Removing paint from plastic stock

[collector67]

Hi all
I am going to be applying a camo paint job to an older Remington 700 plastic stock that was once painted black, but is now flaking off. Anyone have any tips or methods for removing old paint from plastic?

Many thanks!

 

[supernova]

Depends what it was painted with. Brakleen will remove most spray paints but will attack some synthetic stocks. Good degreasers will usually do the same without evaporating too quickly. You can also try paint strippers but be careful and test in an inconspicuous spot first.

 

[Grizzlypeg]

Try the mildest solvent first. Something like methanol might soften it and make it wrinkle off. Then you can scrape and use steel wool. A little roughening of the old surface will help with the next paint's adherance.

If your going to try something strong, like paint stripper, can you remove the butt plate and test its effect on the plastic? Acetone or laquer thinner might be good to try.

 

[collector67]

Thanks for the replies, guys. I have used Acetone before with excellent results on wooden stocks, I'm just afraid of melting the plastic on this one. It is an older model, from the 1970's or thereabouts, so it's not a composite stock, it's like Mattel plastic, lol...

 

[Until the Angels Fall]

Gasoline?

 

[SandRoad]

There are several different types of paint strippers. One type is alcohol based the other uses methylene chloride.

The methylene chloride is a chlorinated solvent much like perchloroethylene brake cleaner. The chlorinated solvents are much more aggressive than the alcohol based ones.