Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Gunsmithing Chemically stripping varnish

I have a new to me Savage 99 with some very nice wood. Problem is, it's covered in a hideous, ultra thick layer of varnish. I'd really like to remove the original finish in the least invasive manner and I'm thinking this stuff will take heavy sanding or scraping...there's gotta be an easier way.

Formby's Furniture refinisher is the quickest and easiest and the only one you use in stages, stop when satisfied. Chemical strippers lead to lots more work, guaranteed.

Savage finish was made to be cleaned up by Formby's.

If you want to go back to the bare wood, Citristrip is the way to go. Slop it on thick, wrap the piece in aluminum foil, wait thirty minutes, unwrap it and clean it up with mineral spirtis. If there's thick finish down in the checkering you will want to work it loose with a toothbrush before you clean it up with the mineral spirits. It's very simple to use stuff.

Weagle

Definitely want to take it all back to the wood and start all over with a proper oil finish, and re-cut the checkering.

Citristrip will be your ticket. It's usually less than 10 bucks at home depot or Wmart. It's the only stuff i know that will quickly take the finish off even the Remingtons and Brownings.

Weagle