Thx, I went after it a bit with the 0000 steel wool and back in the bath it went.

I know acetone is commonly used as a stock soak bath but has anyone investigated the chemistry of its reaction with the lignin in the wood? Lignin is a complex polymer and acts as the "glue" that holds the wood fibers together. I do know that alkalines (as in oven cleaners) will dissolve lignin and I wouldn't be surprised to learn that a long bath with something like acetone might do that too. JFWIW.

I have no idea on that, however, from my research acetone baths have been a long time used method for removing oil from stock wood by gunsmiths.