Removing finish

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5of7

Hunter
Joined
Sep 22, 2010
Messages
2,296
Location
SW. LOWER MICHIGAN
Is there an easy way to remove the (blue?) finish from an aluminum grip frame on a Blackhawk?
I do NOT have the patience to polish it off.. 8)
 

eveled

Hawkeye
Joined
Apr 3, 2012
Messages
5,606
You don't want the use steel wool on aluminum. It works, but you run the risk of embedding steel into the aluminum. You won't see it until it rusts, use a scotch Brite pad.
 

Rob72

Bearcat
Joined
Oct 5, 2009
Messages
93
Location
Gulf Coast, Tejas
Quickest, easiest way to go about it. Be sure to wear glasses & gloves, this stuff is potent. It removes Dura Coat and Gun Kote with ease.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Klean-Strip-Premium-Paint-Stripper/17208799

Spray on, let sit for ~ 5 minutes and wipe off. May need an extra pass or two, if they happened to be really diligent that day, at Ruger.
 

Hondo44

Hawkeye
Joined
Apr 3, 2009
Messages
8,041
Location
People's Republik of California
It depends on the vintage of your Blackhawk.

Old models and new model alloy grip frames up to about 10 years ago were anodized. Since then they are powder coated. The powder coat strips easier and products like Klean-Strip will work. And may take the black of of anodized grip frames, but I haven't tried it.

If your gun is about 10 years old or older the grip is anodized and oven cleaner is the ticket.

Stripping, Polishing and refinishing alum alloy frames:

To remove all the old black finish, Easy Off oven cleaner works best. You have to buy the "dangerous" oven cleaner, the kind with lye. Don't settle for the fume/odor free kind, it doesn't work. You can cleanup with 800 grit paper. But you don't want to go thru the anodizing, just get the black off. The aluminum is very soft under the anodized layer which is similar to case hardening, and will dent and scratch easily.
For final polish preparation, use 1000 grit. Then 2000 grit paper and bring to a shine with a well used piece of 2000 grit paper.
 

Joe S.

Hunter
Joined
Feb 4, 2011
Messages
4,801
Location
Central MS
I had my gunsmith bead blast the one I've done. Easy. Dropped it off. Picked it up the next weekend.
 

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