COSMOLINE REMOVAL?

DIRTYRAT

February 10, 2003 14:47

I PICKED UP A CHEAP ROMANIAN .22 TARGET RIFLE TODAY, TOOK THE STOCK OFF AND IT HAS ALOT OF GREASE {COSMOLINE?} EMBEDED IN THE STOCK AND ALL OVER THE BARREL AND ACTION. IT IS REAL THICK AND PASTIE. SHOULD I USE BORE SOLVENT ON IT OR SHOULD I GET SOMETHING ELSE... LOOKS LIKE A VERY MESSY PROJECT! ANY PRODUCT RECOMONDATIONS WOULD BE GREATLY HELPFULL! ...THANKS

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  sjc1

  February 10, 2003 14:49

  For stocks with a lot of cosmoline on them I use Simple Green and for the metal I use mineral spirits.

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  nmyers

  February 10, 2003 14:59

  I use acetone on both wood & metal, scrubbing with a bristle brush. (Acetone should only be used outdoors with heavy rubber gloves.)
  
  If the stock is really soaked with grease, leave it on the dashboard of your car in the summer sun to sweat it out, then remove with solvent. Repeat daily until grease stops leaching out, which can take up to 3 weeks.
  
  Neal

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  He Dog

  February 11, 2003 05:41

  One of the regular posters here had good success with hanging the stock in the sun to bleed out most of the cosmoline, then boiled it in oxyclean. Said it worked very well.

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  raskil

  February 11, 2003 10:01

  Easy-Off oven cleaner works good, spray on and let the sun bake it in for a couple hours, wipe clean, repeat if needed. Wipe down cleaned wood with soft cloth then rub in tung oil or boiled linseed oil.

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  brisco

  February 11, 2003 10:54

  On my SKS I stripped metal off the wood stock and handguard, then used plain alcohol (outdoors only).
  
  I just soaked some heavy cotton towels in the alcohol, then very aggressivly rubbed the wood down, let the stock dry for a day, and repeated this daily for about a week.
  
  The alcohol seemed to "pull" the preservative from the wood with out harming the grain. I then sanded and refinnished the wood because I couldn't stand the original "feces" brown varnish. Now it is a very nice light yellow color.
  
  Regards, Brisco

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  DIRTYRAT

  February 11, 2003 11:13

  THANKS GUYS,LOOKS LIKE I'M OFF TO THE HARDWARE STORE!

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  kingjoey

  February 11, 2003 11:46

  Brake cleaner works good for lifting the cosmoline. The stocks can be baked in the oven at about 150-200 to raise the cosmoline and oil out of the wood, open a window though, it really stinks sometimes[;)]

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  swedger

  February 12, 2003 19:15

  GET GREAT RESULTS ON THE STOCK WITH AN ACETONE WITH A LITTLE WHITING (GET IT AT THE PAINT STORE) MIX 10 TO 1 AND WORK OUTSIDE IN THE SUN WITH GLOVES(UPWIND). PAINT IT ON, IT THATS 10 OR SO MIN TO DRY ON A WARM DAY THEN USE A STIFF BRUSH CLEAN IT OFF AND START AGAIN. THE MORE DRYING TIME YOU GIVE IT THE BETTER. IT TAKE ABOUT 5 OR 6 APP. TO GET MY OLD MAUSERS LOOKING GOOD. I LIKE TO SAND WITH 180 GRIT AFTER THE 3 APP. BY THE TIME I GET THE GREASE OUT ITS READY TO FINISH SAND.IF YOUR GOING THERE.
  
  mausers

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  bluewaterhunter

  February 13, 2003 18:10

  My gun dealer uses and recommended regular old Mineral spirits. $2.00 a gallon.
  
  Thanks about how much it took to clean my sks. Worked fantastic and is not harmful to oil finished wood.
  
  "Lead, Follow, Or Get Out Of The Way."
  
  Charlie

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  gunluv280

  February 15, 2003 04:33

  Try this C&R site. You'll find everything you need and much more under the stock cleaning forum. It's an excellent resource for learning about cleaning/restoring old military rifles.
  
  
  http://pub109.ezboard.com/bparallaxscurioandrelicfirearmsforums

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