Cleaning out Checkered Stock

[jyantkilr]

I started a refinish on this today and dang what a pain. I used stripper on the hand guard, then neutralized it. Had to use a needle to pick out this poly craaapo piled into the checkers. It came out decent I suppose but any easy way to remove this stuff?

[goofy]

I use a tooth brush after letting the stripper sit for 15-20 min.
Mike

[Bindernut]

Yup, A good stiff toothbrush will scrub down into the checkering to help lift the crud out.

[jyantkilr]

Yep yep, toothbrush isn't working. These are negative stamped impressions, guess I pick pick pick and more pick.

[Jim K]

Not super quality checkering. Did you consider simply sanding the stock down to remove it and then having decent checkering done if you want?

Jim

[Bindernut]

Originally Posted by jyantkilr

Yep yep, toothbrush isn't working. These are negative stamped impressions, guess I pick pick pick and more pick.

Keep soaking and scrubbing. You will be able to get the varnish out of those little divots. The stiffer a brush you have the better digging power.
Maybe a nylon parts cleaning brush? they're stiffer than even a firm toothbrush...but the bristles are pretty thick too so they are harder to cram down in there to scrub.

Embossed "checkering" is a PitA isn't it!
I redid an old beater 870 Express a couple years ago and had the same problem. I was able to get most of the varnish out of the pattern, but I never did get all of the stain removed. It looked about like the fore-end you've got pictured when I gave up on it...but I was restaining it a similar color anyway so it turned out pretty good.

What type of stripper are you using? Petroleum based (the old-school toluene/xylene/acetone stuff), or the new-fangled citrus-based ("safe" ) stripper?
If you're using the citrus type, try using some of the petroleum based stuff instead. I still think it just plain works better. Most auto parts stores will have it on the shelf in the autobody section.
Klean-Strip Aircraft stripper is the one I usually have around.
http://www.amazon.com/GAR343-KLEAN-S...sim_sbs_auto_1
Rustoleum also has one that I know works pretty good on varnish too
http://www.amazon.com/Rustoleum-Airc...sim_sbs_auto_5

[jyantkilr]

Thank you, I got them all out, needle city. Didn't want too much stripper/water, this is a cheapo checker and pretty fragile. It's a 1957 shotgun so want to leave it original as far as the stock checkering.

I had gotten it from a friend who did the old slop on the poly, drips included, it had to come off.

It was some 8 yr. old stripper, water base, had airplane paint stripper but passed on that thought.

[cpttango30]

You can always get a checkering kit from Brownells and touch them up that way.