Way safer to use than break cleaner. That stuff will cause you to have dead puppies. Plus when sprayed on a hot surface it becomes nerve gas. I use it every day and there's nuffn wong wif me.
Purging Cosmoline From Surplus Handguns
- Thread starter Mr. Mosin
- Start date
Terry G
Member
Try to avoid buying guns that are coated with cosmoline.
Mosin77
Member
- Joined
- Oct 7, 2019
- Messages
- 1,854
In the past I’ve usually followed the opposite advice. If it’s not loaded with cosmo I’m not interested
Rockrivr1
Member
Very good advice. When cleaning up a Yugo SKS I didn’t do this. First trip to the range the Yugo’s firing pin got stuck out after the first shot and she went full auto even though I had released the trigger. Luckily only 10 rounds in the gun. Also luckily I was alone at the range when it happened or it could have been worse as my range doesn’t allow full auto!
d2wing
Member
- Joined
- Nov 10, 2008
- Messages
- 6,878
Yup, safety was for sissys. LOL.every thing was dangerous when we were young!
Since you were alone it's OK to say it was cool. You did try it once more.?Very good advice. When cleaning up a Yugo SKS I didn’t do this. First trip to the range the Yugo’s firing pin got stuck out after the first shot and she went full auto even though I had released the trigger. Luckily only 10 rounds in the gun. Also luckily I was alone at the range when it happened or it could have been worse as my range doesn’t allow full auto!
Tom-R2
Member
In the middle 1970s, as a young deputy sheriff, I was issued an old National Guard surplus Stevens shotgun that had been packed in Cosmoline a couple years before I was born. Talking to my dad, he recommended kerosene, as several above mentioned. That worked. And yes, do it outside.
GooseGestapo
Member
- Joined
- Jan 6, 2003
- Messages
- 6,598
First wipe off most of it with a blue paper towel. Field strip and soak in regular mineral spirits. Not the low odor stuff. Remove, and wipe again and brush with gun brush. Dip and wipe again. Reassemble and done.
Suggest you wear gloves.
Suggest you wear gloves.
The last time I removed cosmoline from a gun, I did it with an old toothbrush, a roll of paper towels and a can of Ballistol. I like taking guns apart and fiddling with them so it was a fun project. I got to do a thorough checkout of the gun's condition in the process.
I haven't tried this, but before starting, you might be able to use a powerful hair dryer (I keep one for various projects) to heat the gun enough that most of the cosmoline runs out of the gun. I would remove the grips from the gun before doing this, just to be safe.
I haven't tried this, but before starting, you might be able to use a powerful hair dryer (I keep one for various projects) to heat the gun enough that most of the cosmoline runs out of the gun. I would remove the grips from the gun before doing this, just to be safe.
Terry G
Member
My Wife buy's me guns for my Birthday and Christmas, never a word about spending money on new guns or ammunition. With my buying C&R's one after another she finally broke and exclaimed "The house smells like a car repair garage!" I moved cosmoline cleaning to the garage. "Happy Wife, Happy Life."
Speedo66
Member
For old military stocks that have become impregnated with oil, I put them in large black plastic garbage bags and leave them in bright summer sun.
The heat they generate is impressive, the oil sweats out of the stock, which is then wiped off. Doing this a few times in a row will get much of the oil out of them.
The heat they generate is impressive, the oil sweats out of the stock, which is then wiped off. Doing this a few times in a row will get much of the oil out of them.
Rockrivr1
Member
Ha! I can honestly say I thought about it but didn’t do it. There is a newly built condo complex down the road from the range and they’ve tried 3 separate times to shut the range down. Don’t want to give them anything else to complain about. The range has been around for a generation. Stupid condo people didn't see what was around before buying and are mad they have to listen to gunfire. Thier bad luck. Not ours.
Double_J
Member
I have us3d cheap throw away roasting pans filled with mineral spirits, kerosene, or Ed's Red and left the gun to soak overnight before cleaning with a toothbrush, cotton swab, cleaning rags, and PATIENCE. The stock was placed in a black contractor trash bag and left out in the sun, then wiped down. This was repeated several times until no more "gunk" came out.
A friend of mine (bachelor at the time) would place the action in the oven and set it to 250ish for a few hours. This caused the cosmoline to drip off, but stunk up the house and made a huge mess. His wife booted him out to the shed for all gun cleaning activities after the first and only time he did that in their house.
Cleaning the firing pin channel is a must, especially with Yug SKS models, unexpected slam fire is no fun.
A friend of mine (bachelor at the time) would place the action in the oven and set it to 250ish for a few hours. This caused the cosmoline to drip off, but stunk up the house and made a huge mess. His wife booted him out to the shed for all gun cleaning activities after the first and only time he did that in their house.
Cleaning the firing pin channel is a must, especially with Yug SKS models, unexpected slam fire is no fun.
Rockrivr1
Member
Ok, this is a HUGE warning to all married and/or guys with live in girlfriend/fiancee. DO NOT use the oven in the kitchen to dry/bake your firearms! It may seem like a very good idea but in the end it’s not worth the verbal abuse you will take. The first time you have baked Mac n Cheese with a side of Cosmo you’re a dead man walking. Nothing good will come out of this.
Dont ask how I know this, but I’d do!
Homerboy
Member
I just used Purple Power cleaner/degreaser on the stocks, scrubbed it with a light ScotchBrite pad, followed by hosing the whole thing off until the water was clear. Then either leave in hot sun for the afternoon or into a homemade Cosmoline Oven I made with plywood, lined with tin foil, and hang a few high wattage bulbs in there.
Washing engine parts and gun parts in the dishwasher is a sure way to find yourself in the dog house too.Ok, this is a HUGE warning to all married and/or guys with live in girlfriend/fiancee. DO NOT use the oven in the kitchen to dry/bake your firearms! It may seem like a very good idea but in the end it’s not worth the verbal abuse you will take. The first time you have baked Mac n Cheese with a side of Cosmo you’re a dead man walking. Nothing good will come out of this.
Dont ask how I know this, but I’d do!
But man does it work well. The carburetors and AK parts came out clean as a whistle. Almost worth having to sleep outside with the dog.