]

No never bothered

[Leman]

Crossing from another thread, does Techno wash his doggy's lead before painting?

[fred.]

Generally no.

I have washed some figures when they look to have release agent or other 'stuff' on them, but not routinely.

[fsn]

If they're new I tend not to. My theory is that the Casting Dwarves operate in sterile conditions (i.e. they're eunochs) and so when they arrive with me they're largely untainted by skin oil, slobber or Max Factor Skin Revitaliser for Mythical Creatures (because you're worth it). .

I also leave them in the baggiues until needed, and get them onto a painting stick ASAP so that they're not handled that much. 

Having said that, I wish the paint would fall off some of my earlier efforts. 

[petercooman]

No, never bother.Not even with plastics.

Only things i wash are resin scenic items, and that's part to get rid of the release agents, and part for getting rid of the 'flakes' after tidying the model up.

[paulr]

I seem to be in the minority. I always was in warm soapy water with a cold rinse. I don't brush them though.

[SV52]

Not unless they been filed, filled and sweaty handed a lot.

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

No

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

wot 'e squeacked

IanS

[FierceKitty]

I always was in warm soapy water with a cold rinse.

Sounds physically impossible.

[Poggle]

I leave my figures to soak in soapy water for a few hours but don't brush them. A rinse in cold water after, leave to air dry then onto the painting block.

[d_Guy]

Went through a two month period when I soaked them (with a mild stirring) in warm soapy water, cold water rinse and air dry. Have noticed NO difference between these and the ones that were directly primed. So no longer bother. I don't do plastics so that might be a different proposition.

One batch of highlanders were placed in a paper cup and had pipe music played at them for over an hour (this was done quite by accident mind) - again no descernable difference in outcome.