Cleaning dirty engraving

[Bruce A Lyons]

Any suggestions on cleaning dirty engraving without hurting the case color? Thanks in advance.

[edgarspencer]

Disassembled, soak the receiver and other engraved bits in mineral spirits for a half day, or so. Then, a good blowing off with a fine tipped air nozzle. Toothbrush helps without scratching.
If the gun is assembled, or at least has its stock attached, cotton balls soaked in spirits, held it place for a bit, then toothbrush.

[Travis Sims]

Ultrasonic

[Dean Romig]

Originally Posted by edgarspencer

Disassembled, soak the receiver and other engraved bits in mineral spirits for a half day, or so. Then, a good blowing off with a fine tipped air nozzle. Toothbrush helps without scratching.
If the gun is assembled, or at least has its stock attached, cotton balls soaked in spirits, held it place for a bit, then toothbrush.

But DON’T get the mineral spirits on the wood finish!





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[Setter Man]

This may sound like a dumb question but why do you want to clean it? The dirt/grime actually gives it definition and makes the detail show up. Personally I would probably leave it alone, but there just me.

[B. Dudley]

Originally Posted by Dean Romig

But DON’T get the mineral spirits on the wood finish!





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Mineral spirits generally will not damage wood finishes. It is very mild. Denatured alcohol and acetone are what you have to be careful around.

[B. Dudley]

Originally Posted by Jay Gardner

This may sound like a dumb question but why do you want to clean it? The dirt/grime actually gives it definition and makes the detail show up. Personally I would probably leave it alone, but there just me.

That may be true in the case of mild build-up in the engraving. But any significant amount certainly does not help the appearance of engraving. I have cleaned many guns that looked like complete crap before hand and after looked like a different gun entirely.
It is a form of maintenance when done properly.

[Scott Gentry]

What I did to a DHE

[Setter Man]

Wow, that’s very impressive.

[edgarspencer]

Originally Posted by Jay Gardner

This may sound like a dumb question but why do you want to clean it? The dirt/grime actually gives it definition and makes the detail show up. Personally I would probably leave it alone, but there just me.

Protects those awful case colors from showing too