Removing carnuba wax

[Sisco]

Any suggestions on how (short of sanding) to remove the carnuba wax finish on a pair of Hogue wood grips?
I've tried alcohol, lacquer thinner and naphtha but it doesn't look any of them cut it real good, a little duller but it's still there.
I want to refinish the grips with tung oil.

 

[Standing Wolf]

You might try ammonia. I'd have to wonder whether you're removing wax or some sort of varnish. If they were mine and I meant to refinish them with tung oil—an excellent choice—I'd use a chemical stripper.

 

[Sisco]

According to Hogue it is carnuba. Think I'll check the janitors closet at work tomorrow and see what kind of wax stripper I can find.
You may be right about the ammonia Standing Wolf, might give it a try if the stripper isn't recommend for use on wood.

 

[Sisco]

And the winning answer is........
Ammonia!
Combined with some 0000 steel wool, down to the wood in no time at all.

 

[Mike Irwin]

Yep, ammonia does wonders at removing wax.

If you REALLY need to get the wax off quickly, a stronger ammonia solution can be used. My Father used to have an ammonia blueprinter that used 28% solution (most household ammonia is about 12 or so, IIRC). That stuff would strip the wax (and nose hair) off of anything.