Grip Refinishing

[Frankt]

What is the best way to remove old dried oil and old finish off of Colt wood grips and not hurt the silver mdeillion. Frank

[Kid Sopris]

Frank if you want them to look better than new, send them to Swamprat.. Do a seach for his work ! Outstanding.

[aircraftman]

What is the best way to remove old dried oil and old finish off of Colt wood grips and not hurt the silver mdeillion. Frank

I soak them in a jar of acetone overnight and use an old toothbrush to clean them up.

+1 on Swamprat, if they are worn he will make them look new again. His work is the best!!

[DFrame]

Add me to the chorus singing the praises of Swamprat. No one does it better.

[Frankt]

Ok thanks for everyones comments Frank

[swamprat]

What is the best way to remove old dried oil and old finish off of Colt wood grips and not hurt the silver mdeillion. Frank

Thanks, guys, for the recommendations.

If they are the later model grips (Python, etc) with the plastic finish that Colt put on them, the finish is a bitch to remove. I have 4 or 5 different brands of finish remover. and none of them works "great". It takes several applications to get all that finish off, and I still end up sanding off some of it.... That is why I charge $75 to refinish Colt grips!!! Other brands I will do for $65 including recheckering.

[Frankt]

I am soaking them in laquer thinner overnight and will clean them up with tooth brush. I then plan on putting on a Tru-Oil finish. I guess I will see how things come out. Thanks Frank

[Old-Colts]

I followed Colt Forum member dfariswheel's instructions for refinishing Colt Stocks and refinished the target stocks on a Colt Trooper. If you are interested in the procedure and materials I used, here is the thread I posted when the project was completed.

Refinishing Colt Trooper Target Stocks – Project Complete

[bayouboy]

If you are only talking about removing and replacing the wood finish, I've had good luck with tru oil. Here is a before and after of a pair of Detective Special grips which someone covered with about an inch of some kind of varnish (including the medallions!). I used paint stripper, cleaned them up with vinegar and then soap and water and finished with a coat of tru oil. The paint stripper did not damage the medallions at all. Good luck with yours!

[Cruiser RN]

+1 with Kid Sopris.Swamprat is the way to go and his work is supurb