Cleaning tip

[johnnyreb65]

What's the best way to remove packing grease from an old Mauser. I heard varsol is good. I've got paint thinner at home as well as Methyl Hydrate, can these be used?

 

[CyaN1de]

I used Simple Green to remove the cosmoline from a Norinco rifle. It worked well.

Don't use Methyl hydrate....it's an alcohol. Regular paint thinner (not lacquer thinner or xylene) would work as well to dissolve the grease.

 

[guntech]

Varsol first and then maybe lacquer thinner or acetone on any real "dry hard" grease, and then varsol again.

 

[maple_leaf_eh]

HOT WATER will soften most petroleum compounds and not cause a wit of environmental damage or raise any health concerns. When I get greasy old guns I use engine degreaser to float the crub off and plenty of hot water to rinse. Wear gloves and start scrubbing.

 

[jethunter]

I stay away from water immersion, I've had some issues with warping and ruined some wood that way. I use a home made steamer, and I degrease with varsol and FANTASTIC spray, or paint stripper if i'm refinishing the wood not just cleaning.

I will sometimes use a mild TSP solution (tri-sodium phosphate) on badly oil or grease soaked wood as a last resort, if i'm going to refinish the wood. It can have a bleaching effect on wood if you use too much.

 

[johnnyreb65]

Thanks guys,

found some varsol,,cleaned the old girl up and gave her a light coating of break free.

 

[asphalt599]

I used Simple Green to remove the cosmoline from a Norinco rifle. It worked well.

Don't use Methyl hydrate....it's an alcohol. Regular paint thinner (not lacquer thinner or xylene) would work as well to dissolve the grease.

I never would have thought to use simple green. Thats a good idea. I love that stuff. Just never dawned on me to use it for that.

 

[Rutger]

Have you seen the Dishwasher thread?

 

[Puffie40]

Heat apparently works well on removing Cosmoline.

There's an article on Surplusrifle that details a "oven" you can make to do this.