Old oil in bsa breakdown stock.... Removal advice please

[vbull]

I'm renovating an old BSA Breakdown model but the front of the stock almost half way to the pistol grip has years worth of oil grease etc well soaked into it and I'm not too sure about the best method of getting rid of this. I'm reluctant to soak in Acetone as I've been told this could dry out the stock too much and leave it liable to cracking so I'm stuck really. I've seen on YouTube guys heating the stock with a heat gun etc but I would value advice from you experts on here before I do something and cause irreversible damage....Thanks.

[Helm]

Hi
I used a hair dryer and lots of kitchen roll
Then sweated it out over a couple of days
Letting it cool down seems to help get the oil to the surface
Think a paint stripper would be too much
Cheers ian

[Maple]

I have had a good result with hot water and normal clothes washing powder, dipping the area in the solution and wiping it with a rag many times but obviously this won't work with any lacquer or varnish over the area.Dont let the wet wood dry in heat.

[cordite50]

Lewis Potter in his book on general gunsmithing recommends immersing the oil sodden end of the stock in petrol for a few hours.
Take it out and let it dry. Repeat as necessary. I have done this myself with a cut off plastic lemonade bottle half full of petrol.
It works very well , even after one treatment. It can be completed in a single day
Just do it outside well away from anything important.
When done give it a good scrub with soapy water and let dry. Lightly sand it and give it some coats of Truoil.
Best not re-use the petrol in your motor mower afterwards !
Pete

[Peter Dunkley]

Soak affected area in Acetone.

[vbull]

Soak affected area in Acetone.

Peter, I started to soak the front of the stock in Acetone but it almost immediately went white so I panicked, I thought I would be left with the stock in two shades so I let it dry then carefully rubbed it down to get the whole stock all the same colour again. ? Won't Acetone leave the stock too dry and liable to crack ?

[Peter Dunkley]

Yep unfortunately Acetone does leave a tide mark but it does remove the oil which is the object of the exercise. Refinishing the stock comes later. As for cracking I assume you are going to refinish the stock with "proper" oil. If you are after a magic potion which will remove oil but leave the stock finish unmarked I fear I cant help you.