Using steam to remove Cosmoline?

[EBR Works]

I have a CMP HRA Special on the way and I have seen in various posts that they are stuffed with Cosmo. I have always used solvents and rags on my other milsurp rifles. I was wondering if it is safe to use a device like this to remove the goo from the metal since I have a steamer that is similar. The steam is about 300 degrees and relatively high pressure.

http://www.amazon.com/McCulloch-MC-1275-Heavy-Steam-Cleaner/dp/B0000DF0RB

Thanks!

[BP88]

I don't think you need high pressure in order to get rid of the Cosmoline. I don't know if it'd hurt anything but I sure wouldn't use it.

[caldude]

I've used a steamer on all my mil-surps to get rid of cosmo. Mine did a decent job on the major gunk, relatively quickly, but there was still stuff hidden. I steamed parts over a plastic tub since the melted cosmo (and water) drips all over. The only watchout is how much steam your steamer can produce. I can go about ten minutes before it has to regenerate, and about 1/2 hour before I refill the thing (mine looks a little bigger than the one shown). I can usually do about 2 rifles before refilling. If you use a small steamer, it may be a frustrating experience.

[pingpong]

I mainly use the steam for the barrel (since it won't fit in a pot). I've had very little success getting anything but surface cosmo off the stock with the steamer. For the bolt, I figure it's easier (and more effective) to just disassemble it and boil it a couple times in a pot of hot water.

[Walking Fire]

http://www.surplusrifle.com/shooting/cosmoline/index.asp

check this out, I am sure it will help you.

[EBR Works]

Thanks guys. I'll give the steamer a try.

[sorensen440]

I say go for it

[NotSoFast]

Being single I just ran mine through the dishwasher. Cleaned it right up. Of course it almost took out the impressions they stamped the stock with too.

[TRAP55]

The steamer makes it an easy job, melts it right off. Works great to steam dents out of stocks too. I had to buy the wife one to clean out her dishwasher.

[biscuitninja]

I've used Simple Green and I've used mineral spirits. Both work fine. I do NOT recommend using carburator cleaner, as it will remove ANY sort of finish you might have on wood or blued parts.

good luck
-bix

[weezil_boi]

If its just for the metal... I soak em in some gasoline. easy.

The wood, I wouldnt steam until Ive tried sweating it out first.

[REDHORSE]

I've used the boiling/hot water pot method to good effect. If parts didn't fit in pot, I would get it over the pot and use a coffee mug and pour the hot water over the parts.

This has also helped turned nasty dinged up stocks to some really nice looking stocks afterwards.

One of my $39 M38 refinish project. I don't have the setup for hotbluing, so I just Reparkerized it. I'll reblue it someday..





Heating the parts in an oven (lower temps), will sweat out the oil from the nooks and crannies (gas blocks, front sights, etc..). I'll usually do this one last time then wipe them down with MEK, before Parkerizing and refinishing.

[Fate]

For metal parts, I always use the boiling pot of H2O. Bore can use brake cleaner. For wood, I put the stock in a black garbage bag with kitty litter and/or paper towels. Stick that "stick" in the back window deck of your car and leave it there for about a week (changing paper towels out or shaking the kitty litter around every day or so). The slow heat will cause all the deeply embedded cosmo to weep out without removing any moisture from the wood. Thus you get no warping or splits in the stock as is common with the "dishwasher" method. Plus you don't have to refinish the wood either.

[kcmiller]

Thats the same steamer I have. Harbor Freight special! Worked well on many parts of the sks I just did. It is very effective on the barrel. Smaller parts I'd boil and the stock I would bake.

[audihenry]

Use the orange cleaner stuff. Works a treat!