SKS dunked in cosmo

[SKSer45]

Well picked up a nice looking Para SKS from one of our fellow Cal Gun owners and man is it gorgeous. Perfectly preserved as it should be as it is oooozing in cosmo (thats a good thing).

I have removed some before on other rifles but not on this scale. Any body got any good suggestions? I am leaning towards the oven or club soda methods because she needs a good scrubbing

[TheExpertish]

Mineral spirits dunk tank.

[SKSer45]

Lol yeah I was thinking that too. Just metal parts though correct? Not the wood?

[TheExpertish]

Correct. I'd use the wrap it in paper towels, cover it in a black trash bag, and let it sit in the sun method for the wood.

[SKSer45]

ahh that is a pretty good idea. I might try that but since I live in the city rather not do that...maybe when I move here shortly I can do that. How long did you leave the wood outside for?

[Vlad 11]

Heat Gun

[hifiguns]

Use charcoal lighter, kerosene or paint thinner, whichever is cheapest. Dissolves cosmo quickly. I think the Chinese SKS stock is finished in shellac, so petroleum based solvents won't affect it. Don't use alcohol or ammonia based cleaners ( Windex ) on shellac finish.

[003]

Hot water in the kitchen sink with the spray attachment. Cosmoline melts at 110 degrees, so it just rinses off. Boiling water is really not necesary. I recently cleaned a CMP M-1 this way. Total time under 1/2 hour. Works great, 100% clean and no scrubbing. Also, the hot water drys the metal parts. Easy, cheap and little clean up. No need for gloves, heat guns or any other solvent. A bit of oil as necessary and it is good to go. The hot water worked great on the wood also, helped raise a few minor dents.

Just be careful not to loose the small parts down the drain.

For this method to be most effective, it is necessary that the gun in question is detail stripped, or at least “field stripped” with the wood removed.

[Milsurps]

Mineral spirits dunk tank.

Mineral spirits FTW on the metal parts.
Furniture, not so much. Sunshine is your friend.

[C&Rtrader]

Mineral spirits FTW on the metal parts.
Furniture, not so much. Sunshine is your friend.

or if you are in a rush with the furniture (or work during the day) a clothes steamer will work wonders in minimal time.

[SKSer45]

What is this spray attachment you speak off? Yeah I think I will just try the good old hot water method. I used the oven for my Mosin Nagant parts and it worked great just never for the wood. I think its time to use good old sunshine

[steve91104]

This worked for me:

[LAWABIDINGCITIZEN]

Perfectly preserved as it should be as it is oooozing in cosmo (thats a good thing).

I used cheap spray cans of brake parts cleaner. It takes every kind of solvent or lube off the metal parts.

I actually baked the wood stock in the oven at its lowest, lowest setting and it worked well. However, you may want to go with the reflective heat, bake in the sun method.


I love the smell of hot cosmoline filling the kitchen!


Cleaning every part of an SKS packed in cosmo is just another kool thing about owning one of these rifles and it adds to the "ambiance".

[SKSer45]

lol nice! Must be awesome having your own back yard

[chknlyps2]

My SKS looked like they dunked it in a tank of cosmoline and left it there till the bubbles stoped comming up, you could not touch it without getting messy. My solvent tank is filled with home depot paint thinner, about $10 a gallon. A little bath in there with some brushing and blowing off with compressed air worked great for the metal parts. The wood I did the paper towel trick in a trash bag and then set it on the dash of my truck with the window facing the sun for a few hours, wiped it off and did it again 2 more times. Nice and clean now.