Need Suggestions On Removing Ugly Gray Coating On Bearcat.

[Gene]

I hope I'm posting this in the correct sub forum.

I have a slightly older stainless NM Bearcat that has the ugly gray coating on the ejector rod aluminum shroud/cover that doesn't match the beautiful stainless finish of the rest of the gun.

I'm pretty sure Ruger now ships Bearcats with SS shrouds instead of the gray aluminum that they should have done all along.

My question is, anyone have any suggestions how to remove the gray coating without damaging the aluminum underneath it. I'm sure I could grind it off but I don't want to mar the soft aluminum underneath.

I was hoping there was a chemical I could soak it in that would mostly remove it so I could then polish the aluminum underneath.

Thanks much for any suggestions!

 

[hittman]

I'm guessing the product called "Semi-Chrome" (sp?).
Please confirm with others here first!

p.s. - moved this to Rimfire Section for ya.

 

[K1500]

What do you hope to achieve by removing the anodizing? I believe you can buy a stainless ERH and swap it in if you wish, but grinding off the anodizing will look really bad.

 

[powder smoke]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

That's the way to go right there order a new stainless one and swap it out.
Naturally save the original for the future you never know. ps

 

[Fox Mike]

OOOO steel wool and some 'elbow grease' works fine. If done right it will end up looking like it was steel.

 

[Gene]

Thanks for the replies and thanks hittman for moving this into the correct forum.

I contacted Ruger last week about ordering a SS ERH but haven't heard back from them yet.

Nice Fox Mike! I don't care about keeping the original ugly gray ERH so I guess I'll try the 0000 method. Any tips on "doing it right"?

 

[CraigC]

I think it looks pretty good and it keeps the gun light, which is kinda its reason for being.

 

[Gene]

Not bad Craig especially with the pearl like grips and I'm glad you're fine with it.

I do like that the aluminum ERH shaves a tiny bit of weight but I prefer it to be shiny bright like Mike's guns.

I guess I'll try his method of taking it off. Just wish there was a way of soaking it a solution to loosen the coating up before rubbing it off.

 

[RSIno1]

You could send it to the plater and have them remove the anodize.

 

[Cholo]

Fox Mike has the right idea, and they look great!

 

[CraigC]

If it was anodized, you could remove it with Easy Off oven cleaner but that won't work with a coating.

 

[Gene]

If it was anodized, you could remove it with Easy Off oven cleaner but that won't work with a coating.

Yeah, that's correct. I tried it and it wouldn't touch the coating.

 

[Fox Mike]

Nice Fox Mike! I don't care about keeping the original ugly gray ERH so I guess I'll try the 0000 method. Any tips on "doing it right"?

As I said: "0000, elbow grease, and take your time". Hurry-up screws up more things that you can imagine.

 

[Gene]

Well, I got it done. I tried Frank's way with the 0000 steel wool but it was way too slow and barely removed anything after 1/2 hour. You really have patience my friend! I did use the 0000 steel wool though as a finishing step.

So I decided to try another method. I had some #361 grade wet or dry sandpaper and decided to try that. I used it wet and even though it still took a lot of patience and time, it removed the gray paint or whatever it is, much faster than the 0000.

After I removed the paint from the smooth surfaces, there was still some left in some of the grooves and indentations where the wet/dry sand paper wouldn't remove it.

So I then switched to a Dremel tool and used a fine wire wheel. It easily took off the rest of the paint but left some slightly deeper but minor marks than the wet/dry did.

THEN I used the 0000 steel wool to smooth out the entire ERH and to remove any of the marks left by the wire wheel. I did use the 0000 wet. After that I polished it all up using Flitz metal polish and it now shines like a mirror!

If I had to do it all over again, I would have just started with the Dremel and fine wire wheel to remove it all and then smoothed everything out with the 0000 steel wool and then polished it all up with the Flitz.

Anyway, success and it's shining bright and looks fabulous just like highly polished stainless steel!