Removing varnish from a complete win 94 ??Update
- Thread starter 45C
- Start date
I wouldn't over do it with the heat to the point of baking it that's for sure, solvents are good for wet varnish but won't do much on cured varnish.
There are all kinds of bio friendly paint strippers out there but as previously mentioned, it's hard to imagine that any of them won't effect the metal finish underneath. This is far from the first time someone has had to deal with a gun that got "re-freshed" by dunking it in a barrel of varnish.... hopefully someone with chime in with something that works.
I have used laminate samples from hardware as scrapers to remove unwanted substances from surfaces while minimizing the wear on the surface underneath.... might want to see if you can gently scrape off the coating? If it is a varnish it will be brittle and might crack and flake off with some gentle persuasion.
There are all kinds of bio friendly paint strippers out there but as previously mentioned, it's hard to imagine that any of them won't effect the metal finish underneath. This is far from the first time someone has had to deal with a gun that got "re-freshed" by dunking it in a barrel of varnish.... hopefully someone with chime in with something that works.
I have used laminate samples from hardware as scrapers to remove unwanted substances from surfaces while minimizing the wear on the surface underneath.... might want to see if you can gently scrape off the coating? If it is a varnish it will be brittle and might crack and flake off with some gentle persuasion.
Use some gel paint stripper keeping it wet by applying another thin coat. After a few applications use one of those narrow yellow applicators, used for spreading drywall mud, and remove the paint stripper and varnish. Finish up with a tooth brush and methyl hydrate. Hot soapy water should work as well. Don't use steel wool or a metal scraper or anything that will marr the bluing or whatever finish there is. You'd be best to remove the buttstock and forend and deal with them separately being very careful of the wood on either side of the upper tang.
I use brass wool [0000]; typically, it will not harm bluing.
If it is true varnish then turpentine should take it off, if its polyurethane lacquer thinner might work but specialized chemical strippers like zip strip will get it off. Check for metal compatibility for any chemical stripper as many are caustic.
Butcherbill
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- Blaster land, Okanagan BC
Clearly the guy used what he was most familiar with and had lying around. So he was a woodworker. Look for wood screws to replace any lost machine screws in the action, carpenter's glue to secure the rear sight, and an action gummed up with yearly applications of linseed oil as a lubricant.
