- Use a stiff brush to scrub off as much of the cosmoline as possible. Be sure to get into all the nooks and crannies.
- Soak a cloth in mineral spirits or turpentine, then use it to wipe down the stock. This will help dissolve the remaining grease.
- If there are any stubborn areas that still won’t come clean, you can try using steel wool or sandpaper to scrape them off.
- Finally, give the stock a good coat of oil or WD-40 to protect it from future corrosion
Full Answer
What will dissolve cosmoline?
mineral spiritsA lot of people swear by mineral spirits as a primary solvent to remove Cosmoline, and you can either apply it with a rag or submerge/dip your gun into it. A sealed PVC tube or large container are both good for soaking guns in mineral spirits, depending on the size of the firearm and container.
Does WD-40 Remove cosmoline?
There are a few methods you can use in order to clean Cosmoline off in this state: WD-40 If you spray WD-40 over the metal and any wooden parts, it will begin to dissolve the Cosmoline. Just make sure you have plenty of rags and paper towels to continue wipe the Cosmoline off.
Will degreaser remove cosmoline?
Our degreaser of choice is Zep's Citrus Degreaser. This product normally costs less than $10 a gallon and can be diluted 10:1. It quickly removes cosmoline and old grease from metal parts.
Can you boil off cosmoline?
1:046:48Removing Cosmoline with Hot Water - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo you really don't need boiling water in fact 150 to 180 degrees is really ideal for getting theMoreSo you really don't need boiling water in fact 150 to 180 degrees is really ideal for getting the stuff to just melt and bring out a gun.
What is Cosmoline made out of?
Cosmoline is a trademarked brand of petroleum-based, wax-like corrosion inhibitors. Its chemical composition consists primarily of a homogenous mixture of oil-based, non-polar hydrocarbons. Physically, Cosmoline is brown in color and comes in various viscosities and shear strengths.
Can you use kerosene in ultrasonic cleaner?
Kerosene or denatured alcohol. Been using an ultrasonic cleaner for years. The proper solution makes the difference. Simple Green also works well, but you need to be careful combining Simple Green and heat if aluminum is involved.
Will CLP remove Cosmoline?
Application of gentle heat sufficient to melt the waxy hydrocarbons allows cosmoline to drip off. Penetrating oil (such as WD-40 or CRC 5-56 CLP) sprayed and allowed to soak in until cosmoline is restored to a viscous-fluid state allows it to be wiped off.
Is Cosmoline flammable?
Flammable. Risk of ignition. Thermal decomposition can lead to release of irritating gases and vapors.
You Need to Understand Cosmoline
Before learning how to remove Cosmoline, you first need to understand that it is chemically similar to Vaseline, and is applied by dipping guns into a vat of molten Cosmoline. This means that the preservative is not just gunked up on the gun, but is embedded in every nook and cranny in the gun.
Hot Water Method
I personally use hot water for the metal, and sun and gently heat for the wood. Some do not like the idea of using water, but in my experience using heat alone runs the risk of cooking out the oil and leaving the dark tar-like crud. Water seems to both heat the oil and help float it away.
Attention to Detail Helps
Take special care on the action, as with guns such as the Mosin Nagant, In the video I show a Mosin, but this is not a how to remove cosmoline from Mosin Nagant article.
How to remove Cosmoline from a gun?
The honest-to-goodness proper way to remove Cosmoline from anything, really, is through working at it. Soaking, washing, rinsing, and scrubbing will take hours to complete before you can handle your parts or firearm without the greasy residue covering your hands.
How to get Cosmoline to liquid state?
Applying heat to the gun. You can do this by wrapping your firearm in towels and placing it in a black trash bag and leaving it sit out in the sun, or using another heat source—such as a heat gun or older oven—to return the Cosmoline to its liquid state.
Why is Cosmoline used?
Cosmoline is used to protect the gun against rusting; however, many military surplus rifles were previously ...
What to use to clean Cosmoline?
Before you start cleaning, here is a list of things you will need: Acetone, mineral spirits, or kerosene (but avoid the latter when possible, or when your firearm has been painted or blued). Soap and water.
Why do you use cosmosline on a rifle?
Cosmoline is used to protect the gun against rusting; however, many military surplus rifles were previously submerged in the greasy substance, making its eventual removal seemingly problematic. Even if your item only has a light coating of older Cosmoline, you might have questions as to how best to remove old coatings.
How to get rid of cosmole?
It may take a few dips or baths to get the majority of Cosmoline off. Once you’re satisfied, you can move on to the actual cleaning. 3. Hot water and dish soap. These two things together will help dislodge and remove the remaining traces of Cosmoline, along with a fair amount of elbow grease.
Can you soak a gun in mineral spirits?
A lot of people swear by mineral spirits as a primary solvent to remove Cosmoline, and you can either apply it with a rag or submerge/dip your gun into it. A sealed PVC tube or large container are both good for soaking guns in mineral spirits, depending on the size of the firearm and container.
How does furniture stripping work?
You could send it to one of those places that does furniture stripping using the vapor process. They hand the pieces in a large enclosure and it's then heated with hot solvent vapors. The solvent "condenses" on the wood and flushes the paint, oils, and other crud, off.
Can you run a mil wood stock through a dish washer?
When you run it through the dish washer don't let go through the "DRY" cycle, just stand it in a corner for a few days. Most mil wood stocks were oil finished and after this cleaning, an oil finish works well.
