How to take paint off a stock???-- help!

fuatos · August 30, 2001, 19:49

Has anyone had any experience taking paint off a FAL stock? Is there an easy way to do this without destroying the stock? I have a painted stock that is starting to flake and would like to restore it to the org. black.

Thanks,

Bryan

sixplusone · August 30, 2001, 20:07

[ September 04, 2001: Message edited by: sixplusone ]

recce · August 30, 2001, 20:18

If it were the Brit paint (suncorite)it would take something strong enough that would end up harming the plastic as it is acid resistant.

Have you thought about having it bead blasted? That way it would smooth out any imperfections.

**idsubgun** · August 30, 2001, 20:47

If glass beads seem too harsh, try plastic or walnut media. More and more sandblasting business's are offering this type of media.

**kfranz** · August 31, 2001, 10:45

Sandpaper????

**W.E.G.** · August 31, 2001, 11:35

There was some left on an R1 stock I was working on.

I ran it through the dishwasher with Cascade. The paint didn't come off much in the dishwasher. But when it came out, the paint was really soft. So soft that I could peel it off the stock with my fingernails.

fuatos · August 31, 2001, 19:36

The dishwasher seems to be one of the best FN FAL tools out there. I'll give it a try and let you know.

Thanks to all who responeded. I was some what hesitant to try sand paper, as I didn't want to scratch the plastic.

fuatos

RHspen · August 31, 2001, 19:37

Somebody told me to use brake fluid and steel wool. It worked great and I had a nice clean R1 stock. RH

**W.E.G.** · August 31, 2001, 19:47

I used fine sandpaper and steel wool on a plastic R1 stock that had a bunch of scrapes on it. I got the scrapes out just fine. But, the process left stock with a dull sheen reminiscent of an AR15 stock.

sixplusone · August 31, 2001, 20:01

My wife could get into a Group buy on the Dishwasher thingy. (Although I'm totally against putting water on wood except to 'raise the grain')

**W.E.G.** · August 31, 2001, 20:29

The dishwasher trick seems harmless enough to me when the subject is plastic.

Be careful with wood. For sure, take it out before the drying cycle. I wouldn't use a diswasher on a stock unless it already looked so bad that there would be little loss if it decided to split. I was sure my R1 stock was trash. The dishwasher trick worked for me.
YMMV.

Handguards are even more fragile, and they often already have hidden cracks which can become WAY UGLY when exposed to hot water immersion.

fuatos · August 31, 2001, 20:39

My stock is plastic, so I'm not too worried. If the dishwasher doesn't do the trick, I'll try the brake fluid and steel wool. Then if I need to, sand paper.

Thanks,

Bryan

Batman · August 31, 2001, 22:24

goo-be-gone

Nik · September 01, 2001, 08:59

I used Bix spray on paint stripper from Home Depot to remove the paint from some R-1 plastic handguards. Worked great and did not soften the plastic. Best of all, it comes off with water.

medicmike · September 01, 2001, 10:42

I used regular aircraft paint stripper on my R1 kit. Didn't hurt the plastic a bit.

Derby FALs · September 01, 2001, 22:26

Try a blow dryer to heat it up and see if it will peel off.

August 30, 2001, 19:49	#1
fuatos Registered FALaholic #: 1731 Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: UT Posts: 261	How to take paint off a stock???-- help! Has anyone had any experience taking paint off a FAL stock? Is there an easy way to do this without destroying the stock? I have a painted stock that is starting to flake and would like to restore it to the org. black. Thanks, Bryan

August 30, 2001, 20:47	#4
idsubgun "Comfortably Numb" Bronze Contributor FALaholic #: 3100 Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Soon to be Missouri Posts: 9,271	If glass beads seem too harsh, try plastic or walnut media. More and more sandblasting business's are offering this type of media. __________________ Si vis pacem, para bellum "If you wish for peace, prepare for war"

August 31, 2001, 11:35	#6
W.E.G. Administrator Silver Contributor FALaholic #: 1211 Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Virginia Posts: 31,108	There was some left on an R1 stock I was working on. I ran it through the dishwasher with Cascade. The paint didn't come off much in the dishwasher. But when it came out, the paint was really soft. So soft that I could peel it off the stock with my fingernails. __________________ . . . Ask me about the Mason-Dixon FAL Collectors Association.

August 31, 2001, 19:47	#9
W.E.G. Administrator Silver Contributor FALaholic #: 1211 Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Virginia Posts: 31,108	I used fine sandpaper and steel wool on a plastic R1 stock that had a bunch of scrapes on it. I got the scrapes out just fine. But, the process left stock with a dull sheen reminiscent of an AR15 stock. __________________ . . . Ask me about the Mason-Dixon FAL Collectors Association.

August 31, 2001, 20:29	#11
W.E.G. Administrator Silver Contributor FALaholic #: 1211 Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Virginia Posts: 31,108	The dishwasher trick seems harmless enough to me when the subject is plastic. Be careful with wood. For sure, take it out before the drying cycle. I wouldn't use a diswasher on a stock unless it already looked so bad that there would be little loss if it decided to split. I was sure my R1 stock was trash. The dishwasher trick worked for me. YMMV. Handguards are even more fragile, and they often already have hidden cracks which can become WAY UGLY when exposed to hot water immersion. __________________ . . . Ask me about the Mason-Dixon FAL Collectors Association.

August 30, 2001, 20:07	#2
sixplusone Registered FALaholic #: 2667 Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: NE Oregon Posts: 489	[ September 04, 2001: Message edited by: sixplusone ]

August 30, 2001, 20:18	#3
recce Registered FALaholic #: 153 Join Date: Jul 2000 Posts: 865	If it were the Brit paint (suncorite)it would take something strong enough that would end up harming the plastic as it is acid resistant. Have you thought about having it bead blasted? That way it would smooth out any imperfections.

August 31, 2001, 10:45	#5
kfranz Curio & Relic Bronze Contributor FALaholic #: 101 Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Central Wisconsin Posts: 3,630	Sandpaper????

August 31, 2001, 19:36	#7
fuatos Registered FALaholic #: 1731 Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: UT Posts: 261	The dishwasher seems to be one of the best FN FAL tools out there. I'll give it a try and let you know. Thanks to all who responeded. I was some what hesitant to try sand paper, as I didn't want to scratch the plastic. fuatos

August 31, 2001, 19:37	#8
RHspen Registered FALaholic #: 1925 Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Ft. Worth, Tex Posts: 96	Somebody told me to use brake fluid and steel wool. It worked great and I had a nice clean R1 stock. RH

August 31, 2001, 20:01	#10
sixplusone Registered FALaholic #: 2667 Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: NE Oregon Posts: 489	My wife could get into a Group buy on the Dishwasher thingy. (Although I'm totally against putting water on wood except to 'raise the grain')

August 31, 2001, 20:39	#12
fuatos Registered FALaholic #: 1731 Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: UT Posts: 261	My stock is plastic, so I'm not too worried. If the dishwasher doesn't do the trick, I'll try the brake fluid and steel wool. Then if I need to, sand paper. Thanks, Bryan

August 31, 2001, 22:24	#13
Batman Registered FALaholic #: 513 Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: SE, Michigan Posts: 2,048	goo-be-gone __________________ Say what you mean and mean what you say. Those who are silent are understood to consent.

September 01, 2001, 08:59	#14
Nik Registered FALaholic #: 3696 Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 108	I used Bix spray on paint stripper from Home Depot to remove the paint from some R-1 plastic handguards. Worked great and did not soften the plastic. Best of all, it comes off with water.

September 01, 2001, 10:42	#15
medicmike Registered FALaholic #: 3183 Join Date: May 2001 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 2,270	I used regular aircraft paint stripper on my R1 kit. Didn't hurt the plastic a bit. __________________ "Stand your ground. Don't fire unless fired upon, but if they mean to have a war, let it begin here." Captain John Parker at Lexington Green

September 01, 2001, 22:26	#16
Derby FALs Supreme Leader FALaholic #: 2361 Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Louisville, Kentucky Posts: 2,610	Try a blow dryer to heat it up and see if it will peel off. __________________ “Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add "within the limits of the law" because law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual.” - Thomas Jefferson Salami, salami, baloney... :bow: http://www.derbyfals.com/home.htm

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