Stripping factory finish from wood grips

T

TEXVET

Member
Joined
Sep 12, 2013
Messages
285
Reaction score
110
I recently purchased a Model 66-0. Apparently the previous owner may have been a mechanic. The gun had black sandy grease in all of the major cervices. The grips are grimy and rather dark from greasy hands (?), anyway I would like to refinish them.
A used gun dealer I know recommends soaking the stocks in acetone for a couple of days and then using a toothbrush to remove the finish. I have refinished a couple of rifles, but never revolver stocks. What is the most recommended method to remove old grimy stains without damaging the S&W medallions and wood?
Thanks.
 
Register to hide this ad
Acetone soak for several hours and a toothbrush followed by careful sanding w/350 grit paper if needed has worked for me.
 
TEXVET,

Let me state that I am NOT an authority on stock/grip refinishing, but I have stayed in a Holiday Inn Express. However, the accepted practice for removing the old finish is just as you described. I recently acquired a Model 66 and wanted to "clean-up" the stocks. Did my research and decided the first step should be to wash them in solution of Murphy's Oil Soap, using my wife's tooth brush to clean out the checkering. Never use your own tooth brush. The bottom line was when they dried there was about 2% of the original finish left in some obscure spots. EVERYTHING I thought was finish was not, it was dirt and oil. You might get lucky and have a nice finish under all the grime but don't be shocked like I was. Either way it will make the acetone bath a breeze.
hardcase60
 
Last edited:
I would avoid an acetone bath if possible. I use a citrus strip spray from Lowes/walmart. It is relatively benign, but will get rid of the finish and crud. I have used acetone baths in the past, but only to get rid of oil soaked in the wood, not the surface finish. The oil destroys the wood eventually, which is one reason you want to seal the grips after stripping them.

An alternative to acetone bath is a mineral spirits bath. Takes longer but is easier on the wood. I use denatured alcohol to wipe everything down.
 
In the past I've used lacquer thinner (Acetone) or Formby's Furniture Stripper.

I'd soak the grips in lacquer thinner for 20 minutes or so then start brushing with a solvent-proof toothbrush. Usually I could have the old finish stripped in less than 45 minutes, unless it was an epoxy type finish.

As above, I'd first try a wood cleaner, not a stripper to see if all you have are dirty grips that don't need a refinish.
 
In the past I've used lacquer thinner (Acetone) or Formby's Furniture Stripper.
Click to expand...

Lacquer thinner and acetone are different solvents.

Feel free to use whatever you like. However acetone is the normal way folks strip the factory finish from grips and stocks. I just put them in a loaf pan, use enough acetone to cover the grips and cover it with aluminum foil. If your wood has oil, let them soak overnight. If not, a couple of hours and most of the finish will already be gone. Light brushing with a toothbrush and you will have bare wood. I do wear gloves and do this task outside. Here is how they will look after stripping with acetone.

[URL=http://s860.photobucket.com/user/jepp2/media/Gripsafterstripping.jpg.html] [/URL]
 
jimmyj said:
Oily fingerprints from a mechanic ?
An old timer once told me that an easy way to determine if your wife/girlfriend is "Fooling Around" with a mechanic is she will have oily fingerprints all over her.
Click to expand...

That explains a lot. Found them on my wife, a bottle of Jack Daniels and one of my guns. :( Thanks for the tip.

hardcase60
 
I strongly DIS-recommend oven cleaner.
It seriously damages wood fibers.

A couple of years ago a US Forestry wood expert posted some pictures on a site showing microscope pictures of just how badly oven cleaner damages wood.

This was after it became popular to clean M1 rifle stocks with it.
 
No oven cleaner, no acetone. Get some liquid laundry soap and mix a strong concentrate in a bucket and scrub with a heavy duty scrub brush then see what you have to work with. Remember if you strip them you have to get all the finish out of the checkering otherwise the new coat will not stay on. I have good luck with the citrus strippers but I would not want to have to clean all the groves of the checkering.
 
OK, don't use oven cleaner on stocks. Gotit.

I guess it is OK for taking greasy fingerprints off the wife, though. The acetone will ruin her nail job so don't use that on her.
 
I refinished this set of Targets grips and I soaked mine in acetone for a couple of hours. Then cleaned the checkering with a toothpaste. Then I sanded them down with 0000 steel wool. Try to avoid the checkering and the medallion. You can put masking tape over them if you like. I then applied four or five thin coats of Boiled linseed oil. Letting dry good between each coat, also sanding lightly between each coat. You can also use tru oil if you like.
 

Attachments

  • S&W 586 Nickle 008.jpg
    S&W 586 Nickle 008.jpg
    50.4 KB · Views: 285
Thanks guys for the reassurance.
I guess I have a project for this weekend.

I like Hardcase. I used to work with a fellow who had the same kind of sense of humor. You never knew what he was going to come up with next.
 
Update on progress.
I bought the Acetone and a small paint can. I placed the stocks in the bottom of the can and then poured the Acetone in the can. The Acetone completely covered the stocks. The stocks have been soaking for two days. I checked this morning and nothing has happened. The finish is still as it was when I first put them in the Acetone, except they now get a white haze as the Acetone dries.
A close look has revealed the stocks may have been refinished before. There is a shiny glaze on the wood that would not have come from S&W.
Acetone appears to have no affect on this finish. I am thinking that some kind of paint stripper may be the only course of action at this point. I have used paint strippers on wood furniture before. You always sand and prep the wood prior to applying another finish after using paint strippers.
Will paint stripper damage the wood grain or checkering on these stock?
Anyone have any other ideas prior to me trying this?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

B
CZ rifle wood choices
Replies
18
Views
1K
BillBro
B
E
Best place to refinish pistols
Replies
14
Views
797
shamuscull
S
C
Grip Identification And An Ugly Model 36
2
Replies
24
Views
2K
Alk8944
Alk8944
hkcavalier
  • Locked
FS: NEW ADDED wood grips N & J frame, Colt E/I
Replies
10
Views
2K
hkcavalier
hkcavalier
J
K38 Grip Wood Identification
Replies
4
Views
317
jareds06
J

Latest posts

Back
Top