Removing Paint

[Old Doc]

I have an otherwise beautiful Great Western Custom with the Turnbull case-hardening. The previous owner saw fit to highlight the lettering on the barrel and the patent dates with white paint. I would like to remove it but don't want to use anything that might harm the bluing or the case-hardening. I don't think paint thinner would do the job and afraid tha paint remover or striipper would be too harsh. What would you suggest using?

[St. George]

Try lighter fluid or WD-40.

Ordinarily, I'd suggest nail polish remover, straight toluene or paint thinner, but Turnbull puts a sealer over their finish to help protect it and I don't know how those chemicals may affect it.

Good Luck!

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[Goody]

Brake fluid is pretty effective at removing paint.

[Old Doc]

Brake fluid is pretty effective at removing paint.

And if you don't think so, try spilling some of it on your fender.

[Old Doc]

Try lighter fluid or WD-40.

Ordinarily, I'd suggest nail polish remover, straight toluene or paint thinner, but Turnbull puts a sealer over their finish to help protect it and I don't know how those chemicals may affect it.

Good Luck!

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

I wasn't aware that WD-40 will remove paint. Is that true?

[Delmonico]

Old painter/bodyman speaking here.  Yes, under some circumstances.  Will not in most cases remove properly prepped and cured paint.  But in cases of paint where is should not be, such as spillage or over-spray, lots of times yes.  This lettering in question, I doubt the person sanded it, properly degreased it, primed it and either baked it or used a paint with a catalyst to cure it.

So as St. George said, give it a try, a little WD-40 sure ain't going to hurt a gun that much.

[St. George]

In short - yes, but you have to be patient.

I use those wooden-handled cotton swabs, since they're (for lack of a better term) more 'abrasive' than the swab of a Q-Tip.

Now here's a thought - unless the original owner went out and bought White paint specifically for the highlighting, there's a better-tan-even chance he used 'White-Out', and some variants of that are water-soluble.

Any of what I'd suggested 'does' work - Hell, I've seen 'Hoppe's #9" remove that lettering that many, many S&W collectors put on their weapons, too - I've used them all without problems when doing restorations of stuff - but since I know that Turnbull uses an over-coat clear finish, I can't say what may happen, though it's probably a good bet that said finish is cured, and the paint in your lettering isn't.

Again, Good Luck!

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[Shotgun Franklin]

Why not E-mail or call Turnbul and see what they recommend?

[Old Doc]

"got it done!" to paraphrase Larry The Cable Guy. First tried WD-40 and pointed wooden toothpick..slow going. Next attempt, coated the letters with Clenzoil, left it for about 30 minutes, then came back over it with an old toothbrush and it worked like a charm. Thanks for all the advice.

[Montana Slim]

"got it done!" to paraphrase Larry The Cable Guy. First tried WD-40 and pointed wooden toothpick..slow going. Next attempt, coated the letters with Clenzoil, left it for about 30 minutes, then came back over it with an old toothbrush and it worked like a charm. Thanks for all the advice.

Too late to help you out Doc,.... but maybe someone else can benefit.

Good-old Military CLP will remove all ordinary enamel paint.
I got involved with a similar project at work...and a fair amount of testing showed CLP worked as well as the paint stripper products for removing a variety of paints from firearms. 

Slim