OK that title should get some love.

I just posted in the shotgun forum to help ID my old four digit serial # Browning A5 I was given. The rub - serious rub... Someone - who I am related to as an in-law (yet shall remain nameless) slopped and I MEAN SLOPPED varnish all over the blueing of both the barrel and the action when they "refinished" the stock somewhere around 1960-70.

I am going to return the shotty to vintage new, hopefully.

What can I use to melt/remove the (I swear it's spar varnish) slop from the metal (some areas have a coating the thickness of latex paint runs, FYI) without destroying the blueing, which is otherwise in damnably good shape?

Thanks all, I appreciate it.

-M.

although it might take a little work I would think mineral spirits would disolve the varnish yet shouldn't effect the blueing. naturally I suggest testing a small hidden spot first.

Mineral spirits, lacqure thinner, etc. IOW most non-caustic things that will take off paint/varnish won't effect the blueing.
Now, things like "sno-bowl" toilet cleaner will remove the bluing almost instantly.

Just as a FYI, bluing is a form of rusting, so when removing the varnish overlayer you want to avoid anything that will attack rust

Dear wife - please note you are missing a full bottle of non-acetone nail polish remover.

It went for a very good cause.

(Thanks guys, under 70 years of grime and the botched 1960 refinish with spar varnish is what will never be a beauty queen, but WILL be a great shooter. FYI aforementioned nail polish remover works way faster than mineral spirits and is not affecting the blueing.) Good metal under there!

thats good to hear. may have to try that next time I have some serious cleaning I need to do to the metal.

I use easy off oven cleaner...It uses sodium hydroxide to eat away anything but poly.

very safe on wood. Have done probably 25 old guns with the stuff. use gloves and goggles