Italian polyeurathane removal

[mustanggt]

I'm removing that wretched poly stuff on the grips of my Open Top to then oil the stocks when done. However I don't know when I'll be done as this stuff could stand up to a tactical nuke and not come off!!! I'm using Kleenstrip which has worked real well on taking cosmoline off of old military rifles. I have done countless strippings over this weekend and I've hardly put a dent into it. Is this usual or did I get the grips from hell??? I'd like to know what this stuff is so I can buy some to use on outdoor furniture. I'd never have to ever touch it again.

[Abilene]

Well I'm not familiar with Kleenstrip, but have used Citristrip to remove the finish from a number of Uberti grips and stocks.  Works very well.  Needed to use a wood or plastic scraper for some of it, but no problem.  The wood underneath in each case was very light and needed to be stained before I started in with the oiling.

[mustanggt]

Thanks for the reply. I read the label on the citristrip and it said 24hrs before wiping or scraping it off. Kleenstrip was a half hour so went with that. Guess I'll keep at it but it sure is a laborious process.

[JohnsonBarr]

I've had good success using 'Soy-Gel' paint stripper. It seems to take 3 applications to get down to bare wood but, it does work. My local Rockler Woodworking Supply store stocks it in quart bottles or you can order direct from Franmar Chemical at www.franmar.com

[Major 2]

I've used Kleen Strip or Strypeeze .... first coat has it wrinkling in about 3-5 min. some 0000 steel wool and second coat and I'm at bare wood.
I wash them off with water , maybe one more wipe with clean 0000 to de-whisker.
allow them to dry, and check for shiny spots,  re-treat if I see some...

like Abilene , I like to stain them a bit,  and then boiled linseed oil, or Tung Oil...even Skidmore's works very well...

normally 30-40 mins... less the drying time. I've Never been disappointed with the results.

[mustanggt]

Thanks for the help fellas. That's how I expected kleenstrip to work. I've shaken the crap out of it each time I've applied it and I still don't get it. Maybe I just need to increase the stay time on the finish to 2hrs+ and see if that works. Hopefully it doesn't spontaneously combust on me. Haha.

[Blair]

Have you tried "Easy Off" oven cleaner? Or some other similar oven cleaner?
Just a thought?
Spray it on, work it over with a cheap (.05 cent) acid brush, you can wash it off in hot water in just a few moments and let the wood dry for about 24 hr. before you start to refinish.
My best,
Blair

[GunClick Rick]

Same thing with old guitars i buy and redo,some of them old guitars sound alot better with out that crud on them,but man good strippers are hard to find now...

[Fox Creek Kid]

I used to do my own stripping until one day I drove by a furniture repair joint and they had a real tank & eqpmt. He charged me $5 for pistol grips & $10.00 for rifle stocks. That was ten yrs. ago. No fumes nor fuss for me and everything came back cleaner than a hound's tooth. Look around where you live for one. 

[Coal Creek Griff]

So instead of doing your own stripping, you go to a strip joint and let the professionals do the stripping?  Just making sure I understand. 

CC Griff

[Grenadier]

Citrus based stripper from Lowes works well but not as quickly as Dad's brand or Strip Ez.

[Fox Creek Kid]

So instead of doing your own stripping, you go to a strip joint and let the professionals do the stripping?  Just making sure I understand. 

CC Griff

No runs, no drips & no errors.