Removing Poly? (Spanish Mauser)

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bkbville	Removing Poly? (Spanish Mauser)	Lead	[-]
Posts: 5 (07/19/09 10:35 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Tags : None I picked up a Spanish Mauser 1916; the stock was poly'ed - and the job done pretty poorly - runs etc. How can I take the poly off? Can this be done without sanding? (I hope) Will it remove the color of the wood (I assume the color is correct, but don't know how to tell.... anyone know what a Spanish 1916 mauser 7mm stock should look like?)
Cabinetman		#1	[-]
Posts: 5356 (07/20/09 01:55 PM) Host Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	It's easy enough with no sanding at all. Once polyurethane hardens, it can not be "reactivated" like shellac or lacquer can. Therefore it requires a stripper for removal. I like to use the KleanStrip HD stripper in a spray can. Hang the stock over a trash barrel with some crumpled newpaper in the bottom to catch the slurry. Spray the stock on a warm day. Stripper like to be warm to work. The HD stuff will cling nicely to the surface and loosen the polyurethane. It'll eventually begin to slough off into the barrel. Follow directions to clear off the gunk. Rest assured you'll need a second application. Do it the same way. Stripper will NOT harm your wood or ruin the pigmentation at all. The stock will change color, however, because the poly does that. Once you've got it all off, wash it down with a solvent like acetone or lacquer thinner. Let it dry shortly, then go ahead and reoil it. You'll be set in a day or so. Good luck. I just did my own Turk stock precisely the same way with excellent results. Rome A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government.
bkbville		#2	[-]
Posts: 10 (08/11/09 10:31 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I found KeanStrip, but not "HD". It worked as well as you said - though I didn't get too elaborate with the process. I sprayed the stock one side at a time, waited the 15 minutes, and scraped the poly right off using plastic scrapers (actually vinyl siding samples I grabbed.) I then wiped that section down and moved to another. Once complete with each side and the hand guard, I went back and did it a second time. Clearly there was some poly left. The wood color didn't really change color, though it looked to lighten a bit with the duller sheen. With #0000 I cleaned a couple of spots. After that wiped it down with mineral spirits and let it sit for a day. I spent a few days putting on a several coats of hand-rubbed BLO, and let the stock sit a couple of more days, buffing it with a clean rag a few times. It looked pretty darn good at this point, but I felt the sheen was too dull, so I bufffed a real light coat of JPW - just enough to give it a faint shine. Thanks again for the help
Cabinetman		#3	[-]
Posts: 5361 (08/12/09 06:54 AM) Host Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Sounds great. Glad it worked and another stock is set for the coming decades! Rome A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government.