Brand New SKS, how do i get rid of the smell of cosmoline 😂

canuckbacon said:
It's kind of burning the back of my nose and throat
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Guess no one wants to share the secret with ya...
It's a "New Year" so why not !
Been around for a very long time...
Just pour some Hoppe's 9 on your hands and splash it on you face like cologne.
The two odors will turn into a lovely fragrances, that you will be longing forever.

https://imgur.com/cRid9xt
 
canuckbacon said:
Just bought a brand new SKS from G4C and I opened it up to check it out, dumb me didn't open the windows or wear any PPE and now I can't get the smell of Cosmoline out of my nose.

It's late at night so I don't have the time to clean the rifle yet but damn I can't stand the smell its irritating the back of my throat and sinuses. Is there anything to do?

And on a second note, I know I'm probably fine but does cosmoline normally have a sickly sweet smell to it?

Also pic of the rifle
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Did you clean it “traditionally” with standard products?

Completely strip the rifle and bath all the metal parts in mineral spirits to dissolve the cosmoline. You’ll still have to swab the barrel, bolt, gas and sight block… maybe the receiver cover. Soak everything in g96, assemble and you’re good to go. Less time sniffing cosmoline.

I use a heat gun on the stock and gas tube (if wood) and wipe down the oozing cosmoline. A blow dryer works too… you have to be careful not to burn the cosmoline into the wood.
 
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HuskyDude said:
Guess no one wants to share the secret with ya...
It's a "New Year" so why not !
Been around for a very long time...
Just pour some Hoppe's 9 on your hands and splash it on you face like cologne.
The two odors will turn into a lovely fragrances, that you will be longing forever.

https://imgur.com/cRid9xt
Click to expand...

Is that dishwasher safe? (Suprised no one threw that out there yet)

And was that the old Calgone commercial?
 
Ryan Smith said:
I also just bought one wiped it down and got rid of most of it. I opened it at my office and quickly adapted to the smell but over the next few days I helped people look for a dead mouse in the building and didn't realize what everyone was smelling.
i have already learned to love it. lol
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That's what bugs me!!! It smells like a dead rodent!!! I couldn't put my finger on why it was so familiar sickly sweet!
 
I sold a few SVT 40s at the Calgary Show a few years ago and every potential buyer criticized me for having cleaned the grease out of the rifles. They all seemed to think the presence of the gunk guaranteed they were unused. This was particularly funny as barrels weren't replaced during the refurb and bore condition was/is all over the page. By the way, I don't think the grease was actually cosmoline—just some foul heavy gear oil. It was far easier to clean up than storage grease I run into with other milsurps (semi-solid, waxy stuff).

milsurpo
 
I took mine apart, drowned it in ZEP purple degreaser and used straight hot water from shower. Steam and heat trying to release the grease.

Then drowned everything in moose milk/Ballistol a smell I love.

This of course fills the air with the smell and vapor and is unpleasant without a respirator if you hate the smell.

But it still faintly smells of the cosmoline.
 
milsurpo said:
I sold a few SVT 40s at the Calgary Show a few years ago and every potential buyer criticized me for having cleaned the grease out of the rifles. They all seemed to think the presence of the gunk guaranteed they were unused. This was particularly funny as barrels weren't replaced during the refurb and bore condition was/is all over the page. By the way, I don't think the grease was actually cosmoline—just some foul heavy gear oil. It was far easier to clean up than storage grease I run into with other milsurps (semi-solid, waxy stuff).

milsurpo
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Based on the description of the smell, I am 99% sure it's cosmoline, I'm lucky mine isn't totally caked in it on the outside like I've seen others, but the inside is definitely packed with it. Also lucky none of it seems to have hardened either. Havent gotten a chance to even think of cleaning it yet, gonna have to wait till this sunday
 
Seal it up in a garbage bag - or two ! I'd clean it outside, even if it's minus-10, that'll keep the fumes down anyway. I used Varsol, but it was in the summer and outside in the back yard. And be sure to take the firing pin OUT of the bolt - stuff will be stuck in there for sure. Gotta be sure it's SAFE - no slam fires !
Also, 'most' of the FTs are un-issued, if the SN starts with 24 then you are right about the age.
 
canuckbacon said:
Just bought a brand new SKS from G4C and I opened it up to check it out, dumb me didn't open the windows or wear any PPE and now I can't get the smell of Cosmoline out of my nose.
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Puberty fixes the aversion to it! Just joking.

I used TSP on a pair of my cosmolined enfields. It worked but even the residue is an issue. I would do it outside or in your mother-in-law’s car.
 
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