Russian SKS black bolt, help

[shotgunjoel]

So I just bought arsenal refurbed Russian SKS. I hate the black painted bolt carrier. What can/should I do to return the bolt carrier to the white finish it used to be? Thanks for your help.

 

[Uncle Mike]

Run it through a 'glass bead' blaster. Works wonders on those painted bolts.

 

[chevyforlife21]

spray it with carb cleaner or pour on some paint thinner that should clean it up

 

[shotgunjoel]

So just some carb cleaner like cosmoline? That's it?

 

[chevyforlife21]

well it might work depends how good of paint is on it. carb cleaner generally takes off paint, you could also try steel wool

 

[shotgunjoel]

well it might work depends how good of paint is on it. carb cleaner generally takes off paint, you could also try steel wool

Yikes, steel wool sounds kinda like a bad idea. I want the paint off, but I don't want the carrier all stratched up.
Not to be rude, but have you actually done this to a bolt carrier?

 

[zhyla]

Steel wool sounds like a bad idea. I think I would start with paint thinner. The important thing is to remove the paint chemically and not try to scrape or peel it off. I think mine is chromed steel, you don't want to remove the chrome layer.

I wonder why it's painted? Maybe it was a rust problem? I guess if it's nasty underneath you could polish it up and take it to a plating house to get re-chromed. Or blue it to match the receiver. Or just buy a new bolt?

Disclaimer: I've never done anything close to this.

 

[nathan]

Refurbed black paint. Ill leave it as is.

 

[Sam1911]

I always start with the less caustic chemicals and move up until something works. Paint thinner probably won't touch it (it might, though). Acetone or laquer thinner will completely dissolve a lot of the paints that the eastern bloc used. If that doesn't work, paint stripper (methylene chloride usually) should take it off like NOW. (Brake fluid will, too!)

I wouldn't hit it with an abrasive, personally, but that's me.

 

[shotgunjoel]

Alright, I'll try laquer thinner. Has anybody here actually done this before?

 

[jimmyraythomason]

Glass beading is the best method but stripper works well too,it just takes longer and requires more effort Use 0000 steel wool and paint stripper such as Kutz-it. 0000 will not scratch up your bolt.

 

[Sam1911]

Has anybody here actually done this before?

I've done it with other parts from eastern bloc guns. Laquer thinner took all the paint off of various AKs I've built. Never done an SKS bolt.

0000 Steel wool certainly won't scratch your bolt, either. Might work well to scrub with the stripper or thinner.

 

[shotgunjoel]

Thanks guys, so once I strip the paint off is that it?