Question on removing old enamel paint from firearm: what would you use?

tennmike

I have an old rifle that was painted with enamel paint around 50 years ago. About half of the paint has worn off. What are some suggestions for something to get the rest off? I'm looking for something that won't make me cough up a lung, but is easy to use. I've got several of the old ones that require a mask with organics filters, but I'd rather not use them. Looking for something newer that's easier to use, and more organic life form friendly. What say ye?

BTW, this one is a labor of love, I have lots of time to get it stripped, and it won't be reblued or painted. There's a nice patina under the paint.

Teach

Just strip all the wood and plastic off, if any, and dunk it in a container of Mineral Spirits with a snug-fitting lid. Come back in a couple of weeks, and the paint should rub off with a coarse-weave rag or a stiff bristle brush without any damage to the patina underneath. I like to use a wallpaper-soaking tank for barreled actions. It's just about the right length, and it doesn't waste a lot of solvent. Clamp a piece of plywood or Masonite over it with bungee cords to minimize evaporation.
Jerry

NCFUBAR

tennmike wrote: »

BTW, this one is a labor of love, I have lots of time to get it stripped, and it won't be reblued or painted. There's a nice patina under the paint.

I hate to say it but I think you might say WAS?

What would walnut shells do for a blast media?

calebib

I use Zip Strip, that stuff will even remove bedding compound!

Buffco

Get a 36 grit flap wheel.

Teach

How about CLR?
:tooth::tooth::tooth:
Jerry

ghostsniper1

Get some aircraft remover in a spray can form. It will bubble the paint off right before your eyes and you can wipe the remainder off.

robert38-55

ghostsniper1 wrote: »

Get some aircraft remover in a spray can form. It will bubble the paint off right before your eyes and you can wipe the remainder off.

:that: The only thing that aircraft stripped won't take off, is totally cured and dried out epoxy based paint!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Aircraft stripper:tissue: is Nasty stuff!!!!!!!!!!!

tennmike

Sounds like a plan, Teach. I can pick up that stuff when I go get more lumber for the floor repairs this week. That soak time will allow me time to make the new metal folding stock for it. No enamel on the action, just the barrels and barrel block, and they are removable. Only wood is the two pistol grip panels,no plastic parts of any kind on it; it predates plastic. I may have given away enough info in this post for someone familiar with old guns to figure out what it is. It fires both .22 LR, and .44 Shotshells or 2" .410 shotshells. And that's all the hints I'm throwing out; I'll take pictures of it when it's back to it's normal self.

Calebib, if I can find some Zip Strip locally, I'll try that, too. This particular firearm has some nooks and crannies that may require special attention.

Ghostsniper1, don't know if that aircraft stripper is available locally. If I see it, I'll get a can.

NCFUBAR, I've worked about a third of the paint that was on the metal off with a plastic scraper. There's nice patina under the paint. Just like the day it was painted. The enamel is really old and slightly brittle, but some of it is stuck tighter than a tick on a dog's back and will need something to help it to turn loose.

calebib

You should be able to find Zip Strip at any Ace Hardware.

tennmike

Thanks for the info, Calebib; there's a few Ace Hardware stores locally. I'll drop by and get some.

Buffco

I'm a little upset that you replied to everyone's helpful responses except mine.

tennmike

Buffco wrote: »

I'm a little upset that you replied to everyone's helpful responses except mine.

Dude! It's a firearm, not a Euclid dump truck!:rotflmao:

Buffco

tennmike wrote: »

Dude! It's a firearm, not a Euclid dump truck!:rotflmao:

Ok, well... Sheesh. They make 120 grit flapwheels, too.

Big Chief

tennmike wrote: »

Dude! It's a firearm, not a Euclid dump truck!:rotflmao:

He got them new tools and he is dying to try them out on a gun..................so ship it to Buffy for restoration, er scratch that...... preparation to repaint :jester:

tennmike

Buffco wrote: »

Ok, well... Sheesh. They make 120 grit flapwheels, too.

This old gun is pert near TWICE as old as I am. I see anyone approaching it with an angle grinder, and there will be fur a flyin'!:guns::buff::tooth: Or feathers.:uhm:

SirGeorgeKillian

In that case, I would use the mildest thing you could find!

Sent from my MB860 using Tapatalk

Eli

ghostsniper1 wrote: »

Get some aircraft remover

Now that's a hell of a sandblaster! :tooth:

tennmike

Picked up a quart of Strypeeze paint remover and a gallon of mineral spirits this afternoon. One or the other, or both should get 'er done without harm to the metal.

tennmike

Eli wrote: »

Now that's a hell of a sandblaster! :tooth:

Mine is bigger than yours; it's genetics.:roll2:

I sort of remember that picture being taken; sort of. It was a long time ago.

coop

Is this a Game Getter?

orchidman

tennmike wrote: »

...............it predates plastic. I may have given away enough info in this post for someone familiar with old guns to figure out what it is. It fires both .22 LR, and .44 Shotshells or 2" .410 shotshells. And that's all the hints I'm throwing out; I'll take pictures of it when it's back to it's normal self.

Its a Taurus purpose built SD weapon?????? WOW!!!!!!!!

breamfisher

Actually, I thought you once said:

DO NOT USE CLR!



Trust your Uncle Chris on this one.

And to all of you jackasses out there that are laughing, here is a big middle finger raised high. Tooth

ghostsniper1

Eli wrote: »

Now that's a hell of a sandblaster! :tooth:

Roflmao..... Now thats a good one right there.

breamfisher

cpj wrote: »

Have any proof that I said that?

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:IIvPQddJuksJ:forums.gunsandammo.com/forum/general-shooting-information/submersing-pistol-cleaning-questioni-know-lazy%3Fpage%3D4+site:gunsandammo.com+clr,+guns+and+ammo+forum&cd=8&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=firefox-a&source=www.google.com

I can't find why you recommend we don't use CLR.

Big Chief

tennmike wrote: »

Sounds like a plan, Teach. I can pick up that stuff when I go get more lumber for the floor repairs this week. That soak time will allow me time to make the new metal folding stock for it. No enamel on the action, just the barrels and barrel block, and they are removable. Only wood is the two pistol grip panels,no plastic parts of any kind on it; it predates plastic. I may have given away enough info in this post for someone familiar with old guns to figure out what it is. It fires both .22 LR, and .44 Shotshells or 2" .410 shotshells. And that's all the hints I'm throwing out; I'll take pictures of it when it's back to it's normal self.

Calebib, if I can find some Zip Strip locally, I'll try that, too. This particular firearm has some nooks and crannies that may require special attention.

Ghostsniper1, don't know if that aircraft stripper is available locally. If I see it, I'll get a can.

NCFUBAR, I've worked about a third of the paint that was on the metal off with a plastic scraper. There's nice patina under the paint. Just like the day it was painted. The enamel is really old and slightly brittle, but some of it is stuck tighter than a tick on a dog's back and will need something to help it to turn loose.

Sounds like one of them old Savage/others/Survival Combo guns o/u with shotgun and rimfire or centerfire barrels

tennmike

coop wrote: »

Is this a Game Getter?

Winner, winner, chikkin dinner! Marble's Game Getter Gun. Mine has 18" barrels, so none of that NFA baloney to mess with. Metal stock is broken, so I'm making a new one along with removing that nasty enamel paint.

Mine looks like this:

bullsi1911

I hate you.

That is one gun that I would LOVE to have in my collection!

tennmike

bullsi1911 wrote: »

I hate you.

That is one gun that I would LOVE to have in my collection!

:spittingcoffee: It's been in MY collection for 52 years.:applause::tooth:

calebib

cpj wrote: »

That only works for bluing. So I have been told. But I have never done it, so it may or may not work.

I've never used CLR to remove bluing but I have used toilet bowl cleaner, that stuff bluing off right quick.

tennmike

calebib wrote: »

I've never used CLR to remove bluing but I have used toilet bowl cleaner, that stuff bluing off right quick.

Calebib, CPJ is messin' with us. He made his Kel-Tec .380 a nice two tone on the slide with that stuff. The slide was rusted a little, and he dipped it in CLR. It removed the rust AND the bluing! Since the archives are no longer searchable, he's thinking that since we can't find the thread, it didn't happen.

I'm going to take it easy stripping that enamel off the Game Getter. Going to start on the front sight. If it removes ONLY the enamel, I'll proceed. If it removes bluing, I'll break out the heat gun and use that, or use my stainless steel tank to soak it in mineral spirits for a couple of weeks.