removing rubber

He Dog

I have a magazine in very nice condition except that someone left a rubber dust cover on it years or decades ago. What is the best way to remove the rubber residue stuck to the mag, without damaging the blueing? Mineral spirits?

charliemeyer007

Solvent of some kind should work nicely. My favorite is methyl ethyl ketone peroxide but it is hazardous stuff - the good news is it doesn't take much and you only usually need to do it once rather than hang out will lesser solvents for up to hours. Acetone as in nail polish remover could work.

nmyers

I start with milder stuff, such as citrus dissolver. Then I move up to Crud Cutter, & finally acetone. Failing that, it's chisel & hammer time.

But, I suspect that your mag is already ruined. I have been given several M1 carbine mags with rubber covers, & the finish was always ruined under the cover. Apparently the rubber traps moisture between the cover & the steel, with rust the inevitable outcome.

Neal

JohnStimson

quote:Originally posted by charliemeyer007
Solvent of some kind should work nicely. My favorite is methyl ethyl ketone peroxide but it is hazardous stuff - the good news is it doesn't take much and you only usually need to do it once rather than hang out will lesser solvents for up to hours. Acetone as in nail polish remover could work.


I suspect you methyl ethyl keytone which is a readily available solvent.

Methyl ethyl keytone peroxide is an explosive and in lower concentrations it is used as a catalyst for polyester resins.

Bill DeShivs

Whether the finish is damaged has nothing to do with the magazine working.

asphalt cowboy

I don't know at what temps heat will degrade bluing, but heating to near melt temp and wiping with a coarse rag should remove residue.
Depending on the compound somewhere in the neighborhood of 375-400 degrees ought be hot enough.
If it's light enough to begin with, or just a small amount of residue remains, use a bit of oil on the rag.

Horse Plains Drifter

If it was mine, I'd put in a pan of diesel for a couple days.

JIM STARK

Soak in in KROIL... It will dissolve almost any adhesive....
JIM...................

perry shooter

+1 on KROIL

He Dog

Thanks, I have a couple of good options. The finish appears fine under what I have scraped off with a thumbnail.

beantownshootah

"Best" way will depend on exactly what type of rubber it is and what you've got lying around

But pretty much *ANY* organic solvent shouldn't hurt normal gun bluing (which itself is a type of iron oxide) and will probably work.

Have you simply tried your normal favorite gun cleaner? I'd be pretty surprised if something like Hoppes didn't take that right off. WD-40 would probably work. Rubbing alcohol might work.