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Time to repaint the hunting rifle. Want to strip it before doing it again because reasons.
It's a 700 SPS with synthetic stock and leupold VX 1 scope. I've heard brake cleaner strips rattle can paint well. Is this ok to use on all parts? Or should it just be done on the steel pieces? |
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AZ, USA
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Posted: 12/15/2016 4:23:06 PM EST
[Last Edit: 12/15/2016 4:24:15 PM EST by AZJeff]
I would not use brake cleaner on the stock with out some experimentation on an area inside the stock that is not critical.
If you are spraying brake clean on the scope, keep it out of the ends, as it might harm the optical coatings and the seals around the lenses. Also, if the scope has movable external adjustments, it might harm the seals on those as well. Basically, any item that contains any sort of polymers can possibly (but not necessarily) be harmed by certain hydrocarbons. Use caution. |
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Posted: 12/15/2016 4:24:49 PM EST
Brake clean is safe to use around rubber brake lines and caliper piston seals.
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Posted: 12/15/2016 4:25:33 PM EST
IIRC break free strips it pretty well.
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Posted: 12/15/2016 4:25:40 PM EST
Keep extremely strong solvents away from plastics. Ever wonder why acetone comes in a metal can? It's not because it's the cheap option.
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GA, USA
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Posted: 12/15/2016 4:29:30 PM EST
I would not use brake cleaner. I will melt certain plastics and paints.
If you must, use starter fluid. Not as strong and compatible with practically everything but Styrofoam. |
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Posted: 12/15/2016 5:42:29 PM EST
I bet there is a how in the how to paint carbine with rattlecan military information.
I recall the Army put out some kind of how to manual on this subject a few years ago. To help out https://www.google.com/search?q=how+to+paint+M4+pdf&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8 brings up choices with .mil address. |
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Posted: 12/15/2016 5:46:19 PM EST
Quote History Originally Posted By hushpuppy:
Brake clean is safe to use around rubber brake lines and caliper piston seals. But not on plastic. 
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KS, USA
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Posted: 12/15/2016 5:56:40 PM EST
Originally Posted By mdguy90:
Time to repaint the hunting rifle. Want to strip it before doing it again because reasons. It's a 700 SPS with synthetic stock and leupold VX 1 scope. I've heard brake cleaner strips rattle can paint well. Is this ok to use on all parts? Or should it just be done on the steel pieces? Noooooooooo Use electric motor cleaner Break cleaner will deform plastic Speak from Personal experience But your gear do what you want |
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Posted: 12/15/2016 6:00:59 PM EST
[Last Edit: 12/15/2016 6:06:04 PM EST by Circle_R]
Why not just go buy a quart of 70% (or 90%) isopropyl alcohol and use a few clean rags to wipe it down? Â
ETA Â Sorry, didn't see the need to strip existing paint off |
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Posted: 12/15/2016 6:01:26 PM EST
Quote History Originally Posted By JBski:
But not on plastic. <img src=http://www.ar15.com/images/smilies/icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle> Non-chlorinated brake cleaner is fine for most plastics. I use it on just about EVBERYTHING. I have stripped paint from stocks, scopes, and guns using it. That's real experience. |
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Posted: 12/15/2016 6:04:12 PM EST
Quote History Originally Posted By bowmanch:
Noooooooooo Use electric motor cleaner Break cleaner will deform plastic Speak from Personal experience But your gear do what you want Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By bowmanch:
Originally Posted By mdguy90:
Time to repaint the hunting rifle. Want to strip it before doing it again because reasons. It's a 700 SPS with synthetic stock and leupold VX 1 scope. I've heard brake cleaner strips rattle can paint well. Is this ok to use on all parts? Or should it just be done on the steel pieces? Noooooooooo Use electric motor cleaner Break cleaner will deform plastic Speak from Personal experience But your gear do what you want Brake cleaner formulas have changed. Most non-chlorinated brake cleaners do not damage plastics. Now - I'd never get ANY of it on a lens because of the coatings. I spray it on a rag, then rub the paint off. I have used it on every plastic gun part just about ever made, from magpul, to factory colt, to buttstocks, mcmillan stocks, hanguards, with ZERO ill effects. Specifically - what GUN parts on an AR have you had personal experience with brake cleaner (that you can buy today) affecting? |
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FL, USA
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Posted: 12/15/2016 6:08:50 PM EST
I used paint thinner from Walmart to strip the paint off the Remington 700 plastic stock.
I put some paint thinner in a shallow baking pan and then laid a piece of old tee shirt over an area of stock and then poured pain thinner over it and let it sit for few minutes...keeping the tee shirt wet. Then I used an old tooth brush to take off the paint. After I did the whole stock I used a can of non-chlorinated brake cleaner to take off the last little bits. Took off the 100% of paint in about 1 hour. |
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TX, USA
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Posted: 12/15/2016 6:10:46 PM EST
Do not spray that shit on a rag then stick said rag in your back pocket. Talk about a red ass.
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KS, USA
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Posted: 12/15/2016 6:20:05 PM EST
Quote History Originally Posted By FALARAK:
Brake cleaner formulas have changed. Most non-chlorinated brake cleaners do not damage plastics. Now - I'd never get ANY of it on a lens because of the coatings. I spray it on a rag, then rub the paint off. I have used it on every plastic gun part just about ever made, from magpul, to factory colt, to buttstocks, mcmillan stocks, hanguards, with ZERO ill effects. Specifically - what GUN parts on an AR have you had personal experience with brake cleaner (that you can buy today) affecting? The grip, the safety is there |
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Posted: 12/15/2016 6:39:47 PM EST
I know this. Brake cleaner will take the black anodized finish of an M-16. Ask any Marine or Soldier (particularly grunts)
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Posted: 12/15/2016 8:51:15 PM EST
Non chlorinated brake cleaner won't do any harm to the plastic. I used it to strip Bryson off a lower with a magpul polymer trigger guard still installed.
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Posted: 12/15/2016 8:55:46 PM EST
Quote History Originally Posted By Stan08:
I know this. Brake cleaner will take the black anodized finish of an M-16. Ask any Marine or Soldier (particularly grunts) No, it wont. Anodization is aluminum oxide. Brake cleaner has zero chemical reaction to it. If it removed anything, then it was paint. Not anodizing. |
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Posted: 12/15/2016 9:01:12 PM EST
Quote History Originally Posted By FALARAK:
No, it wont. Anodization is aluminum oxide. Brake cleaner has zero chemical reaction to it. If it removed anything, then it was paint. Not anodizing. Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By FALARAK:
Originally Posted By Stan08:
I know this. Brake cleaner will take the black anodized finish of an M-16. Ask any Marine or Soldier (particularly grunts) No, it wont. Anodization is aluminum oxide. Brake cleaner has zero chemical reaction to it. If it removed anything, then it was paint. Not anodizing. +1, it might strip the CLP though. |
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Posted: 12/15/2016 9:01:20 PM EST
I would also recommend electronics cleaner.
It is right next to the brake cleaner at AutoZone or whatever the fuck you have near you |
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TX, USA
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Posted: 12/15/2016 9:07:24 PM EST
If you catch a stray cat and use some 180 grit sandpaper to buff its asshole and then spray brake cleaner on that asshole the cat will outrun a Chevrolet.
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Posted: 12/15/2016 9:07:31 PM EST
Quote History Originally Posted By hushpuppy:
Brake clean is safe to use around rubber brake lines and caliper piston seals. Yep. And since I don't have any of those on my rifles I don't use brake cleaner. |
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Posted: 12/16/2016 1:25:32 AM EST
Quote History Originally Posted By FALARAK:
No, it wont. Anodization is aluminum oxide. Brake cleaner has zero chemical reaction to it. If it removed anything, then it was paint. Not anodizing. OK, it will turn a black M-16 into a silver colored one. |
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Posted: 12/16/2016 2:05:06 AM EST
Citristrip is what you seek. Hardware store will carry it by the paint thinner.
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Posted: 12/16/2016 2:19:24 AM EST
I don't like citristrip as it is mesy, but it won't harm your stock.
For metal objects, the best method I like is just to let it sit under acetone for about 30 minutes. Assuming you are trying to strip off spray paint, it will literally just slide off. Use an AP brush or stiff toothbrush to help it off. Obviously don't dump your scope. |
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Posted: 12/16/2016 2:29:03 AM EST
(Sigh) The original Gunscrubber was a chlorinated solvent and it was safe on 99.9 percent of the gun plastics out there.
It loved to eat cheap Soviet shit plastic.
I use Brake Kleen chlorinated solvent for cleaning my motorcycle and guns. Not quite as good as the original Gunscrubber, but a fuckton better than spraying that non-chlorinated shit on your gun or bike. I did find 8 cans of the original Gunscrubber in a box I had hidden away in the garage last week. 
Fuck Bill Clinton. 
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Posted: 12/16/2016 2:32:41 AM EST
Quote History Originally Posted By Bakke1:
Citristrip is what you seek. Hardware store will carry it by the paint thinner. I have used this on an entire AR with good results and no issues... |
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Posted: 12/16/2016 10:13:01 AM EST
Quote History Originally Posted By KA3B:
I use Brake Kleen chlorinated solvent for cleaning my motorcycle and guns. Not quite as good as the original Gunscrubber, but a fuckton better than spraying that non-chlorinated shit on your gun or bike. Serious question - what's wrong with non-chlorinated? |
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