Suncorite removal
Printed From: Enfield-Rifles.com
Category: Enfields
Forum Name: Enfield Gunsmithing
Forum Description: Submit any how-to's or other gunsmithing suggestions here.
URL: http://www.enfield-rifles.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=14253
Printed Date: March 26 2026 at 2:51pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.07 - https://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Suncorite removal
Posted By: Canuck
Subject: Suncorite removal
Date Posted: November 17 2025 at 4:25pm
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I am undertaking a project on a 1920 No.1/MK3* Lithgow rifle. The original finish needs removal and I am having a d**kens of a time getting it off. The stuff is tough! Currently, I am using a paint stripper gel, but it barely removes anything even after 6 hours soaking. What do you guys do to remove Suncorite other than using a bead blasting set-up or Ethyline Chloride? ------------- Castles made of sand slip into the sea.....eventually |
Replies:
Posted By: hoadie
Date Posted: November 18 2025 at 5:59am
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I still have a bottle of NAVAL JELLY. Problem is, its so toxic & destructive no-one will handle it any more. If I could find a way to get it to you, I'd give it to you ------------- Loose wimmen tightened here |
Posted By: paddyofurniture
Date Posted: November 18 2025 at 6:22am
| Try asking Brian d**k at https://bdlltd.com/" rel="nofollow - https://bdlltd.com/ and see what he uses. |
Posted By: Shamu
Date Posted: November 18 2025 at 8:17am
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Are you sure its actually Suncorite? I thought the Lithy SMLE's were parkerized! I know my '41 is!   ------------- Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force) |
Posted By: Canuck
Date Posted: November 18 2025 at 9:36am
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Thanks Hoadie! ------------- Castles made of sand slip into the sea.....eventually |
Posted By: Canuck
Date Posted: November 18 2025 at 9:39am
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Shamu, I am not 100% ceretain it is Suncorite. It is dark black and tough as nails. One fellow told me the only way I can take whatever it is off is by bead blasting it. It may be parkerized black in which case would be tough as well to remove. I sanded a patch off and it took quite the effort to remove and underneath that coating is just bare steel. ------------- Castles made of sand slip into the sea.....eventually |
Posted By: paddyofurniture
Date Posted: November 18 2025 at 10:03am
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I think you can remove parkerizing with vinegar. Years ago my uncle took car paint off with easy off oven cleaner. It came in a jar with a applicator. |
Posted By: Canuck
Date Posted: November 18 2025 at 12:49pm
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Hey there's an idea I hadn't thought of, oven cleaner. I will try vinegar as well.Thanks you guys! ------------- Castles made of sand slip into the sea.....eventually |
Posted By: paddyofurniture
Date Posted: November 18 2025 at 1:31pm
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The joy of sharing. The best part of the board. You could also check companies the strip furniture on a commercial business. Note I said commercial furniture not a human stripper. |
Posted By: hoadie
Date Posted: November 18 2025 at 1:34pm
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your age & condition, you wouldn't know wot to do with a "stripper" Paddy!! (Sit up front in the "sniffin' row" - it may give u a charge!)  ------------- Loose wimmen tightened here |
Posted By: paddyofurniture
Date Posted: November 18 2025 at 1:51pm
After living in Germany for seven years and been married I still how to " rock and roll". I am talking about stripper women, not chargers! |
hoadie wrote:Posted By: Canuck
Date Posted: November 27 2025 at 6:39pm
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Update: Oven cleaner didn't remove the coating. I'll try vinegar and if that doesn't work it's off to the bead blaster. If it wasn't for the splotchy look of the coating, I would just leave it alone. ------------- Castles made of sand slip into the sea.....eventually |
Posted By: mrbieler
Date Posted: November 29 2025 at 2:26pm
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Haven’t found or heard of success removing suncorite except for blasting it. :( Have a couple of inglis hipowers I would love to strip down to their original finish.
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Posted By: Sauron
Date Posted: December 29 2025 at 11:53am
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What did you end up using? A couple of years ago, I had a very old non-collectible .22 bolt action rifle that was encrusted with rust and paint and had likely been that way since the 1930's or 40's. I got a cheap soda blaster from harborfreight and used plain ol' baking soda as the blasting medium. That took the metal down to the white without any visible damage to the underlying metal surface that I could see. Instead of bluing it afterwards, I wiped it down with acetone and coated it with Brownell's aluma-hyde epoxy finish that's designed for gun finishes. If it was a collectible gun I'd have gone to the trouble of having it hot blued. It came out great. Best, |
Posted By: Canuck
Date Posted: December 29 2025 at 6:00pm
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I ended up taking the barreled action to a machine shop that has a media blaster. It did a wonderful job! Here in Calgary, we also have a Cerakote applicator. My rifle is there right now. I picked a nice dark flat black to have it coated with. ------------- Castles made of sand slip into the sea.....eventually |
Posted By: mrbieler
Date Posted: February 15 2026 at 2:33pm
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Going to bump this back up. I have a couple of Inglis Hi Powers with suncorite. One in very nice shape, one very worn. Decided to strip down the worn one. This stuff was easy and quick.  Got a small metal tub, slathered it on with a cheap brush, went away for 15 minutes, and came back to hit it up with a bronze gun brush. Whole process from complete tear down to clean up and reassemble was under 2 hours. Before  After   The pair  |
Posted By: Canuck
Date Posted: February 15 2026 at 2:36pm
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Very nice end result! Thanks for showing this. ------------- Castles made of sand slip into the sea.....eventually |
Posted By: paddyofurniture
Date Posted: February 15 2026 at 2:38pm
| That is so cool. |