Safely removing paint from a SW 686

[covingtonhouse]

I need some advice on how to safely remoce paint from a 686 6" barrel SW. It was part of an estate that a buddy of mine picked up, and somw knucklehead painted it in black paint. No doubt tge underlying finish is now compromised, but he paint affects the trigger function on a couple of spots on the cylinder cuts for the trigger advance. Any advise is appreciated, I'm not a wheel gun guy and know nothing much about em except they are fun to shoot. Thanks!

[Gryff]

686 is a brushed stainless gun. Tough to replicate that finish, but if you don't mind the bead-blasted look (I don't), you could always remove the paint that way.

[QXSOUP]

Send it back to Smith and they will bead blast it.

[Lead Waster]

What about soaking it in paint thinner? If it's SS then I don't think the paint thinner will damage it (grips off of course).

But I'm no expert. Some guy posted a photo of a Desert Eagle here that he sonically cleaned with vinegar and it looked horrible! But it wasn't a SS gun hidden in PAINT either.

Maybe remove the cylinder and try using a cloth with paint thinner on it to test on some inconspicious part?

[AreWeNotMen?]

Motsenbocker's Lift Off Spray Paint Graffiti Remover

I've used this on two ugly painted ARs - metal and plastic substrates - works well, absolutely no damage or discoloring to anything.

[bnzo]

I need some advice on how to safely remoce paint from a 686 6" barrel SW. It was part of an estate that a buddy of mine picked up, and somw knucklehead painted it in black paint. No doubt tge underlying finish is now compromised, but he paint affects the trigger function on a couple of spots on the cylinder cuts for the trigger advance. Any advise is appreciated, I'm not a wheel gun guy and know nothing much about em except they are fun to shoot. Thanks!

Not necessarily, it's stainless.

What kind of paint?

Do you have a picture of the gun?

[Garv]

As bnzo said, what kind of paint would be helpful.

Try rubbing a small area with a cotton swab moistened with acetone and see what happens.

686 is stainless so should not be any problems with the finish.

['ol shooter]

Soak all metal parts in acetone for a day at least, most of the paint will come right off. Use a gentle brush and/or medium steel wool on the spots that are still there. Be gentle.

[stormvet]

I know I’m not the only one that really wants to see this ‘painted’ 686.

[DEPUTYBILL]

Just to be certain, it is a 686 stainless and not a 586 blue steel with a bad blue job?
Also, Smith did make a few 686's with a blackened finish from the factory.
A photo would help.

[stormvet]

Just to be certain, it is a 686 stainless and not a 586 blue steel with a bad blue job?
Also, Smith did make a few 686's with a blackened finish from the factory.
A photo would help.

Good point DB, they did make some 686 with a black finish.

[langss]

Acetone or Lacquer Thinner will not affect a Stainless Finish. As said above just remove the grips. If the front site has a plastic, insert, then don't just dunk the gun in the solvent. You will have to carefully wipe it off.

[Revoman]

DO NOT use steel wool if it is a stainless finish. Steel wool particles get stuck in the minor finish divots on the gun and will rust sooner or later. If you gotta get that tough with it use the lightest (I think it's the grey) 3M ScotchPad.

[highpower]

All decent suggestions, but Jesus, it's made out of stainless steel.

That's right stainless steel, there isn't a paint remover or solvent that I am aware of that will react with stainless steel. If you are using some type of weird solvent, just test it on a small piece of stainless (separate from the gun) to see if it reacts to whatever solvent you use. My guess is that using standard paint removers available in the PRC, all they will do is remove the paint.

Oh yeah, remove the stocks before you apply any paint remover.

[P5Ret]

It should really be done by someone who knows how to disassemble the gun, before soaking it in anything. Not all of the internal parts will be stainless.