Posted by:
Terry Turner
(---.hsd1.or.comcast.net)
This gets covered a fair amount from time to time. Each type of finish epoxy has a range of difficulty for removal. The UV type cured stuff is very hard to remove. Relatively new applications of 2-part finish are pretty easy to get off.
If the thread and guides are removed, you'll end up typically a ridge of finish at the ends of the wraps and finish where the thread wraps were. First step would be to apply GENTLE heat, like a hair dryer, or briefly with an alcohol flame and scrape with a plastic butter knife. (I use my thumbnail a lot) The heat softens the finish and much of it comes off this way. Several builders like to use a razor blade or an exacto knife held at 90 degrees to the blank and gently scrape the finish off. If you have a power wrapper and can spin the blank, you can usually clean off the remainder with alcohol as it spins.
The nuclear solution is 400 to 600 grit sandpaper to remove the last of the finish, but plan on recoating those areas with permagloss after you are done, as you will likely remove some of the original blank finish with this method. Be careful using this method not to get into the blank fibers itself. Start with the finer grit to test.
Terry
