GOOF OFF for stripping a stock?

[ppg1949]

In addition to credit cards, you can cut scrapers from any plastic container like milk jugs, orange juice jugs, plastic buckets/tubs, etc. Cut some with curved surfaces to match the contour of the stock.

Semisane, first,I like your name. It applies to most of us. I like your idea of using an old milk jug or bottle. I was trying to think of any plastic card to use and I was drawing a blank.
Thanks.

 

[ppg1949]

Have used a product called KrudKutter and/or TSP to remove finish and oil from Milsurp stocks. Find it works to remove most any finish except for the bowing ally or basketball floor factory finish you find on some stocks.

SDS, I may have some that. I used it to clean our stove top.
Thanks

 

[Don Steele]

Are ya'll talking about removing stain...like Ferric Nitrate,tea, walnut hulls, etc. to render the stock back to it's native wood color..?? In the case of Maple...that will be VERY light. Basically...No color at all.
Or are you referring to removing the finish...whatever it might be...Tung oil, TrueOil, Linseed oil, Linspeed, urethane, etc. ??
As you can see from my question...I don't know much about the topic...but would like to learn more.
Thanks.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

I use citrustrip with good results.

Another vote for Citristrip

LD

 

[ppg1949]

Are ya'll talking about removing stain...like Ferric Nitrate,tea, walnut hulls, etc. to render the stock back to it's native wood color..?? In the case of Maple...that will be VERY light. Basically...No color at all.
Or are you referring to removing the finish...whatever it might be...Tung oil, TrueOil, Linseed oil, Linspeed, urethane, etc. ??
As you can see from my question...I don't know much about the topic...but would like to learn more.
Thanks.

DS, I'm talking about taking a stock down to bare wood. What started my question, was when I was digging around for a can of stain and found a can of GOOF OFF. I think the can was a giveaway when a hardware store opened in my home town. I'm positive I didn't buy it. But since this thread got going it seems almost all votes are for Citrus Strip stripper.
Thanks

 

[yonderin]

I've used Easy-off on oil soaked stocks. It has been many, many years but I don't recall that I left it on more than an hour. At most.

It did remove a lot of crud from the stocks. More or longer applications may have done an even better job.

 

[SDSmlf]

SDS, I may have some that. I used it to clean our stove top.
Thanks

I can ‘strip’ five or six old old Milsurp stocks with one large spray bottle of KrudKutter. I spray the stock outdoors (not in direct sun) and let it sit 5-10 minutes before wiping it down. The brown finish and oil start to run off as you are spraying it. Usually repeat the process one or two times. If it starts to dry before I wipe it down, I’ll spray a little bit more on the stock.

I’m sure the Critris Strip works, just haven’t had a reason to try it.

 

[ppg1949]

I can ‘strip’ five or six old old Milsurp stocks with one large spray bottle of KrudKutter. I spray the stock outdoors (not in direct sun) and let it sit 5-10 minutes before wiping it down. The brown finish and oil start to run off as you are spraying it. Usually repeat the process one or two times. If it starts to dry before I wipe it down, I’ll spray a little bit more on the stock.

I’m sure the Critris Strip works, just haven’t had a reason to try it.

SDS, I may give a try before I buy something. Thanks

 

[ppg1949]

I've used Easy-off on oil soaked stocks. It has been many, many years but I don't recall that I left it on more than an hour. At most.

It did remove a lot of crud from the stocks. More or longer applications may have done an even better job.

Thanks, good info

 

[Ken Neeld]

Phil, Easy Off is potent stuff. I have used it several times, it's really good on old military stocks.
I spray it on and let it set for a minimum of an hour. Leaving it over night hurts nothing. I last used it on a european beech stock and it came out weathered barn wood gray. That was OK as a dark cherry stain gave a nice old time walnut appearance. So, I don't know how it would work on something like birch or maple where you wanted to retain the natural color, besides a lot of sanding.

 

[ppg1949]

Phil, Easy Off is potent stuff. I have used it several times, it's really good on old military stocks.
I spray it on and let it set for a minimum of an hour. Leaving it over night hurts nothing. I last used it on a european beech stock and it came out weathered barn wood gray. That was OK as a dark cherry stain gave a nice old time walnut appearance. So, I don't know how it would work on something like birch or maple where you wanted to retain the natural color, besides a lot of sanding.

KN, the stock is on an old Dixie Gun Works single shot small bore shotgun from Spain. I'm guessing it is birch or some other cheap wood. So, however it looks after the finish removal is done is not to important to me.
Thanks

 

[springfield art]

I can ‘strip’ five or six old old Milsurp stocks with one large spray bottle of KrudKutter. I spray the stock outdoors (not in direct sun) and let it sit 5-10 minutes before wiping it down. The brown finish and oil start to run off as you are spraying it. Usually repeat the process one or two times. If it starts to dry before I wipe it down, I’ll spray a little bit more on the stock.

I’m sure the Critris Strip works, just haven’t had a reason to try it.

Interesting. Also, you can soak a cruddy mil-surp stock in mineral spirits; won't warp the wood, and a stiff brush really moves the goop in the crevices. Haven't heard of KrudKutter; always good to know about other products. Thanks.

 

[SDSmlf]

Have tried a lot of methods to pull oil out of old stocks, from chemicals to diatomaceous earth and heat. All seem to require multiple applications for heavily oiled wood. Have heard it suggested to run through a dishwasher. Not going to happen in my house, nor would I try it if I valued the wood at all. Whatever I do, prefer to avoid soaking the wood, particularly in water.

 

[Dphar1950]

Hello, anyone ever use GOOF OFF to strip the stain off a stock? I was thinking about refinishing a stock with a darker stain but don't want to spend hours sanding.
Thanks

Goof Off is not paint/varnish stripper.
Its going to infuse the wood with petroleum distillate. Use a stripper. There are many out there go to the hardware store. The orange citrus stuff will work if the finish is not plastic. I have used epoxy stripper on a plastic coated brass suppository gunstocks.

 

[ppg1949]

Goof Off is not paint/varnish stripper.
Its going to infuse the wood with petroleum distillate. Use a stripper. There are many out there go to the hardware store. The orange citrus stuff will work if the finish is not plastic. I have used epoxy stripper on a plastic coated brass suppository gunstocks.

Dphar, thanks for the info. I have already striped the stock with citrus strip. I was surprised that it had a dark wood stock underneath the crappy looking orangish colored stain. I'm not sure I might be European walnut. I did a dark walnut stain and in about a week I'll do a tru-oil satin finish. Thanks for your knowledgeable info on GOOF OFF.

 

[Robwright]

Not gonna try it but you could start one, put another on top, and a third, the push all three down. No air.

 

[ppg1949]

Not gonna try it but you could start one, put another on top, and a third, the push all three down. No air.

Robwright, I didn't use it. I went with a citrus strip. Dphar1950 said GOOF OFF would leave a petroleum distillate in the wood which is never a good thing. Thanks

 

[1950DAVE]

Original goof off was nothing but xylene. Great for removing latex paints from surfaces. Too mild a solvent to remove old BLO or varnishes. Will remove wax and maybe crude/motor oil. It is volatile and will not infuse the wood in such a way as to affect other finishes.
Dave

 

[springfield art]

Citri-Strip! I've had great results on several gunstocks using it.

 

[springfield art]

Have tried a lot of methods to pull oil out of old stocks, from chemicals to diatomaceous earth and heat. All seem to require multiple applications for heavily oiled wood. Have heard it suggested to run through a dishwasher. Not going to happen in my house, nor would I try it if I valued the wood at all. Whatever I do, prefer to avoid soaking the wood, particularly in water.

I had an old Mauser stock that was super greasy/oily. I soaked it in a plastic trough with mineral spirits. (Remember that water will warp wood, etc.), Stiff brushing, soaking, the thing came out great.