Can I Use Lacquer Thinner to Get Cosmoline Off of My SKS?

[Omega13device]

CLP dissolves cosmo too. I use it for the small parts.

Odorless mineral spirits is also a good option if you need a larger amount because it's less toxic than some of the other stuff out there.

[gunboat]

"chems having a negative reaction making the wood brittle" Are you saying kerosene will do this? Which other solvents or chemicals will do this?
What is the chemical make up of cosmoline?

[campperrykid]

Word:

Place your stock on a piece of plywood or in a garbage bag cover your stock (less the metal pieces) with kitty litter and let the california heat take out the cosmoline. It is slower but more controllable. afterwards I used wood bleach to lighten my 98/22 stock.

My two cents....

Gentle heat is a big piece of the puzzle.

[sniper5]

Hate to go nanny, but you ARE wearing a suitable respirator (not just a mask) and gloves when you are handling that stuff, right? Besides being in medicine, I used to own a woodworking business on the side. Lacquer thinner is VERY toxic to liver and nervous system ("Lacquer shakes"). Indoors or out, be very careful with that stuff. Personally I would find a less toxic substance. My personal favorite is a heat gun with a WD40 or mineral spirits wipe down and the "black plastic bag" method for the stock. Seems to be the cheapest in the long haul and the least damaging to the firearm or me.

[G-Man WC]

Get a can of ovan cleaner, spray and wait 10 mins. Turn on shower to hot and rinse. If you go this route, I'd wait until it warms up a bit and there is a more constant tempature day/ night. I've had good results with only 1 of 5 stock cracking while drying. Let it dry out for a few weeks and brush on a 8-10 coats of BLO and call it good.-g

[gunboat]

"With only one in five cracking while drying" seems a rather expensive way to remove cosmo. -- wood and water do not mix --

[Crusader Matt]

I use Purple Power for metal parts, and for the stock (if I'm not going to refinish it) i'll stick it in a black bag and let it sit outside in the summer heat, just wipe it down every 15 mins or so.



Purple Power works decently, not great, but you can buy a whole jug of it at Wal-Mart for like 5 bucks IIRC, and it'll last a long long time. Bascially I just soak the metal parts in it and it liquidifies the cosmo so all you have to do is wipe them down and off (lots of rags, save your old T-shirts). The stuff thats really caked on there you might have to give a little extra scrub and some extra elbow grease as you'll see instead of it wiping off it'll more or less just smear.

Cosmoline removal is why I've decided to buy surplus rifles few and far between in regards to gun purchases, but I love em and the reward of restoring them is great.

GOOD LUCK! And like somebody else said, respirator, gloves, and eye protection! A respirator was the greatest investment I made in regards to my gun cleaning desk. But Purple Power is practically odorless and doesnt appear to be immediately caustic.

[0321jarhead]

Get a can of ovan cleaner, spray and wait 10 mins. Turn on shower to hot and rinse. If you go this route, I'd wait until it warms up a bit and there is a more constant tempature day/ night. I've had good results with only 1 of 5 stock cracking while drying. Let it dry out for a few weeks and brush on a 8-10 coats of BLO and call it good.-g

Easy off can work on some wood. Do not use it on Beech wood, its soft and the grain is not condensed like walnut. Oven cleaner can stain the wood in a grey like color in spots. It again can eat the wood because of chemicals. Sometimes you may need to use the oven cleaner more than one time. And when rinsing the oven cleaner off wash it at the same time using an S.O.S. pad from under the kitchen sink. All in all you will be taking a risk with oven cleaner. Using heat in a controlled environment is best. A lot of the folks here are giving you good advice. Don't rush if you want it to come out good. If you use heat like I do, then rinse and use S.O.S. Let it air dry slowly. You sometimes got to heat it up more than once. It all depends on how much cosmo is on the wood.

[Omega13device]

The way people talk about cosmoline, you'd think it was 50 year-old lacquer that required something just short of explosives to get rid of. It's really not that bad. It can take some time and be a little goopey, especially if they really laid it on there, but it doesn't require super-strong chemicals. Lately I've just been using CLP and it cleans up the cosmo nicely. For stocks I've used a hair dryer. Works great.

So put away your dynamite and your flame throwers, you won't need them. Take your time and do it right and your rifle will come out great.

[todd2968]

I'm a big fan of the dishwasher and have never had any splitting problems no mess ever. Do not use detergent only use wood. For metal parts I swear by a $20 clothes steamer.

[rromeo]

The sling for my Mosin Nagant is covered. Do you suppose the dishwasher is the place to start?

[coop44]

Dawn, 409 & WD40, heat gun available from harbor freight, use at a distance, get it too close and it will scorch the finish on the wood. Fine for the metal though.

Plenty of paper towels