I have a Winchester model 70 and on it there are two smudges of what must be bedding compound or epoxy (from the factory) One is on the side of the barrel and one is on the action.

How do I safely remove this without hurting the bluing?

Using a propane or map gas torch, gently heat the area until you can scrape/wipe it off.

Of course, you'll want to take it out of the stock before doing this.

Just use some acetone and a coarse piece of cloth.
If the epoxy is thick you might have to wrap a piece of cloth around it and soak it a while.

Hardwood piece sharpened to a chiesel point, no marks and it will chip off.

heat gun, no torch ...
heat till smokes, wipe off with an oily rag

Is the way we get epoxy off of knife blades as they are being assembled:

If the it is not a matt blue, take a piece of brass rod and sharpen one end to a point and one end to wedge shape. Scrape and chip off as much of the epoxy as possible. The clean the rest with acetone. Remove any brass in the blue with bore cleaner.

Try the pointed end of the rod on a hidden area blue first to make sure that you do not see any damage to the blue surface.

Thanks guys! The acetone worked great! sloppy job by someone in the bedding department at Winchester. There was plenty of release grease on the bottom of the action and lug, but not on the parts where these smudges were.

quote:

Originally posted by Ken Cline:
Thanks guys! The acetone worked great! sloppy job by someone in the bedding department at Winchester. There was plenty of release grease on the bottom of the action and lug, but not on the parts where these smudges were.

Why didn't you say it was Winchester "factory bedding". Use your fingernail, or, quickly take it in and out of the stock a few times, it should melt and fall off.

Ha! Thats what I thought. Use your finger nail