Stripping paint from a used shotgun

LionsheadDeluxe · February 21, 2006, 10:15 PM

I just bought a used Mossberg because it was real cheap... anyway, somebody painted the thing with what looks like house paint. I was wondering if anybody knows of a solvent that will strip off paint without damaging the bluing.

warwagon · February 21, 2006, 10:36 PM

Depends on the paint, what parts were painted, etc.
Can you post a picture of it?

SFV81 · February 21, 2006, 11:41 PM

on the metal parts go lightly with a laquer remover, just when the top paint is rubbed off dont keep wiping. Why did he paint the gun did he go for the camo look?

BoltWorks · February 22, 2006, 08:55 AM

Check first to see if the paint comes off with mineral spirits, paint thinner. This solvent is common in gun cleaning products and shouldn't hurt the gun blue. Be CARE full of paint strippers as they use caustic hyrdroxides similar to oven cleaners which will harm the metal as well as the gun blue. You might also try chlorinated solvent such as "brake parts cleaner" however, that one can harm plastics. Go slow whatever you try.

Ruger4570 · February 22, 2006, 09:50 AM

I would take the wood off the gun, rather than try a single product to remove all the paint. If it is latex paint, you can soak the metal in alcohol for a day and it usually will remove it. There is also a product called "oops" and one called "goof off" that will desolve latex. You should not have a problem using commercial paint strippers on the wood, but I would hesitate to try it on the metal parts without some experimenting in some small area not visible as it might harm the blueing or etch the metal. I would also remove the butt plate or recoil pad before trying a commercial cleaner on the wood. Best of luck with your project.

LionsheadDeluxe · February 22, 2006, 01:16 PM

yea, he painted the whole thing with a brown basecoat with black streaks. Its kind of a cheapie camo job. I think it would look really nice without it. It looks like the basecoat was applied with a paintbrush, im not sure what kind of paint it is and the streaks were spraypainted on. I already tried mineral spirits and goof off but neither one could get through it. Ill try the laquer remover and hopefully that will work. Thanks everybody

webbee · February 22, 2006, 02:55 PM

If laquer remover = laquer thinner then it probably will remove whatever paint is on it. I have no idea what it will do to the bluing. Rusty parts may have been the reason it was painted. I would get the whole thing parkerized in the end, after all the mods are done. Remember Mossies have an aluminum receiver which may react differentally. Good luck with your project.

dr.magnum · February 22, 2006, 03:25 PM

I had to do this years ago with a Win. model 50 someone painted green. I used a Homer Formby product, but I can't remember the exact name. It took off the paint and didn't disturb the bluing at all. I bought it at Walmart.

Ruger4570 · February 22, 2006, 04:16 PM

The laquer thinner should remove the sprayed on stuff easily, the base coat, who knows. The wood should not be affected with a stripper though. I tend to think the metal would not be affected with the stripper either, but use a little caution anyways. Again good luck

LionsheadDeluxe · February 22, 2006, 05:13 PM

hey thanks ruger, i tried the alcohol thing and it seems to be working well on the barrel and the magazine. as for the furniture, i guess ill try a commercial stripper.

almark · February 22, 2006, 05:31 PM

If you're talking about using a commercial paint stripper for the wood, be wary of it taking off the original finish and perhaps the stain too... found that out when I tried to refinish a dresser last year. Alcohol may work but the water found in most alcohol has a good chance of causing the wood to swell if it seeps through the coating. If it's real wood and you're feeling adventurous, you could always strip it and restain/refinish it... not too hard a job and you can work with the wood to bring out any natural beauty it has... or you could strip it and use a nice oil or wax finish and go "au natural".

If nothing chemical seems to be working you can spend some time (a considerable amount of time, actually) with 000 or 0000 steel wool, going with the grain of the wood and stopping as soon as you see the original finish. Don't suppose you'd wanna post a pic or two?

Good luck!

Ga Johnny · February 22, 2006, 07:40 PM

mineral spirits should work, you'll have to let it soak for good while, maybe even a few days.

LionsheadDeluxe · February 22, 2006, 08:22 PM

well my plan is to remove the paint the finish and the stain... im have a lot of experience with wood refinishing, so it shouldnt be a problem. As for pics, i dont have a digital camera right now, but ill try to obtain one and post some pics. Its really a beautiful weapon and i think itll look really nice when im done

February 21, 2006, 10:15 PM	#1
LionsheadDeluxe Junior Member Join Date: February 21, 2006 Location: Lancaster PA Posts: 6	Stripping paint from a used shotgun I just bought a used Mossberg because it was real cheap... anyway, somebody painted the thing with what looks like house paint. I was wondering if anybody knows of a solvent that will strip off paint without damaging the bluing.

February 22, 2006, 03:25 PM	#8
dr.magnum Senior Member Join Date: December 15, 2004 Location: S.W. Missouri Posts: 359	I had to do this years ago with a Win. model 50 someone painted green. I used a Homer Formby product, but I can't remember the exact name. It took off the paint and didn't disturb the bluing at all. I bought it at Walmart. __________________ There are only two tools you really need: WD-40 and duct tape. If it doesn't move and should, use WD-40 If it moves and it shouldn't, use duct tape.

February 22, 2006, 05:31 PM	#11
almark Senior Member Join Date: March 30, 2005 Location: TX Posts: 359	If you're talking about using a commercial paint stripper for the wood, be wary of it taking off the original finish and perhaps the stain too... found that out when I tried to refinish a dresser last year. Alcohol may work but the water found in most alcohol has a good chance of causing the wood to swell if it seeps through the coating. If it's real wood and you're feeling adventurous, you could always strip it and restain/refinish it... not too hard a job and you can work with the wood to bring out any natural beauty it has... or you could strip it and use a nice oil or wax finish and go "au natural". If nothing chemical seems to be working you can spend some time (a considerable amount of time, actually) with 000 or 0000 steel wool, going with the grain of the wood and stopping as soon as you see the original finish. Don't suppose you'd wanna post a pic or two? Good luck! __________________ "The brain is a wonderful organ. It starts working the moment you get up in the morning and does not stop until you get into the office." -Robert Frost

February 21, 2006, 10:36 PM	#2
warwagon Senior Member Join Date: November 7, 2005 Location: Dayton Oh Posts: 341	Depends on the paint, what parts were painted, etc. Can you post a picture of it?

February 21, 2006, 11:41 PM	#3
SFV81 Junior Member Join Date: February 21, 2006 Location: So Cal Posts: 14	on the metal parts go lightly with a laquer remover, just when the top paint is rubbed off dont keep wiping. Why did he paint the gun did he go for the camo look?

February 22, 2006, 08:55 AM	#4
BoltWorks Member Join Date: December 2, 2005 Posts: 89	Check first to see if the paint comes off with mineral spirits, paint thinner. This solvent is common in gun cleaning products and shouldn't hurt the gun blue. Be CARE full of paint strippers as they use caustic hyrdroxides similar to oven cleaners which will harm the metal as well as the gun blue. You might also try chlorinated solvent such as "brake parts cleaner" however, that one can harm plastics. Go slow whatever you try.

February 22, 2006, 09:50 AM	#5
Ruger4570 Senior Member Join Date: April 3, 2005 Location: Rochester, New York Posts: 2,136	I would take the wood off the gun, rather than try a single product to remove all the paint. If it is latex paint, you can soak the metal in alcohol for a day and it usually will remove it. There is also a product called "oops" and one called "goof off" that will desolve latex. You should not have a problem using commercial paint strippers on the wood, but I would hesitate to try it on the metal parts without some experimenting in some small area not visible as it might harm the blueing or etch the metal. I would also remove the butt plate or recoil pad before trying a commercial cleaner on the wood. Best of luck with your project.

February 22, 2006, 01:16 PM	#6
LionsheadDeluxe Junior Member Join Date: February 21, 2006 Location: Lancaster PA Posts: 6	yea, he painted the whole thing with a brown basecoat with black streaks. Its kind of a cheapie camo job. I think it would look really nice without it. It looks like the basecoat was applied with a paintbrush, im not sure what kind of paint it is and the streaks were spraypainted on. I already tried mineral spirits and goof off but neither one could get through it. Ill try the laquer remover and hopefully that will work. Thanks everybody

February 22, 2006, 02:55 PM	#7
webbee Senior Member Join Date: October 1, 2005 Posts: 218	If laquer remover = laquer thinner then it probably will remove whatever paint is on it. I have no idea what it will do to the bluing. Rusty parts may have been the reason it was painted. I would get the whole thing parkerized in the end, after all the mods are done. Remember Mossies have an aluminum receiver which may react differentally. Good luck with your project.

February 22, 2006, 04:16 PM	#9
Ruger4570 Senior Member Join Date: April 3, 2005 Location: Rochester, New York Posts: 2,136	The laquer thinner should remove the sprayed on stuff easily, the base coat, who knows. The wood should not be affected with a stripper though. I tend to think the metal would not be affected with the stripper either, but use a little caution anyways. Again good luck

February 22, 2006, 05:13 PM	#10
LionsheadDeluxe Junior Member Join Date: February 21, 2006 Location: Lancaster PA Posts: 6	hey thanks ruger, i tried the alcohol thing and it seems to be working well on the barrel and the magazine. as for the furniture, i guess ill try a commercial stripper.

February 22, 2006, 07:40 PM	#12
Ga Johnny Member Join Date: January 19, 2006 Posts: 75	mineral spirits should work, you'll have to let it soak for good while, maybe even a few days.

February 22, 2006, 08:22 PM	#13
LionsheadDeluxe Junior Member Join Date: February 21, 2006 Location: Lancaster PA Posts: 6	well my plan is to remove the paint the finish and the stain... im have a lot of experience with wood refinishing, so it shouldnt be a problem. As for pics, i dont have a digital camera right now, but ill try to obtain one and post some pics. Its really a beautiful weapon and i think itll look really nice when im done