+ Reply to Thread
Results 1 to 8 of 8

Thread: How to remove polyurethane from a rifle stock

Click here to increase the font size Click here to reduce the font size
  1. #1
    Contributing Member ghost07's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2014
    Last On
    09-28-2024 @ 05:47 PM
    Location
    Fisherville, KY
    Posts
    14
    Local Date
    10-03-2024
    Local Time
    07:42 AM

    How to remove polyurethane from a rifle stock

    I have a model 1895 Chileanicon Mauser that is in really good condition and numbers matching except for the bolt. The bad thing about it is that somebody put a high gloss finish on the stock which looks hideous. I want to remove it, hopefully without damaging the original finish, and put several coats of BLOicon on it. I have tried mineral spirits, lacquer thinner, denatured alcohol and acetone and nothing phases that high gloss finish. I’m guessing it’s high gloss polyurethane. Does anyone have any idea on how to get that gloss finish off?
    Attached Thumbnails Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_0524.jpeg‎
Views:	316
Size:	1.85 MB
ID:	133780  

  2. # ADS
    Friends and Sponsors
    Join Date
    October 2006
    Location
    Milsurps.Com
    Posts
    All Threads
    A Collector's View - The SMLE Short Magazine Lee Enfield 1903-1989. It is 300 8.5x11 inch pages with 1,000+ photo’s, most in color, and each book is serial-numbered.  Covering the SMLE from 1903 to the end of production in India in 1989 it looks at how each model differs and manufacturer differences from a collecting point of view along with the major accessories that could be attached to the rifle. For the record this is not a moneymaker, I hope just to break even, eventually, at $80/book plus shipping.  In the USA shipping is $5.00 for media mail.  I will accept PayPal, Zelle, MO and good old checks (and cash if you want to stop by for a tour!).  CLICK BANNER to send me a PM for International pricing and shipping. Manufacturer of various vintage rifle scopes for the 1903 such as our M73G4 (reproduction of the Weaver 330C) and Malcolm 8X Gen II (Unertl reproduction). Several of our scopes are used in the CMP Vintage Sniper competition on top of 1903 rifles. Brian Dick ... BDL Ltd. - Specializing in British and Commonwealth weapons Specializing in premium ammunition and reloading components. Your source for the finest in High Power Competition Gear. Here at T-bones Shipwrighting we specialise in vintage service rifle: re-barrelling, bedding, repairs, modifications and accurizing. We also provide importation services for firearms, parts and weapons, for both private or commercial businesses.
     

  3. #2
    Legacy Member 72 usmc's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Last On
    Yesterday @ 08:10 PM
    Location
    Menomonee Falls, WI
    Posts
    174
    Local Date
    10-03-2024
    Local Time
    06:42 AM
    "I want to remove it, hopefully without damaging the original finish,"


    I would get an intact replacement stock. Heavy boat striper will remove all finish. Results: you got a refinished garbage stock. Chemical boat or aircraft remover (nasty) and you got bare wood and again a refinish = garbage stock. Likewise, a heat gun, wood scraper (popsicle sticks) and t shirts may leave some finish depending on the care in removal, but you still have a mess, Poly melts into wood surface and it is hard to fix the stock color and again a cheep refinish. Results = easily seen cheep refinish that is spotty looking. You will never have the aged patina of the original wood finish.

    Two other suggestions that may leave the wood color somewhat intact and allow for a BLOicon rub. Lacquer thinner and denatured alcohol (equal parts) may work on cheep poly. Also orange citristripper, may leave some intact original color. You do small sections at a time and rub it off asap with t shirts and or oooo grade wool. This is the best way, but may take a week to remove. You must use a non water base wood cleaner on the sections as you strip little section by little section. I use KOTTON KLENSER prodducts :wood restorer. Now if it is a high grade hard polyvinyl coat forget it. Best solution is an intact finish, replacement stock.


    you may also want to consider 1850 furniture stripper- likewise, work fast it bubbles off and may remove too much original color. Small sections at a time, do a review of this product.
    Circa 1850 Furniture Stripper



    Anyway you do this, it is going to look like garbage- a cheep refinish that cuts the collector value as bad as the present poly coat. Lets hope it's cheep soft poly and not a marine grade hard poly. Then it's sanding time = garbage stock as a result. I'd say unless you want a refinish, you buy a replacement, intact finished, vintage replacement stock.
    That is my 2 cents of unwanted information. Poly is bad news! At least Chileanicon stocks are easier to find than K98kicon or 1917 intact stocks. Expect to pay $150-250.
    Last edited by 72 usmc; 11-08-2023 at 05:02 PM.

  4. Avoid Ads - Become a Contributing Member - Click HERE
  5. #3
    Legacy Member BVZ24's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2021
    Last On
    Today @ 07:37 AM
    Location
    WI
    Posts
    191
    Local Date
    10-03-2024
    Local Time
    06:42 AM
    You might be able to leave the polyurethane alone but reduce the gloss with some very fine sandpaper or steel wool. I would try buffing with a paper bag first. It's roughly 1200 grit. Be careful on corners on edges so you don't take any thickness off.

    If removing it, I've used 5 minute remover and a paint scraper, small sections and no sandpaper. Follow with steel wool with care. The poly will peel off, but it takes most of the underlying color or oiled finish off as well. It generally leaves a better stock than sanding, but you still need apply your own finish. I'll heat raw linseed (flax) oil, found at an organic food store to just below boiling, add dyes as needed. Apply warm and buff once a day for a week, and after apply cool and buff once a week for a month, and once a month for a year. Dump all used rags in a bucket of water until they can be later be burned when convenient.
    Last edited by BVZ24; 11-08-2023 at 05:42 PM.

  6. #4
    Legacy Member 72 usmc's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Last On
    Yesterday @ 08:10 PM
    Location
    Menomonee Falls, WI
    Posts
    174
    Local Date
    10-03-2024
    Local Time
    06:42 AM
    Back in the day (2008), when these sold at Gander Mountain Gun World for $129, there were 7mm and converted NATO 7.62 1895 rifles where the inserts came out and the store got rid of all the conversions. Considered a store liability issue. Such a dog may be found at a gun show and have no takers and you can get the stock parts from such a 1895 Chileanicon dog. It has been at least 12 years so most may have been broken down for parts. Flee bay sometime has stocks for the rifles.
    http://dutchman.rebooty.com/1895Chile.html


    I do like the steel wool rub down idea by BVZ 24, just gradually rub to a a dull , thin coat, and tone down the gloss sort of like a BLOicon shine. Just that it will take some careful circular rubbing as to not make sanding or buffing marks. A uniform dull finish like an old enfield with a thick BLOicon that is dull. That might be the first thing to try to save the stock. Sit and watch TV as you do a rub down over the wood after the action is removed. It all takes time and oooo wool of a soft green pad the paper or a wool rag as a finish tone. Then it can be darkened with Fiebrings leather dye with a thin dry rag wipe if even needed. A better approach, do not remove, rather thin it out and dull it down like a vintage thick blo coat found on some rifles.
    Last edited by 72 usmc; 11-08-2023 at 06:14 PM.

  7. #5
    Legacy Member 72 usmc's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Last On
    Yesterday @ 08:10 PM
    Location
    Menomonee Falls, WI
    Posts
    174
    Local Date
    10-03-2024
    Local Time
    06:42 AM
    Photos do not load?? Do a search for an original stock finish.
    Last edited by 72 usmc; 11-08-2023 at 07:40 PM. Reason: unable to add photo

  8. #6
    Contributing Member ssgross's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2020
    Last On
    Yesterday @ 10:24 PM
    Location
    Virginia
    Posts
    1,588
    Local Date
    10-03-2024
    Local Time
    07:42 AM
    Before you spend big money on a new stock, try a cabinet scraper. Cheapest, most valuable tool you'll ever buy or make.
    It will shave the top hardcoaot off, leaving the layer of original color and finish in the wood below. Sandpaper will tear the fibers, so stay away from that. Chemical strippers will remove everything, make a mess, and muddy up whatever original color is under there. I've tried it all as I learned, and trust me a cabinet scraper is the fastest method, and also the safest, simplest, and easiest way to not screw it up. After scraping, rub down with some clean mineral spirits. Let it dry and then apply some linseed oilicon or whatever you like.

  9. #7
    Legacy Member 72 usmc's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Last On
    Yesterday @ 08:10 PM
    Location
    Menomonee Falls, WI
    Posts
    174
    Local Date
    10-03-2024
    Local Time
    06:42 AM

  10. #8
    Contributing Member ssgross's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2020
    Last On
    Yesterday @ 10:24 PM
    Location
    Virginia
    Posts
    1,588
    Local Date
    10-03-2024
    Local Time
    07:42 AM
    yep.

  11. The Following 2 Members Say Thank You to ssgross For This Useful Post:


+ Reply to Thread

Similar Threads

  1. Remove oil from cracked stock without damaging finish?
    By FLOPPY_DISK in forum The Restorer's Corner
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: 12-06-2019, 07:47 PM
  2. polyurethane removal
    By I.H.1989 in forum M1/M2 Carbine
    Replies: 20
    Last Post: 07-08-2013, 09:28 PM
  3. before and after polyurethane removal
    By wtmr in forum M1/M2 Carbine
    Replies: 18
    Last Post: 01-30-2012, 09:30 PM
  4. Remove and Replace Stock Escutcheon
    By G26ster in forum M1/M2 Carbine
    Replies: 21
    Last Post: 11-24-2010, 07:51 AM
  5. How do I remove dried adhesive from a stock?
    By AzTrooper in forum M1/M2 Carbine
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 07-17-2009, 06:27 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts