Cooper Stock Strip and Refinish - needing any input you have to offer

[jepp2]

Getting ready to strip and refinish the stock on my Cooper rifle. The other one I did had a rubber butt pad with 2 screws and I removed it. This one has no evidence of screws, so it must be glued on. I normally strip with acetone (they strip easily). Any guesses if the acetone will cause the glue to fail and the pad come off? I'll just brush the acetone on the stock near the pad so it shouldn't penetrate the stock much if any.

Here is the before and after on the other one.

 

[Preacher]

Try to pull the rubber apart where you think the screws should be and see if they are in there..
Most times it's a small slit in the rubber to prevent the ugly holes showing..

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Id get it off either way to re-do it

 

[jepp2]

Most times it's a small slit in the rubber to prevent the ugly holes showing..

I took a wood dowel and just past the center in the area where the screws should be, I shoved the back of the butt pad toward the outside edge, to open any slits in the rubber, nada that I could see. I'll show pic.

Id get it off either way to re-do it

Best way to remove a glued on pad?

 

[DGP4]

I usually "explore" with a single edge razor blade between the stock and wood. If you can get past the edge and lift a bit you can see if it is glued. Lubricate the razor blade with mineral spirits. Once you get under the pad you can usually move along the perimeter of the pad until enough is lifted that you can pull it away. Acetone dissolves super glue but not wood glue. A hot air gun may soften most wood glues enough to lift the pad off.

 

[AlNyhus]

I've used a heat gun many times to removed glued on pads....always works. -Al