Cosmoline Removal in an Enclosed Space?

Status
Not open for further replies.
C

CmdrSlander

Member
Joined
Jun 28, 2011
Messages
1,203
Location
Disputed Western Missouri
I will be getting a Mosin-Nagant in a couple weeks and doing the cosmoline removal outside is not an option. Due to the extreme cold, I'll have to do it in my little "shop" (read: glorified closet w/ a bench) in the basement. What is the least toxic way to get all the cosmoline off? Also, If I ruin the carpet down there I'll have a serious problem on my hands - so what is the cleanest/quickest way as well? I have quite a bit of Hoppes #9 on hand, can I use that? Also, I'm probably not keeping the stock, as I've ordered a synthetic stock with it, so how much cosmo will I be dealing with if I only work on the metal parts?
 
Only dealing with the metal helps...some. There will still be a significant job ahead, and Hoppe's won't do the job. Was it me, I'd get a gallon or so of diesel fuel, a couple of throw away scrub brushes, and a good sized tub. Strip the gun down to the last pin and screw to start with and work from there. Pay special attention to the bore/chamber, as they seem to be serious problem areas. Get a 20ga. bore brush for the chamber, and a sectioned cleaning rod, then put the rod in a drill.
 
Ive used odorless mineral spirits in the past with great results. It may not be a good idea to get it on the wood though. Thats easy to avoid though by breaking the gun down.
 
CmdrSlander said:
I will be getting a Mosin-Nagant in a couple weeks and doing the cosmoline removal outside is not an option. Due to the extreme cold, I'll have to do it in my little "shop" (read: glorified closet w/ a bench) in the basement. What is the least toxic way to get all the cosmoline off? Also, If I ruin the carpet down there I'll have a serious problem on my hands - so what is the cleanest/quickest way as well? I have quite a bit of Hoppes #9 on hand, can I use that? Also, I'm probably not keeping the stock, as I've ordered a synthetic stock with it, so how much cosmo will I be dealing with if I only work on the metal parts?
Click to expand...


Very hot soapy water and mineral spirits. Liquid dish soap works best.
 
Either Dawn Power Dissolver or Purple Power degreaser with some brushes will eat that goo off. Just do it in the bathtub, convenient and easy cleanup. Spray it down, let it soak to eat the goo off, scrubbing with brushes as necessary. Use rubber gloves and eye protection. Then wash it clean with hot water and dish soap, rinse clean with hot water.

Either product will work great for stripping the old finish off the stock and degreasing it too, if you want to refinish it. But I'd recommend separating the metal parts from the wood and do them separately.
 
I use break cleaner but in an enclosed spave thats probably not a good idea. I also boil small parts in water in a pot i'm going to throw away. I bought a steamer at walgreens for 15 bux? It works good also.
 
Citric cleaner will remove cosmoline without toxic fumes. Maybe PineSol. Either way, soak the parts overnight in a container, rinse in very hot water and repeat as needed.

It's also possible oven cleaner will work using the above method.

I know for a fact Pinesol and oven cleaner will remove certain types of paint.

Do not throw away your wood stock. Someday, you will regret doing so
 
Hot, Hot, Hot water and liquid dish soap. Use a old tooth brush to clean off the small parts. I would strip the wood off of it. Put one end into a 5 gal bucket and pour in the hot water. Use a cleaning rod and brush to do the bore. Scrub with the tooth bursh on the out side and keep dunking in the water.

Some would say that you could put the stock in the dishwasher and turn off the heat dry run it through a cycle to clean the stock. But I don't think I could do that one.

Old Sarge
 
The steamer is the best suggesting if you are doing this inside IMHO.....Central Texas...Too cold? Yea I saw you got some white stuff later.

The mineral spirits even if they say they have no smell....they do. If you think you are going to be going down this road quite a bit the steamer is actually a pretty good way of doing this...take care with your hands tho...that steam is pretty darn hot. You also don't have to worry so much about the wood. Keep in mind they did not care too much when they put these rifles into storage....the sticky goo will also be on the wood.
 
Eezox premium gun care cuts cosmoline like a hot knife does butter. One rag and a dozen or two q-tips and I can have the most cosmoline encrusted rifle complete clean in less than one hour.
 
I take the heavy stuff off with a heat gun, works great. Then you only need minimal, if any, chemicals to complete the job.
 
Another vote for the clothes steamer. Melts the Cosmo right off, and doesn't stink to high heaven. Put some newspapers underneath to catch the gunk.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr
 
Boiling water, no chemicals needed, other than a normal clean and lube afterwards.

The clothes steamer should work, if you already have one. Biggest problem is finding a container to hold the mess and disposing of the cosmo mess after its off the gun.
 
I just did a Mosin in the basement. I'm no expert but the following worked well without seriously aggravating my wife.

Started with wiping off the excess cosmo with paper towel, then removed the stock, wiped some more, and gave the metal a very hot scrub in the utility sink with some dish soap and an old toothbrush. That got the majority off, some WD40 did the rest nicely. Dried, oiled and good to go.

Stock got a good wipe down, then a couple times over with WD40. With all the unfinished wood on the barrel and action inletting, I didn't feel safe getting the stock wet in the sink.

Bore was cleaned with patches first to remove excess cosmo, then scrubbed with an oversize (.357) bronze brush with Kroil and Hoppes. A lot of times. I ended up trying foaming bore cleaner and that seemed to work a lot better, got a ton of copper fouling out, the foam was bright blue. Got a lot more out after shooting it the first time, and the bore is less dark, too. I hope that continues to improve with use.
 
Get you a couple of large plastic under-the-bed type storage trays, a couple of brushes, and some Q-Tip swabs. Old tooth brushes are good, but you also need a bigger soft bristle brush. Completely disassemble the rifle, and bathe all the parts in a gallon or so of odorless mineral spirits. Won't hurt the wood or the metal, and gets it all clean.

The only thing that will get all the cosmoline out of the pores of the wood is heat though.
 
I used a rubbermaid tub with water (as hot as I could get from the tap) and a cup or so of SimpleGreen.

Ended up with funky scum floating on the top of the water sticking to the sides...bonus you can pour it in the yard and not worry about toxic chemicals.
 
I used diesel fuel for the metal parts...fumes not all that bad...and easy off for the stock. Use no fumes Easy Off. Or wear a mask! That works great on a geased up rifle. Using these two products, my old Yugo came up BRAND NEW! The diesel fuel and a stiff brush..without hardly any elbow grease..and the oven cleaner worked like a charm! Just make sure you have floor protection, such as a big 5 gallon bucket or 1/4 drum...or lots of towels..cuz' that stuff will start running off. I put the diesel fuel in a large paint roller tin and put all the metal parts in the deep area..and soaked half of the barrel..then flipped and did the other end. Project came out great!
 
I'd use a Heat gun & a trash can with a plastic bag liner to catch it when it runs off.

It was melted when they dipped the gun in it, so melt it to take it off.

rc
 
I know its already been mentioned but I just want to second it, those little handheld steam cleaners are awesome for removing cosmoline. I used it on my last Mosin-Nagant and it was nice and shiny clean in about 30 minutes, probably could have been faster but I really wanted to get all the nooks and crannies.

Heat guns work well for the wood, just be careful not to burn it.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

T
  • Locked
Cosmoline removal ??
2
Replies
27
Views
2K
FieroCDSP
F
H
  • Locked
Cosmo removal
Replies
9
Views
1K
Reloadron
Reloadron
C
  • Locked
Remove cosmoline darkening
Replies
7
Views
624
rdnktrkr
rdnktrkr
Z
  • Locked
Serious Mosin Question..
Replies
6
Views
579
Pronghorn
P
G
  • Locked
Cosmoline and Breakfree CLP
Replies
7
Views
2K
GRB
G
Back
Top