Thread: 1911 Paint removal from Nickel?

So i recently picked up a 1973 vintage Combat Commander that has the Matte nickel finish (Coltguard?), over which the previous owner sprayed high-temp header paint (so i'm told) on the slide only.

S/N 70SC25XXX

SOME of the paint can be scraped off with a thumbnail...what about the rest of it?

Any good way to remove the paint without messing up the finish under it? What chemicals can be used? I dont want to mess up the front sight insert that someone went to a lot of trouble to do.

And YES it needs CLEANED....that is an evening project SOON. Full strip and clean AFTER I go shoot it FIRST!

the front sight:


The slide from the top:


The whole thing:

Acetone! Leave the front sight sticking out of a small container of acetone. It will all come right off!

Brake parts cleaner, stay away from the front sight and or mask it off with duct tape.

Agreed, Dechlorinated Brake Cleaner will do the job ....

Originally Posted by pinkhamr

Agreed, Dechlorinated Brake Cleaner will do the job ....

Another +1 for that. Also, some spray on paint remover will do the job just cover the front sight and spray, then wait and card off with a piece of cardboard or a business card then clean with brake clean, oil and you're done.

Looking forward to seeing how it turns out.

Originally Posted by pinkhamr

Agreed, Dechlorinated Brake Cleaner will do the job ....

Why non-chlorinated when chlorinated works far better?

Btw, I'd used Jabsco Premium Paint Remover.

Originally Posted by Gunfixx

Why non-chlorinated when chlorinated works far better?

Btw, I'd used Jabsco Premium Paint Remover.

Chlorinated is horrible for you if inhaled and it's hard on parts with plastic and acrylics, like sights, grips and such.

I love the Jasco Aerosol paint remover. Easy to use and works wonderfully!

Originally Posted by bnr32gtr

Chlorinated is horrible for you if inhaled and it's hard on parts with plastic and acrylics, like sights, grips and such.

So is the other stuff mentioned.
Ketones melt plastics as well.
Wear a respirator.

I love the Jasco Aerosol paint remover. Easy to use and works wonderfully!

That is because it is Methylene Chloride (a chlorinated solvent)
Also known as, dichlormethane
The neat thing about Jabsco paint remover is that it is in a paraffin base so it slows down the evaporation rate which makes it work longer. Also it stays where you put it so you can control where it goes, and it stays put.

Sell me the gun and don't worry about it!

I'd start with lacquer thinner on a rag and see how it goes.

maybe try Kleanstrip Aircraft Paint Remover "Non-corrosive to common metals under normal exposure time."

Klean-Strip Automotive®

Originally Posted by nonsense

maybe try Kleanstrip Aircraft Paint Remover "Non-corrosive to common metals under normal exposure time."

Klean-Strip Automotive®

It is dichlormethane as well.
Same as Jabsco

ACETONE works wonders...Its NICKEL under the header paint...see attached. Acetone does WONDERS when you have the right gloves and applicators.

Also one shot with the original stocks that the original purchaser dropped by last night.

Thanks all for the pointers.



Or like this...

Cool!

Would I be correct in assuming you performed this task AFTER removing the slide, barrel and barrel lug from the frame?

Told yah! Great looking Colt now!

I use to use break parts cleaner, but it was hard to soak it well when it comes in a spray can.

MA Duce....

Well YES....its a whole lot easier that way...and less error prone. I just thought that it looked better put BACK together instead of a pile of parts.

Woodswalker