Paint Removal

[LubeckTech]

I just bought a Kimber Custom Classic where the former owner decided to fill in the engraved "Kimber" and "Custom Classic" on the slide with gold enamel. This would not be so bad if it were done well but the price was right at $600 in barely shot condition. Plus there is some "left over" paint on the lower part to the thumb safety. Any ideas as to the best way to remove this without damaging the finish?

 

[funnelcake]

Depends on the finish. If the weapon is blued or parkerized, acetone will remove the paint no problem. If it's a "super-polymer-teflon" coating, the acetone will remove that too.

Racking the brain trying to think of something that will remove paint and not hurt a coating-type finish.

Funnel

 

[Fumbler]

If it's Kimber's Gun-kote style finish then acetone shouldn't hurt it.
Test in an inconspicuous spot first, of course...

 

[GeorgeR]

Paint Remove

I have found that Citri Strip from Home Depot will do the job and not hurt the finish. It's also the only stuff that removes polymer finishes (Gun Kote).

 

[Fumbler]

I have found that Citri Strip from Home Depot will do the job and not hurt the finish. It's also the only stuff that removes polymer finishes (Gun Kote).

So if his gun has a polymer finish, then it will hurt the finish...
The problem here is we don't know what his finish is.

 

[LubeckTech]

I'm not sure what the finish is but I think it to be polymer as it is not blue but does not look parkerized either. So far Gun Scrubber has gotten rid of the paint inside the letters without damaging the finish. I still have a small area on the lower part of the safety to deal with though.

 

[krs]

How about just rubbing with gun oil for a while? It worked on a Colt Govt. .380 I bought that the PO had filled with white paint. I was going to leave it there but noticed that my oiling was eroding the paint in the rollstamps so I kept at it until it was gone.

I have a Kimber Compact Classic I that has a black parkerized finish. It may not actually BE parkerized but it sure isn't painted.

 

[swampshooter]

Call kimber they'll probably tell you what kind of finish you're dealing with.