Removing clay from wood
I just got done bedding my wooden stock, but most of the modeling clay that was formerly in and on the action stayed with the wood. So now I have a beautiful laminate stock that has a bunch of clay stuck to its course, pourous insides. The stock is gorgeous and I don't want to ruin the finish. Is there a chemical that I can use to dissolve the clay that won't harm the wood? Failing that I'll probably go real easy with my Dremmel and some razor blades and toothpicks, although that is going to take a very long time.
Try mineral spirits and a 2" cheap natural bristle brush. Modelling clay always felt a bit oily to me and mineral spirits should do the trick.
Why in the world would you use a dremel tool? I can't think of a reason to use razor blades, either.
The clay in screw holes is removed by what ever you can put in the hole to poke or hook it out. The large cavities can mostly be cleaned out with your fingers. When you have most of it out, use WD-40 and paper towels or rags to get the rest.
Use just whatever you have on hand - hair pins, paper clips with an end bent to 90 degrees, allen wrenches, screw drivers of different sizes, tooth picks, pop sickle sticks that have been carved into a knife - just whatever you can find. Screw drivers can be ground and shaped if necessary.
