Anyone ever remove rattle can paint?

[wilderness medic]

Moving somewhere where the original FDE is a bit more appropriate and I was wondering if it was possible to remove spray paint from polymer and metal on firearms. I'm guessing the answer is no, especially on a barrel thats repeatedly been heated up and baked it on but worth a shot.

Anyone ever have success? If not I'll just paint over it.

[Bigtwin]

Brake cleaner does a wonderful job usually on the metal parts. But as far as on the polymer parts I'd be very cautious of chemicals. You're probably better off just painting over what you have.

[wilderness medic]

Brake cleaner does a wonderful job usually on the metal parts. But as far as on the polymer parts I'd be very cautious of chemicals. You're probably better off just painting over what you have.

Thanks. The original FDE mis matched colors are weird anyway. Does brake cleaner strip the blueing?

[ar15barrels]

Does brake cleaner strip the blueing?

No.
It also does not effect almost any other metal finishing processes besides paints.
It does take ALL the oil off though so don't forget to re-oil steel parts afterwards.

[wilderness medic]

No.
It also does not effect almost any other metal finishing processes besides paints.
It does take ALL the oil off though so don't forget to re-oil steel parts afterwards.

Cool thanks. Maybe I'll remove my barrel and iron sights and hit them with brake cleaner.

Any idea how it might affect polymers? I think my iron sights have a polymer drum.

[ar15barrels]

Any idea how it might affect polymers?

It varies between absolutely no effect and total annihilation depending on the type of plastic.
Test it on an area that you don't care about before you use it on areas you care about.

[Dragginpanda]

I’d try Goo Gone.

[tanakasan]

Cool thanks. Maybe I'll remove my barrel and iron sights and hit them with brake cleaner.

Any idea how it might affect polymers? I think my iron sights have a polymer drum.

You would need to test a small inconspicuous area but...

We used to use brake fluid, not cleaner on plastic car tail light/side marker lenses to remove old overspray. It would take the paint off w/o messing the plastic up. Actually restored/rehydrated the plastic.

YMMV! Be sure to try a test piece first!

Robert

[Tere_Hanges]

https://www.ar15.com/forums/armory/Easiest-way-to-remove-paint-off-AR15-Paint-Removed-PICS-inside-/19-477784/

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Klean-Strip-18-oz-Stripper-ESR72/100135467

Klean Strip premium stripper in the spray can from Walmart works like magic. It will lift paint off all in one piece in a matter of seconds. Ive used it many times on aluminum steel and polymer. Just wash it off with a hose. Wear a mask and gloves, it burns your throat and skin.

Brake cleaner is for amateurs. Seriously it takes a lot of aggressive scrubbing. You can spend a couple hours scrubbing paint off with brake cleaner or about 10 mins with the stripper. Brake cleaner also leaves a ton of paint residue. The stripper removes it like it was never there in all the hard to reach crevices too. Trust me, Ive spent days removing spray paint with brake cleaner until I finally heard about klean strip. Spray paint is a ***** to remove. You need something quick and easy. Its perfectly safe on plastic. Just wash it off as soon as the paint bubbles up almost instantly.

[Paperchasin]

Acetone works well too

[M1NM]

Solvents will eat the plastic. Maybe soda blasting. Not as agressive and easier on the surface than bead or sand blasting.

[HooYah]

[Bigtwin]

Aircraft stripper also work, but you have to decide how aggressive you're going to be to neutralize that. Like I said if you're just going to repaint it, paint over it. It's not worth the hassle of stripping the previous paint as far as I'm concerned.

[RTE]

Straight brake fluid works to lift paint.
May not be too harsh on the polymer?
Still need to neutralize it with another product.

[jimmythebrain]

I do not know about gun parts, but you can clean paint and other things off of linoleum flooring with charcoal lighter fluid without damaging the floor. It worked on my vinyl siding as well.