[DeadCalm]

I've talked myself into refinishing the stock on my Brno 2-E. It looks like good wood, but there must've been too much vodka flowing in Brno the day they finished mine. Anyway, Certistrip is a product carried by Brownell's, pretty aggressive stuff if their copy is accurate. Have you ever used it? Should I just use Jasco? I prefer not to sand during the finish removal stage.

[TAB]

do not use chemical stripers... bad ju-ju.

You will actually have to sand more if you chemically strip the wood, then if you just sand off the finish.

[nicholst55]

I've used a variety of paint strippers over the years. Some work well; some don't. A lot depends on the type of finish you're trying to remove.

For oil finishes, I like to buy gallon cans of furniture refinisher sold by some hardware and paint stores - Hopes and Formby are two common brands. Use it following the instructions on the can, outside. It evaporates pretty much completely from the wood, and then I wipe it down with a damp cloth and let it dry for a day.

Shellac will come off with most anything - even denatured alcohol will strip a Mosin stock or the like.

Personally I don't feel the need to buy it from Brownells and pay shipping for it. I'm sure that the brand they sell works well, or else they wouldn't carry it, but I prefer to buy stuff like that locally.

Some of the lacquer, epoxy, and other finishes can be pretty difficult to remove, and will frequently require several applications of stripper.

[DeadCalm]

Thanks to you both. I don't know what Brno actually used on its stocks during the early '80's, when I got the gun. It appears to be some kind of oil finish, definitely not high gloss or bowling pin type. TAB, I'm just curious as to what you've used that left you having to sand even more after its application. If I go this route I'll definitely want to avoid that brand or type of stripper.

I'm still open to suggestions from others out there. Heat guns? Flame throwers? 20 minutes on a spit in a hot Weber? I'm all ears.

[moooose102]

i have used paint stripper in the past to remove the old finsh. it has been years, so i do not remember what brand. but you will have to do some sanding anyway you look at it if you want a nice finish. it is just part of the job. i would not want to sand all the old finsh off though. that would be a big mistake, unless you are looking to change the shape of the stock (which i have done). i also used a couple of chisles, a saw, a rasp, a drill and a grinder on that project. made an ugly stock pretty nice, at least imo.
Some of the lacquer, epoxy, and other finishes can be pretty difficult to remove, and will frequently require several applications of stripper.
__________________

as a last resort, M.E.K. will remove almost anything, but it is BAD for your health, use it out doors with a fan to one side blowing the fumes away from you, and wear good chemical glocves and safety glasses. if you get very much on the safety glasses, it will even melt them! it will melt epoxy, rubber, paint or varnish of any type, plastic, etc, etc. etc. BUT, IT IS NASTY! you could probably use it for rocket fuel, but it would eat up anything that was not metal! AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT MIGHT DO TO BLUEING.

[DeadCalm]

Good lord, what is M.E.K.? It sounds like a component to a Doomesday device.

[TAB]

Refinishing cabinets/ 100 year old trim. is about 25% of my biz. It always raises the grain.

MEK = METHYL ETHYL KETONE.

Its simlar to actone,( not really, but for a lay person its close enough) Its fairly strong, not something you want to play around with.

[hiker44]

Depending on what you're refinishing, I prefer to sand and scrape (using a steel scraping plate specially made for the purpose and sharpened correctly) for removing the finish on small objects. Chemical strippers tend to soak in and raise the grain, necessitating sanding and possibly sealing before applying a new finish. I use this method on gunstocks, but only if they need refinishing for display.