Polishing up my new to me 700

[TroyMN]

I will have some time on my hands in to near future to do some putsy non strenuous work "having back surgery".
My stainless 700 short action has a 40x stock with black painted aluminum trigger gaurd and rail. I wanted to polish them to match the stainless look. The stock is in used condition, couple chips through clear coat, but maybe I could refinish. I have a spray gun and done small furniture with polycrylic water based, also have polyurethane but that is what yellows I think...

So this started small now I want to polish bolt, fire pin shroud, action, trigger guard, rail, trigger. One barrel and recoil lug is already polished stainless. This is planned to be a switch barrel gun.
So I want to polish stainless, chrome moly, aluminum and stock finish. What are some unseen problems I might run into?
To remove the black paint I read aircraft paint remover is good.
Thanks for your advice.
Even if it does not shoot tiny groups it will be shinny!
Troy

 

[jonbearman]

Dont use aircraft stripper on the wood ,it will turn it black.Ask me how I know.

 

[Rem6br]

John I have to ask how do you know ;D

 

[TroyMN]

I was going to use the aircraft stripped on the painted aluminum, most importantly the rail. I could just sand the trigger gaurd. I am not able to do that with the rail channel.
Thank you for telling me. I just want to keep my mistakes or extra work to minimum
For the wood I was thinking of just sanding it down. I do not want to use water on the stock, I understand for wood stripper you have to rinse with water. How long does that take to dry? Warp the stock, swelling? Do I need to do that before I pilar bed it..

 

[jonbearman]

I used it on a shotgun butt off an early Ithaca double and it ruined it. The reason is sodium hydroxide which is lye.It is used to antique wood and give it that deep color of old growth black walnut.

 

[Rem6br]

Well now I know how to make something wood look old 8)

 

[TroyMN]

Well the trigger guard and rail are NOT painted. The are anodized. I started sanding the trigger guard and this is a pain...I mean it is SLOW. I got most all of the black off and now can move up to a finner grit, hope that is a little faster. Made one pillar so far, good test one, it was too short did not account for something..
Also slowly opening up the barrel channel on the stock. This is a heavy dog 1.25" to .950" by 26"
Most important I am having fun.

 

[TroyMN]

OK after hitting it with a file to get some of the sharp edges clean I used sand paper. 220,360,400 (dry) I came back to the computer to see if I should use it wet. I have never used 800-1500 paper dry, so why not the 500 wet also. Maybe I could skip a couple grits? I have like 180,220,360,400,500,600,800,1000,1200,1500,2000.

I FOUND OVEN CLEANER, will just remove the anodizing. 4 hours plus of (fun work) putting needless scratches in the trigger guard I now have to sand out and polish. I will learn some times quickly some times slowly.
I am going to try the oven cleaner on the rail.

 

[TroyMN]

I got the magnum face bolt mostly done, just need to finish with the Flitz.
OK so the novelty of sanding/polishing by hand has worn off ???
I need to get some power tools involved. If I am thinking about polishing anything else. Dremel, sanders, buffers... Maybe just worry about bedding it now, very unlikely I will polish the whole receiver thus effecting the bedding job.
Question:
my BLD has a front and rear action screw.
this 700 in the 40x stock has the front and rear action screw and a wood screw to hold the front of the trigger guard down. Looking at the action, PLENTY of time staring at it, installing single shot follower, taking off high spots, nicks ect, test polishing a little spot on the bottom.... just noticed another screw (mid action hole) smaller 8-32 maybe. I saw a set of 3 actions screws for sale Brownells or some where. Can I should I make a pillar for the small action screw also, ditch the wood screw? I like the idea of more strength. It is a 1.25-.95 26" heavy barrel and the more I read on here I leaning toward floating the whole barrel. Will using the same 1/2" shaft be too large and get in the way of the trigger?
Again Thanks for your advise.
I am very interested in learning more about gunsmithing and would love to see someone in action. Youtube is ok, but seriously, there is some junk out there.
Troy

 

[TroyMN]

Ok got the correct three action screws stainless and everything. Just need to cut the middle pillar to the correct length. Been messing around with my drill press-- not very precise. Top of shaft <.001 top of tappered collet .002 bottom of tappered collet was .007---bottom of chuck .018--- bottom of 9" shaft placed in chuck .064
I what to do....buy new shaft, take and have milled, or I just try fixing my self with a stone. Took out over half of it the run out .018 at chuck to .009.
Now I hope my new pillar is true to center.
Still in able to get the black off the rail. Oven cleaner did not work, soaked over night. I will try to add a picture the progress. I started polishing the bolt shroud and firing pin end. The bolt that came with the gun must been pretty rusty, explains the sand blasted finish.