I hate cosmoline!

[inclinebench]

I actually have my M38 stock in an oven right now. My work has a huge, vented oven that was not being used today, so I hung my stock over an aluminum pan. Mind you, I have cleaned and removed the shellac from the stock. I looked in after 30 minutes, and already had a big puddle of crap.

 

[rattletrap1970]

I bring all the metal to a plating shop. They have big degreasing tanks for cleaning parts prior to plating. I clean off all the big stuff, maybe hose it down with brake cleaner. Then off to the shop. I pay them to run it through cleaning, but no plating. It's worth it to me to not have to deal with the stuff.

The stock is another story. I use mineral spirits to get the bulk off the wood, then heat the wood, wipe down, repeat... A lot. Eventually it all comes out. Then finish with Arrow wood finish.

 

[blakeci]

The smell of cosmoline brings back some of my best memories from my childhood, cleaning off the latest C&R purchase that we had received that day from UPS. It was better than Christmas. Mosins, Enfields, Mausers... good times

 

[KevinR]

I purchased a SKS one time and it was packed in cosmo. I fell in love with the smell. I even thought about getting some for my wife to put behind her ears LOL

 

[CZguy]

blakeci, I can identify with and feel the same way..............KevinR, your kinda scarin me.

 

[offthepaper]

cleaning gunstocks in ovens and diswashers

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Howdy!
Guys, I don't know about recommending heating/cleaning gunstocks in kitchen ranges or dishwashers.

ABSOLUTLY!!!
do not put cosmo smeared stocks or other parts in your dishwasher to remove. The DW will remove the cosmo, no problem. The problem comes after enough rifles are done that way that you experience the joy of cooled cosmoline in your drains. :banghead: If you think the stuff is a pain to remove from an old milsurp, wait till you try to remove it from your pipes. And if you're on a septic system :banghead: things can REALLY get pricey. Use mineral spirits to remove cosmo. I have used the DW to help restore wood stocks (cosmo already removed) of small dings and scratches. Some people do this, others cringe at the thought. It would never be a good idea for a stock of any real value, but for beater stocks to improve the looks, yes I have used that method with success.
But putting the stuff down the drains of your house can come at a high price later.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

I just love the smell of cosmoline in the morning. Smells like... Victory!

I guess that depends on whether he's had a shower.

Turkey fryer method - nice. There are as many cosmo removal methods as there are gun owners - they all work to varying degrees.

 

[xx7grant7x]

pressurized steam will get all the cosmoline out of the stock.

I agree completely, on cmp m1 carbine I used a "jiffy steamer" clothes steamer and alot of rags to remove the greasy oily cosmoline layer off of the wood stock and as a bonus the steam can raise small dings and dents out of the wood. she looks beautiful now. lots of rags though!

 

[CA2005]

Be glad the cosmo is there, if not, you would have a rust bucket.