Mosin Nagant stock refinishing question.

[BC604]

I refinished my SKS stock recently, I used the spray on varnish removal from home depot.
It came of without much trouble.
My Mosoins finish was peeling off, and I just could not leave it in that condition,
so I decided to refinish it as well.

This is where I had some trouble, I used the same varnish/stain removal as on the SKS.
However on the Mosin it didn't work so well. There are patches where the finish just doesn't
get dissolved/ loosened up, it almost seems like as if the finis had changed its properties due to age,
and doesn't react to the solvent.

I just hang it up to dry for now, and trying to figure out what to do next.

Did someone have similar experience?
Is the finis on a Mosin different than on an SKS?
Any ideas what solvent should I use to get it off,
or should i just sand it off?

Ty

 

[cam1936]

Shellac dissolves in alcohol. Get some isopropyl alcohol from Home Hardware.

 

[BC604]

I'll try alcohol once it it is dry.
ty

 

[hunterinthewoods]

I use Circa 1850 Heavy Body Paint & Varnish Remover. It works well, let set in and loosen it up with med/fine steel wool.

 

[collector67]

I use Circa 1850 Heavy Body Paint & Varnish Remover. It works well, let set in and loosen it up with med/fine steel wool.

X2 with the Circa 1850, if all else fails, try Acetone with fine steel wool. That will raise the grain somewhat, so you will have to smooth it down again with steel wool...

 

[Cdn303]

x3 with the Circa 1850. Just do it where there is good ventilation and buy good rubber gloves. It tends to eat latex and nitrile ones.

 

[BC604]

I tried alcohol,steel wool, some elbow grease, and it worked.
Next time I will just go straight with Circa 1850.

The wood seems to have soaked up lots of water from the initial stripping,
it looks like I will have to let it dry for a while before doing the final sanding etc.

Thank you for the tips.

 

[louthepou]

Best on shellac is methyl alcohol, it disolves it better than isopropyl.