Acetone on gun blue?

Mike38 · April 17, 2020, 02:34 PM

Will Acetone remove or stain gun bluing? Reason I ask, I mounted some scope rings on a rifle using finger nail polish as thread locker. Now want to remove rings, thinking a drop of Acetone will loosen up screws, but knowing my luck, I'd get a drop on the receiver. Thanks.

Pahoo · April 17, 2020, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Will Acetone remove or stain gun bluing?

No ….. However
If you are referring to a good factory blue, then you should not have a problem. On "cold" blue, you probably will be okay. I've seen things that have will remove "some" cold blue; mainly from just wiping. ow, some rings are blue and some appear to be so. ….

Perhaps you might try a little controlled heat first, like an electric woodburning iron …..

Slow and easy, wins this race and you can't afford to spill any Acetone.!!!

Be Safe !!!

FrankenMauser · April 17, 2020, 10:10 PM

Acetone won't harm the bluing.
It may, temporarily, make it look like garbage, by stripping all of the oils. But it won't harm it.

Some stock finishes don't care for acetone, however.

**44 AMP** · April 18, 2020, 03:30 AM

If it will remove rust, it can remove blueing.

I have no idea how much, or where you used nail polish as "threadlocker".

If you "painted" the threads with it, you're going to have some trouble.

The best way to use nail polish (or model paint) on screws is to use a drop on the screw head, so that it covers part of the screw and what its screwed into. Torque seal style. It generally keeps the screw from loosening, and if it doesn't its a visible tell tale that the screw has loosened (the drop cracks)

There is (or was?) a product called "Guntite" which was sold in sporting goods stores which is a Loctite type product made for gun screws, to hold them securely but also to allow their removal with the proper tool.

A small tube has lasted me for years.

I don't know if acetone will affect the bluing or not. If you're worried, try heat (or cold) and a properly fitting screwdriver, before trying chemical solvents. You might get lucky.

HiBC · April 18, 2020, 06:30 AM

Acetone will cut nail polish. However,if you can obtain nail polish,you can obtain "oily nail polish remover?
cetone is so volatile,it will only stay on a surface a few seconds.The "oily" part of nail polish remover gives t some working time,and prevents the stff from re-sticking as the acetone dries out.

As far as damaging your bluing Some things,like solder flux,and abrasives,will damage bluing. Bluing is a refined,burnished rust That's it. It serves to create a semi=porous "tooth" to the surface of the steel. It acts almost like a primer to give rust preventative oil,grease,or wax something to bond to

Over time,this may develop as a patina,or like the seasoning on a cast iron pan.

While the acetone would be unlikely to "hurt the bluing",it WILL strip away the "seasoning" or patina. You might notice a visual difference The spot will heal up,mostly,with the application of some oil,,but who knows what beedwax,carnuba,lanolin ,etc had been htere.

Take the stock off. Murphy's law. Acetone will attack wood finish.

If you have some on the shelf.the Methylene Chloride gel paint strippers ought to cut nail polsh.Its a gel. Apply just a dot with a match stick.
If you need penetration...mix just a littl batch of acetone with ATF or Marvel Mystery oil or PB Baster.Give it a minute. Clean out the screw slot,and use a precise,fitted screw driver. Not the one that came with the sewing machine

Bill DeShivs · April 18, 2020, 01:59 PM

Frankenmauser has it right.
Acetone will not harm bluing.

**Unclenick** · April 18, 2020, 05:23 PM

That is right. Using acetone on a patch to get oil out of a barrel is an old practice and no special precautions are required.

Mike38 · April 18, 2020, 05:26 PM

Thanks for the replies, good to know!

gwpercle · April 20, 2020, 01:19 PM

If the blue is real old school hot bath bluing ...acetone will not affect it .
If the finish is anything else ...test it first .

A airweight S&W revolver has some kind of finish on the alloy parts that acetone will eat right off and leave the gun looking like 5 miles of bad road.
Any kind of "Finish" that is not hot blue...check it first .
Gary

Bill DeShivs · April 20, 2020, 01:36 PM

Airweight guns are not blued. They are anodized or coated.

April 17, 2020, 02:34 PM	#1
Mike38 Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2009 Location: North Central Illinois Posts: 2,710	Acetone on gun blue? Will Acetone remove or stain gun bluing? Reason I ask, I mounted some scope rings on a rifle using finger nail polish as thread locker. Now want to remove rings, thinking a drop of Acetone will loosen up screws, but knowing my luck, I'd get a drop on the receiver. Thanks.

April 17, 2020, 10:10 PM	#3
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,424	Acetone won't harm the bluing. It may, temporarily, make it look like garbage, by stripping all of the oils. But it won't harm it. Some stock finishes don't care for acetone, however. __________________ Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.

April 18, 2020, 03:30 AM	#4
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,818	If it will remove rust, it can remove blueing. I have no idea how much, or where you used nail polish as "threadlocker". If you "painted" the threads with it, you're going to have some trouble. The best way to use nail polish (or model paint) on screws is to use a drop on the screw head, so that it covers part of the screw and what its screwed into. Torque seal style. It generally keeps the screw from loosening, and if it doesn't its a visible tell tale that the screw has loosened (the drop cracks) There is (or was?) a product called "Guntite" which was sold in sporting goods stores which is a Loctite type product made for gun screws, to hold them securely but also to allow their removal with the proper tool. A small tube has lasted me for years. I don't know if acetone will affect the bluing or not. If you're worried, try heat (or cold) and a properly fitting screwdriver, before trying chemical solvents. You might get lucky. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

April 18, 2020, 01:59 PM	#6
Bill DeShivs Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 10,981	Frankenmauser has it right. Acetone will not harm bluing. __________________ Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler www.billdeshivs.com

April 18, 2020, 05:23 PM	#7
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,061	That is right. Using acetone on a patch to get oil out of a barrel is an old practice and no special precautions are required. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

April 18, 2020, 06:30 AM	#5
HiBC Senior Member Join Date: November 13, 2006 Posts: 8,283	Acetone will cut nail polish. However,if you can obtain nail polish,you can obtain "oily nail polish remover? cetone is so volatile,it will only stay on a surface a few seconds.The "oily" part of nail polish remover gives t some working time,and prevents the stff from re-sticking as the acetone dries out. As far as damaging your bluing Some things,like solder flux,and abrasives,will damage bluing. Bluing is a refined,burnished rust That's it. It serves to create a semi=porous "tooth" to the surface of the steel. It acts almost like a primer to give rust preventative oil,grease,or wax something to bond to Over time,this may develop as a patina,or like the seasoning on a cast iron pan. While the acetone would be unlikely to "hurt the bluing",it WILL strip away the "seasoning" or patina. You might notice a visual difference The spot will heal up,mostly,with the application of some oil,,but who knows what beedwax,carnuba,lanolin ,etc had been htere. Take the stock off. Murphy's law. Acetone will attack wood finish. If you have some on the shelf.the Methylene Chloride gel paint strippers ought to cut nail polsh.Its a gel. Apply just a dot with a match stick. If you need penetration...mix just a littl batch of acetone with ATF or Marvel Mystery oil or PB Baster.Give it a minute. Clean out the screw slot,and use a precise,fitted screw driver. Not the one that came with the sewing machine

April 18, 2020, 05:26 PM	#8
Mike38 Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2009 Location: North Central Illinois Posts: 2,710	Thanks for the replies, good to know!

April 20, 2020, 01:19 PM	#9
gwpercle Senior Member Join Date: November 30, 2012 Location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana Posts: 1,752	If the blue is real old school hot bath bluing ...acetone will not affect it . If the finish is anything else ...test it first . A airweight S&W revolver has some kind of finish on the alloy parts that acetone will eat right off and leave the gun looking like 5 miles of bad road. Any kind of "Finish" that is not hot blue...check it first . Gary

April 20, 2020, 01:36 PM	#10
Bill DeShivs Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 10,981	Airweight guns are not blued. They are anodized or coated. __________________ Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler www.billdeshivs.com