Cosmo Removal / Stock Clean Up Questions

[Bobby Ricigliano]

So I did quite a bit of research regarding cosmoline removal and the widest consensus seemed to be:

1. Put the wood stock in a garbage bag and leave out in the sun

2. Soak the metal parts in mineral spirits

(Putting stocks in the oven and parts in the dishwasher was not going to fly in my house, unfortunately)

Result: The heat of the sun worked like a charm and took a ton of grease out of the stock in only a few hours.

Mineral spirits worked very well to remove cosmoline. HOWEVER... I noticed that black paint started to flake off the Mosin barrel after it was soaked in Mineral spirits for a while.

This got me thinking that if I were to de-cosmo my refurbed BBQ'd Russian SKS the finish on the receiver would come off the same way.

It seems that mineral spirits work well on stainless parts (bolt, etc) but may be a bit harsh for parts that have a finish on them.

I'd welcome any feedback on the issue!

Thanks,
Bobby Ricky

[0321jarhead]

Heat works it really good. Put it in the oven at about 150 for an hour. But for the small parts I use kerosine and an old tooth brush and Q-Tips and pipe cleaners. Brake cleaner does well too. The kero I let sit over night with the parts soaking. Sometimes you don't need to go that far. The kerosine has never done any harm to the parts. If you look at the galley, there are some pic of my Albanian SKS parts that I worked with the kerosine.

[2shotjoe]

Action blast works for me.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

[Bobby Ricigliano]

Thanks guys, I know 0321Jarhead's SKS's speak for themselves.

[Mustang]

The heat of the sun works well on the metal parts also.

I recently cleaned up an FN Mauser that was slathered in cosmo using just a couple of 100 degree days.





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[gasol1ne]

For small parts i just put them in an old ammo tin and pour boiling water over them. Then let it sit in the water until its cool enough for me to grab the parts. After that i wipe them down with wd40 or clp.

[Eljay]

A lot of the refurbed mosins were touched up with black paint that comes off really easily. It's not a gun finish in the conventional sense. It's normal to lose a bit with every cleaning and there's not a whole lot you can do about it other than to be a bit careful in those areas.

[straykiller]

This is how i do it, most drips off and the rest i wipe away

[NOTABIKER]

i would never soak a old stock in hot water. it might warp the heck out of it. take it apart, clean the metal with mineral sprits. clean the wood with orange oil, pledge, simple green. etc.the woon will clean no problem. but you must clean the chamber and barrel to the max. i just did my mosin m 44 yesterday. you must take the stock off the rifle first.

[0321jarhead]

STRAYKILLER, I made one of those a few years back also. People, It works really really good. I made mine so that I can put two cans together (for stocks) and can convert it quickly and easily to make one. I use three 100w light bulbs in it. I made mine more industrial strength than as directed. It is known as the "Easy Bake Garbage Can Oven". It was from on the former surplusrifle.com. Lucky me I had bought there CD's from them before they shut down.

[Warrior King]

Get a used steamer on Craigslist....the smallest and cheapest you can find. I also now go to thrift stores on regular basis because you can get like new stuff for nickles to the dollar. Steamers are great for metal and if used indirectly on the wood with a garbage bag should speed up the process. Steam heat evaporates so you have the cleaning power of boiling hot water without a water bath, and its chemical free.

[SKSer45]

I dunk mine in Mineral Spirits, then put a heat gun on the wood and come out fine. This new m48 Mauser I picked up was dunked. A couple of hours and some elbow grease it was brand spanking new.

[kouye]

S I use three 100w light bulbs in it.

What'a a 100w light bulb?... This is Kalifornia ya' know...

[Bangzoom]

On a hot sunny day I can clean a mil surp in less than an hour of total work (not counting waiting times)

seperate wood--metal

take apart bolt as much as you can

put the wood in the hot sun

soak metal in diesel...or mineral spirits...the later is much more expensive

i dont even need a whole lot of solvent..5 cups will do...stand up the taller parts and use a small brush and let it run back down into the solvent container...blow out with air compressor...spray all metal with WD-40 then blow out again...

wipe down wood with dry cloth let sit again...wipe again repeat till cosmo is out

assemble and clean as you normally would and oil

admire for days before putting in safe

[mls343]

I use my Wife's hair dryer - when she is not home - nd it does a pretty good job.