stock refinishing

[hatchetbearer]

I picked up one of those Tula .22 bolt guns with a 4-12x norinco scope for next to nothing, problem is whoever owned it before i did didnt like the orange color the wood is stained and (spray) painted it black without roughing up the surface so now its flaking off and looks terrible. i've decided to refinish it, but is there any way to get the black paint out of the checkering in the grips without destroying it, ill sand them off if i need to, but thats really more work than i want to put into a cheap yet very accurate rifle

 

[huntaholic]

I would think any type of thinner would remove that spray paint pretty easily...

if not getcha a good steel, brass or bronze brush and put some elbow grease into it and you'll eventually get it out. Be careful, the harder the brush the more scratches you'll put in the wood.

 

[Smokey Joe]

First step to refinishing...

Hatchet Bearer--Were I planning on refinishing a checkered stock (or any similar woodwork, for that matter) the first step for me would be to take the item in question (with all metal removed) to a furniture restoration place, to have it "dipped." Don't know what they use, but their solution doesn't damage antique wood, and DOES completely remove paint, varnish, shellac, what have you.

In other words, what they'll give you back (for a fee of course) is a wood item ready to refinish, but without a mark on it that wasn't there when they got it.

Seems like a quick 'n' easy way to get the job done, albeit at some expense. You'll have to check out what the market for "dipping" runs in your area.

 

[GearHead_1]

Brownell's has a product that is jelly like in consistency, you use a stiff bristle paint brush and work it in to the checkering, let it sit for a while and viola. It works very well. I've used it before but the name escapes me at the moment.

 

[Art Eatman]

Paint remover or "stripper" should be available at places like Home Depot...