Beretta finish repair due to idiot father-in-law. Epoxy based?

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bosshoff

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My sisters father in law destroyed the finish on her husbands Beretta O/U. He used Gorilla Tape and foam to raise the comb. When the tape was removed, the clearcoat finish came with it. Not entirely, but in spots. My brother in law is deceased, and I am refinishing the O/U for my sister to pass along to her sons. I tried Citristrip last night and it did not budge the clearcoat? I am in the process of trying a different stripper as I write this. I am wondering if Beretta might have used an epoxy-based clearcoat vs. polyurethane etc.? If the finish does not dissolve, what are my options? Lacquer thinner? Do I have to mechanically remove the finish by sanding? Anyone dealt with this?
 

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Not familiar with what Beretta uses but it sounds like the finish Remington used to use, DuPont RKW. You almost need to scrape it off, I never did hear of a stripper that would touch RKW. Hope you get it off without having to scrape the whole stock down.
 
In my 60-year experience, methylene chloride is THE most powerful stripper ever made, for room-temp strippers. Zip-Strip was the original formula, but there are other makers now who use the methylene chloride. BUT be careful! It must be used outdoors, with major precautions being taken for inhalation and skin contact (will burn your skin quite quickly). But nothing else works as well, besides a hot-tank stripping setup. Epoxies and poly's don't stand a chance against it.
 
MEK is now restricted and few places stock it. Even furnisher refinishers have issues getting it.

Basically it can cause nerve damage and death when used inappropriately, you need full protective gear including appropriate respiratory mask with the right filters, clothing and skin protection, eye protection-googles, strong ventilation, and proper disposal of the toxic wastes generated. Nasty stuff so if you do find a loose can on the back shelves of an old hardware store, be careful with it.

Try this stuff, it is reformulated to not use MEK,but supposed to be decent but slower. This stuff is in a paste which works better on difficult surfaces https://www.lowes.com/pd/Jasco-1-Quart-Extra-strength-Stripper-Semi-paste/1001079512

For a really non-toxic alternative, but doesn't work on everything epoxy, try https://products.franmar.com/collections/consumer-products/products/paint-urethane-stripper-soy-gel Blue Bear Paint and Urethane remover. This was formerly called Soygel and soybeans plus magic ingredients that are much less toxic alternatives to current paint strippers.
 
I had pulled the finish off a Rem 700 BDL stock with a piece of tape one time. I applied a dozen or two coats of Tru Oil on the area and it blended in to be nearly unnoticeable....Matter of fact, I had forgotten about the incident until I read this thread
 
MEK is now restricted and few places stock it. Even furnisher refinishers have issues getting it.

Basically it can cause nerve damage and death when used inappropriately, you need full protective gear including appropriate respiratory mask with the right filters, clothing and skin protection, eye protection-googles, strong ventilation, and proper disposal of the toxic wastes generated. Nasty stuff so if you do find a loose can on the back shelves of an old hardware store, be careful with it.

Try this stuff, it is reformulated to not use MEK,but supposed to be decent but slower. This stuff is in a paste which works better on difficult surfaces https://www.lowes.com/pd/Jasco-1-Quart-Extra-strength-Stripper-Semi-paste/1001079512

For a really non-toxic alternative, but doesn't work on everything epoxy, try https://products.franmar.com/collections/consumer-products/products/paint-urethane-stripper-soy-gel Blue Bear Paint and Urethane remover. This was formerly called Soygel and soybeans plus magic ingredients that are much less toxic alternatives to current paint strippers.

Not sure MEK is the correct acronym....we use MEK everyday at work and when running low we simply order fro Sherwin Williams or even buy it up town
 
Not sure MEK is the correct acronym....we use MEK everyday at work and when running low we simply order fro Sherwin Williams or even buy it up town

It is also butanone-2 labeled. Our furniture refinisher related significant problems in acquiring the stuff and it is banned in California due the air pollution emissions.

The big box stores, Lowes, Home Depot, and Walmarts have also phased it out with a substitute product not containing MEK during the last year or so.

The product is no longer produced in the US and stocks come from import sources. So a quick check show no formal ban but the product has become less available to the average consumer. Speculation that part of the issue is that this solvent can be used in ways that are detrimental to society via Dept. of Homeland Security if you catch my meaning.

I would guess that industrial processors or commercial applicators can still get it because they will have to follow OSHA guidelines for application whereas individuals might ignore that part.
 
Just to reiterate the safety warnings, I worked in a 3 man machine shop as a 16 year shop boy more than 50 years ago. Used MEK to wash off dykem from a bunch of finished parts and really burned myself. Scars cleared up about 10 years later. MEK is NOT a joke; be careful.
 
[QUOTE="boom boom, post: 11403080, member: 53428"]MEK is now restricted and few places stock it. Even furnisher refinishers have issues getting it.

Basically it can cause nerve damage and death when used inappropriately, you need full protective gear including appropriate respiratory mask with the right filters, clothing and skin protection, eye protection-googles, strong ventilation, and proper disposal of the toxic wastes generated. Nasty stuff so if you do find a loose can on the back shelves of an old hardware store, be careful with it.

Try this stuff, it is reformulated to not use MEK,but supposed to be decent but slower. This stuff is in a paste which works better on difficult surfaces https://www.lowes.com/pd/Jasco-1-Quart-Extra-strength-Stripper-Semi-paste/1001079512

For a really non-toxic alternative, but doesn't work on everything epoxy, try https://products.franmar.com/collections/consumer-products/products/paint-urethane-stripper-soy-gel Blue Bear Paint and Urethane remover. This was formerly called Soygel and soybeans plus magic ingredients that are much less toxic alternatives to current paint strippers.[/QUOTE]
Every Home Depot and Lowe's stock it; called Kleen Strip................

Most Berettas actually have an oil finish..............acetone should take off the Gorilla crap
 
I'll never use a power sander....again. Do not ask me how I know that. And it was just a little palm-sander.

One time, stopped by a friend's house, he showed me his muzzle loader he just refinished. I get to looking at it, and the wood is all like 1/64" or something below the metal. I'm like...."damn, you really worked this over, how long did it take to sand it down that much?" He looks at me, I look down, there's a big old belt sander sitting under the bench, I look at him, he looks away, and it was never spoken of again.
 
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