I forget what to use to take off Russian re-blue...

[majspud]

Was it acetone, or vinegar?

Who knows what lurks in (under) the hearts of men?

I want to test and see if there is any original finish under the Depot XII.

t

 

[mac1911]

Anything vinegar is sure to take blue off...any of it.

 

[majspud]

Including the original finish?

t

 

[Maninblue1861]

50 bmg gave me a mosin he stripped down to original beautiful blueing.

 

[mac1911]

Including the original finish?

t

If it's blue or oxide of sorts yes vinegar will take it off.
If the Russians used some other finish over the blue then the under surface might be saved.
Basically any acid will take blue off. Trying to blue over blue tends not to work all to well. You just end up with blotches where any bare or thin blue is.

 

[martin08]

Don't use vinegar! It will strip the original blue.

Acetone won't hurt rust bluing. May or may not be effective on the dip.

I know that brake-clean will not touch bluing, either. I'd give it a try, since the Russian dip is really just a coating, and not a chemical/oxidation reaction.

 

[mac1911]

I had to look at mine...under the wood line and on some of the smaller parts it looks like clear coat....maybe shellac ? I can scrape off the layer in some spots.
Mine is a shooter and I could could not care less about getting this stuff off.

 

[majspud]

Turpentine did nothing.

Acetone removed the black pieces of paint and took the 'dark' out of the finish, exposing some light surface pitting in places.

Will get acetone when I'm out tomorrow.

t

 

[majspud]

Acetone did not do that much. Paper towel did come away with a fair amount of rust, though.

t

 

[Sweeney]

Bluing is simply an iron oxide. To removing it chemically, you need an acid not a solvent.

 

[majspud]

But then you'd remove the original blue as well.

T

 

[mac1911]

But then you'd remove the original blue as well.

T

Need to identify what this "Russian refinish" is.
If I dig my k98 out i will see if my camera will pick up the "finish" on Mine.
My rifle looks almost clear coated and the bolt looks " painted" vs any type of bluing

 

[martin08]

Toluene will also remove some paints and not touch bluing.

Recommend gloves and a respirator, though. It's powerful stuff.

 

[SKS Ray]

Don't forget, refurb Russian black/blue was often used on rifles that were rusted.

 

[mac1911]

Don't forget, refurb Russian black/blue was often used on rifles that were rusted.

Do we know what the Russians used?

 

[SKS Ray]

Do we know what the Russians used?

Not sure but rumor is that a cheap shellac finish for protection was used. Denatured alcohol should remove any shellac finish. If it works, that's what's on there.

 

[majspud]

The few areas that had black paint are now clear. So the 'blue' that's on it now is the original finish.

t

 

[mac1911]

Not sure but rumor is that a cheap shellac finish for protection was used. Denatured alcohol should remove any shellac finish. If it works, that's what's on there.

That's what mine appears to be. If you look at my stock around the edges and recoil lug cross bolt and stock button you see remnant of shellac on the stock also. Some one cleaned up the stock before I got itn