NO MORE MINERAL SPIRITS?!

[CinnamonBear723]

I might be a little late to the game on this one. Mineral spirits have always been my go to for cleaning cosmo off metal parts. I have a new makarov and a new tokarev that I am attempting to clean. Went to Home Depot today and couldn't find my any mineral spirits. I asked the guy in the paint dept and he said it is now banned in CA due to the new clean air act. WTF? He then said they were mandated to add kerosene which ultimately makes it more volatile and more flammable. I'm trying to use denatured alcohol hoping it's not as caustic as paint thinner. I just want the cosmo off.

Before anyone tries to tell me to boil water or use some combo of solvents, I'm well versed in the various methods of cosmoline removal. Mineral spirits just happened to be my personal favorite and have had much success with it. I probably should have asked sooner but has anyone else had luck with denatured alcohol on metal parts?

[jcwatchdog]

I might be a little late to the game on this one. Mineral spirits have always been my go to for cleaning cosmo off metal parts. I have a new makarov and a new tokarev that I am attempting to clean. Went to Home Depot today and couldn't find my any mineral spirits. I asked the guy in the paint dept and he said it is now banned in CA due to the new clean air act. WTF? He then said they were mandated to add kerosene which ultimately makes it more volatile and more flammable. I'm trying to use denatured alcohol hoping it's not as caustic as paint thinner. I just want the cosmo off.

Before anyone tries to tell me to boil water or use some combo of solvents, I'm well versed in the various methods of cosmoline removal. Mineral spirits just happened to be my personal favorite and have had much success with it. I probably should have asked sooner but has anyone else had luck with denatured alcohol on metal parts?

Just order it online and say FU to california.

https://www.amazon.com/SUNNYSIDE-CORPORATION-803G1-1-Gallon-Mineral/dp/B000BZX5Q0/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1474759125&sr=8-3&keywords=mineral+spirits

[hollowpoint67]

Isnt the CA approved / safe variant good enough? I used it for a mosin and K31, worked alright.

[desertjosh]

I use it a lot for rv service work. The cali stuff takes a little more to do the job but it works ok

[dstone20]

I was just at the Home Depot in Orange (On Tustin) yesterday, buying Acetone, and I could have sworn I saw Mineral Spirits on the shelf next to it. Could be mistaken as I wasn't really looking for it. But I do know, I bought some Mineral Spirits at the same Home Depot 3-months ago. Still have most of that gallon left. If you need some, you're welcome to it, just PM me.

[Bobby Ricigliano]

Boiling hot water works just as well, I have decosmo'd a lot of rifles. Both work, but the water is freeeee

[dyson]

when did this law occur, saw mineral spirits at home depot a couple of months ago

[2meterB]

when did this law occur, saw mineral spirits at home depot a couple of months ago

Couple years ago I think. What you saw were probably mineral spirit substitutes.

[ENVYGREEN]

Diesel works great too

[tokarev gib]

I might be a little late to the game on this one. Mineral spirits have always been my go to for cleaning cosmo off metal parts. I have a new makarov and a new tokarev that I am attempting to clean. Went to Home Depot today and couldn't find my any mineral spirits. I asked the guy in the paint dept and he said it is now banned in CA due to the new clean air act. WTF? He then said they were mandated to add kerosene which ultimately makes it more volatile and more flammable. I'm trying to use denatured alcohol hoping it's not as caustic as paint thinner. I just want the cosmo off.

Before anyone tries to tell me to boil water or use some combo of solvents, I'm well versed in the various methods of cosmoline removal. Mineral spirits just happened to be my personal favorite and have had much success with it. I probably should have asked sooner but has anyone else had luck with denatured alcohol on metal parts?

My favorite, for cleaning off cosmoline is Diesel fuel.
Just soak it for a day or two, works great. (unless you are impatient and want to scrub)

[dragonphi109]

Uhmmm that should be BS on the HD part. I just bought it yesterday in Emeryville, they have one that's "oderless" and supposedly healthier for the environment...Sat next to acetone, turpentine, and paint thinners.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

[kcheung2]

The formula was changed a few years back. The stuff they have on shelves now is the odorless kind. It works, kinda, but is not nearly as good as the older formulation for painting & cleaning brushes.

[KahrMan]

California has its own restrictions for mineral spirits. It is called
"Moonbeam Spray"

[Vacaville]

I stuck my cosmo covered rifles in a hefty bag and put them out for a few hot days, wiping the oozing cosmo off every hour or so. Worked fine, no chemicals involved.

[kurac]

I bought some "General Purpose Thinner" the other day, turns out its acetone mixed with mineral spirits and they are calling it VOC compliant. So I guess the idiots that run the state somehow think acetone is safer than just regular mineral spirits.