Paint Removal

[bitten]

I need some advise about paint removal from a firearm.
I believe the weapon is stainless.

This is a Diamond in the rough.....LOL
I looked at it 5 times at the gunshow. Watched it , and no one else even picked it up because of the way it looks.From what I have found out so far , it was customized by a Gunsmith named Dave Lauck. It is one of his early guns. It shoots really nice and handles well.
But it looks like a POS.

 

[drtybykr]

If it is stainless, pm jmac, he will make it look like new.

 

[AR-Trvlr]

If it's just paint, then paint thinner or acetone should take it off.

 

[JWC]

+1 on the PM to jmac.

 

[bitten]

but I am not sure I want it to GLOW in the dark.....

 

[NWSharpshooter]

Muriatic acid will take it back down to bare steel and you can then go from there. Muriatic acid is also known as hydrochloric acid and can be purchased at any ace hardware store for about 4 bucks. You will need to thin it down with water first and wear gloves. Muriatic acid will also remove gun blue, anodizing, park, you name it.

Great stuff. I always have a bottle handy

 

[bitten]

just soak it?

 

[Cruisers460]

Try some lacquer thinner first. Cheap , works well and will clean up most anything except some plastics. It will soften those.Soak the metal parts in the thinner and brush or rub off the paint.That Muriatic acid is also used to etch concrete and change the PH in the swimming pool. Not bad stuff weakened, will eat you up if you don't thin it!

 

[NWSharpshooter]

just soak it?

Yeah, last time I did it, I think I ran it at a 6:1 ratio. 6 parts water. I find it helpful to brush off the finish with an old toothbrush while it is in the acid. Seems to speed it up. Don't leave it in the solution overnight or anything like that, as it will eat the steel if given enough time. I usually run in 5 minute intervals, rinsing with clean water in between. Be sure to wear gloves, the acid wont burn you instantly, so you may be tempted to go without them, but a few hours later you will find you have developed a nice chemical burn.


If it is stainless you can begin polishing as soon as you have the old finish off. If it is not stainless, you will begin to see rust almost immediately. I have seen them start to rust while in the acid. Once you get it clean you will need to rinse it well to get all the acid off, and get that sucker oiled up until you figure out what type of finish you are going to apply

 

[1coolhand]

Muriatic acid will take it back down to bare steel and you can then go from there. Muriatic acid is also known as hydrochloric acid and can be purchased at any ace hardware store for about 4 bucks. You will need to thin it down with water first and wear gloves. Muriatic acid will also remove gun blue, anodizing, park, you name it.

Great stuff. I always have a bottle handy

X2 , also removes rust, clothing, as well as skin. BE REAL CAREFUL!