how to prep/strip a stock for refinishing

[aack73]

i'm gonna try and redo a couple of my stocks. i have a plan for refinishing it but lack a plan for stripping and prep. any directions/suggestions/and or links would be much appreciated. what to use. where to find it. and how if any good tips or suggestions.  definitely gonna be a learning experience. thanks chad

[DMikeM]

Get the strongest paint epoxy stripper you can find. Maybe like this: http://www.wmbarr.com/product.aspx?catid=102&prodid=213 .
Heavy rubber gloves, not nitril or surgical gloves, it burns through them. Heavy plastic brush like a tooth brush. Heavy throw away putty blades or scrapers, paint thinner, safety glasses, isopropyl alcohol, paper bags and news paper, various grits of sand paper (100 to 800) and at least one heavy large trash bag. Lightly scuff the finish with the 100 grit paper then apply enough stripper to make the whole stock wet with it and stick in the plastic garbage bag for at least an hour.
Using heave gloves and wearing safety glasses remove from bag wet again with stripper and start scrapping away the curdled dissolved finish. Use the brush on any checkering and hard to get at areas, you may need to reapply the stripper a few times. When you get as much off as you can rinse the stock with either paint thinner or water (I do both) then wipe down with the alcohol. Get a medium grade paper and remove the left over finish. Do not sand the checkering unless you plan on recutting it. (I tape it over with blue masking tape to protect it). I like to use a small vibrating sander with 320 grit paper over the whole stock to get it nice and clean. 400, 600 and finish off by hand with 800. You can flash it to raise the hairs on the wood before doing the 800. Flashing is soaking with either alcohol or lacquer thinner then setting it on fire. Put it out after about 15 seconds or less. then finish with 800 grit, removing any burn marks and raised wood fibers. Now if you have a compressor or a can of compressed air blow it off well then stain and finish it.
Hope this helps.

[captwoody]

I just did my marauder with that citrus based stripper at walmart, note use rubber gloves and remove all metal.I used an old tooth brush and rags after 1 hour and it all came off

[aack73]

thanks guys that is what i was looking for. i will post pics in another post of my disaster or success.