Is there a decent home-made paint stripper?

Ferahgo

Ferahgo

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I want to strip my 9, but I am too lazy to head into town (country boy problems). Any suggestions on something I can make at home with everyday stuff?
 
acetone -- particularly the kind that comes in 1 gallon cans as opposed to nail polish remover -- is rumored to loosen the black coating enough to easily scrape it off.
brake cleaner or ATF might also work.
 
1066vik said:
acetone -- particularly the kind that comes in 1 gallon cans as opposed to nail polish remover -- is rumored to loosen the black coating enough to easily scrape it off.
brake cleaner or ATF might also work.
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I think I have some acetone lying around. I will give it a try.
 
I don't remember who it was that postd it up a few days ago, but basically they dunked the blade a couple of times, waited a minute or 2, then started scraping.
 
1066vik said:
I don't remember who it was that postd it up a few days ago, but basically they dunked the blade a couple of times, waited a minute or 2, then started scraping.
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That's it? I was getting ready to toss it in a pan of the stuff for half an hour.
 
I'm going by memory, and have slept since then, so the details may be a bit fuzzy.
OTOH, 1/2 hour soak won't hurt the steel any.
 
Well, I will try the technique you mentioned first. It would waste less of the acetone. If not, I will soak it.
 
Ferahgo said:
That works, I suppose. I used a wire brush once on some random junker. It worked, but not a method I would use on anything of value.
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*pffft* Wire brush can't hurt a BK! After all, they're meant to be hard-use tools. ;)

Now, if you're wanting to make something purdy, then you need to get to town and get some Citristrip.
 
TravisH said:
*pffft* Wire brush can't hurt a BK! After all, they're meant to be hard-use tools. ;)

Now, if you're wanting to make something purdy, then you need to get to town and get some Citristrip.
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I want to put at least a low polish on it, so no brushes. And if the acetone trick won't work, I will have to wait until I make a trip.
 
Keep in mind, until you strip it you never know if its a natural beauty or will need a lot of work on the machine marks. Its worth it either way. Just letting you know. Let us know how the acetone works. :) :thumbup:
 
Ferahgo said:
I want to put at least a low polish on it, so no brushes.
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Then brushes are the least of your worries. ;)

As B.Mauser noted, underneath the coating will be machine marks of varying degrees.

For a low polish or satin finish, you are looking at lots of sanding, many many hours if done by hand.

Lots of threads here show what a stripped blade looks like. If you're wanting something smoother then you'll be sanding and brush marks won't matter. ;)
 
a 5" random orbit sander with a 320 grit pad gives a good approximation of a stonewash and hides machine marks quickly.
a new scotchbrite pad attached to a random orbit sander will give you a decent matte finish
once you have a mate finish, add some flitz to the well used green pad and bring it to a semi-gloss satin?
 
Acetone....no. I tried a simple wash with it, and nothing there. I let it soak for about 3 hours and still nothing. I tried to scrape off the paint with a putty knife, but nothing. It introduced rust in all exposed areas, though.
 
Ferahgo said:
Acetone....no. I tried a simple wash with it, and nothing there. I let it soak for about 3 hours and still nothing. I tried to scrape off the paint with a putty knife, but nothing. It introduced rust in all exposed areas, though.
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Well this rather dramatically puts "acetone bath" in the "NO" column. Thank you for your contribution to the world of Becker modifications. :D

Do you have any old paint stripper out in a shed? That's what I used.
 
Yeah, I don't recommend the acetone thing. That, and my blade now reeks awfully. And no, I don't have any conventional paint stripper. I am thinking of taking it off using sandpaper only.
 
bummer
wonder what the guy who posted up about using acetone was really using now.
 
Maybe he was using something industrial? Like, concentrated acetone? I only can buy standard stuff. I am thinking of trying rubbing alcohol?
 
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