Cosmoline

Discussion in 'Firearms' started by bobzilla, Aug 25, 2011.


  1. bobzilla

    bobzilla Monkey+

    Has anyone figured out a way to remove cosmoline easily?

    Thanks,Bob
     
  2. Sapper John

    Sapper John Analog Monkey in a Digital World

    Solvent works great...
     
  3. Hispeedal2

    Hispeedal2 Nay Sayer

    I've heard that kerosene works well.

    I have always used regular solvent/gun oil and a rag.
     
  4. ghrit

    ghrit Bad company Administrator Founding Member

    Kero and brake cleaner, soak and scrape with a plastic spatula.
     
  5. Cephus

    Cephus Monkey+++ Founding Member

    Buy an old dishwasher and use Dawn soap !!!
     
  6. Seawolf1090

    Seawolf1090 Retired Curmudgeonly IT Monkey Founding Member

    Heat will liquify the solid stuff and it'll mostly run off. Then Mineral Spirits has always worked for me to do final clean-up.

    Don't use the wife's good stove or dishwasher - unless you like the taste of Cosmoline in your food......
     
    bobzilla and VisuTrac like this.
  7. VisuTrac

    VisuTrac Ваша мать носит военные ботинки Site Supporter+++

    get as much of the cosmoline off mechanically as possible before going to solvent or heat.

    I cut out the cosmoline in the bore with a coated wired and pushed out a lot more with a wooden dowel.

    best bet is to disassemble as far as possible, take apart magazines (if so equipped)

    I found that brake cleaner does and excellent job.

    So does heating the parts in an WARM oven if you are single or want to soon become single. As the entire house and every meal you cook for a month will smell / taste like cosmoline.

    I stress WARM oven, you are not trying to heat treat it. Cosmoline melts at 113-125F and has a flash point around 350F. I used an electric oven so no open flames. Again you need something to catch and hold the liquid cosmoline so it doesn't coat the bottom of your oven (which will add more unwanted flavor to your food)

    preferred method for me
    Disassemble weapon
    clean and scrape/wipe off the bulk of the cosmoline
    soak in brake cleaner
    scrub with old toothbrush
    blast break cleaner so you can ensure that the firing pin has no remnants of cosmoline remaining.
    make sure it is all gone.
    reassemble
    oil with a good quality firearm lubricant.

    If you have wood stock, it's probably saturated with cosmo and will require multiple cleanings. Heating followed by solvent let dry, repeat cycle again until wood no longer expels cosmo (yeah i say that but mine still feels like cosmoline and smells like it too)

    YMMV
     
    bobzilla likes this.
  8. shrapnel

    shrapnel Monkey+

    Steam does work...
     
  9. EMSguy11

    EMSguy11 Monkey+

    Boil it...then put oil on all metal parts. Works great!
     
  10. Legion489

    Legion489 Rev. 2:19 Banned

    Get a solvent proof container long enough for the metal items (PVC tubing SHOULD work OK, although I haven't tried them), I use metal troughs, metal pipes, such as down spouts/gutters will work too. Fill with carb cleaner and put the metal parts inside and soak over night. I HIGHLY recommend you cover the carb cleaner to keep it from evaporating off as well while soaking items. I don't really recommend you do this with wood as it will strip wood right down to the bare wood and leave no oils or finish on it at all and bleach it pretty good too.
     
  11. -06

    -06 Monkey+++

    Cheapest and most effective way I have found is to soak it in gasoline(very flamable so be careful--and do it outside). It cuts the cosmo fast and completely. Wear gloves and do not breathe the fumes. A five gallon bucket and a long handled brush works great. You only need a gallon to do the trick.
    ETA: not a steel brush--you do not want sparks
     
  12. bobzilla

    bobzilla Monkey+

    Thanks,everyone for the great ideas on cosmoline,I have some SKS's that I'm building and they are caked,I'm an SKS nut and every time i get one built,a family member wants it!

    Thanks,Bob
     
  13. Opinionated

    Opinionated Monkey+

    C-4. Ampho if in a bind.

    'nuff said. :oops:
     
  14. fedorthedog

    fedorthedog Monkey+++

    Where is your sense of adventure
     
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