Cleaning cosmoline off SKS stock in winter

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Tim010

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OK.....So I got my new SKS from Weimajack a few weeks ago....I've just started cleaning the cosmoline off the gun and have done most of the parts.

What's the best way to clean the stock? I won't be able to use an oven due to marital issues and its not summer so can't put the gun in black bags in the sun......Any other ideas to get it nice and clean?

Tim
 
If you use any direct heat method...heat gun, hair drier.............BASEBOARD HEATER...proceed with caution !!

take your time...check it often... and err on the side of low heat for a longer time

it only takes minutes, or seconds in the case of a hair dryer or heat gun, to bubble the shellac

don't ask me how I know this....I will be using a less aggressive method next time.
 
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I've cleaned a couple dozen SKS with nothing but glass cleaner and old towels. Gets em spotless.

Rip off pieces of towel as you need them and throw them in the trash as you go.
 
I err on the side of caution and just thoroughly wipe down the stock with old cotton rags or towels. The residual cosmoline will sweat out over time in the summer. I find that a hot garage is the safest bet.
 
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The Kurgan said:
I err on the side of caution and just thoroughly wipe done the stock with old cotton tags or towels. The residual cosmoline will sweat out over time in the summer. I find that a hot garage is the safest bet.
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I have agree... clean what you can... and when summer comes.. set her out in the sun while you are doing some yard work.... when you go to check on your rifle... it will be dripping wet.
 
Cosmoline can be dipped or brushed onto the firearm at temperatures between 140 and 160 degrees F. While it can be dipped into hotter melts it's not necessary and is done, generally, to allow more firearms to be dipped without cooling the liquid. So, keep in mind that cosmoline melts at about 130 degrees F and the temperature that's the best, the most gentle, and the least invasive to remove it is about 150 degrees F. Resist the urge to use higher temperatures as you want to melt the stuff not cook it. If you heat it for too long or at too high a temperature you run the risk of solidifying it, leaving a crusty residue.
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Taken from: http://www.surplusrifle.com/shooting2006/lowheatmethod/index.asp

This easy bake garbage can actually looks like it may help too! http://www.surplusrifle.com/shooting2006/lowheatmethod2/index.asp
 
I'll probably use the Windex and rags option.....I don't need it to be perfect as it will be a shooter and not a safe queen. Just want that greasy finish gone from the gun prior to using it.

Tim
 
I wouldn't even use windex... just clean rags and elbow grease. The stock finish isn't exactly bullet-proof. It will only feel greasy again when you have it out in the summer heat... and when that time comes, you just need to have some patience and periodically wipe off the "sweat".
 
Take a pot of boiling water and dump it over the stock then wipe it off while it's still warm. That works really well then dry it off and you should be good.

I did that then I used steel wool and then added some boiled linseed oil. I did that 2 times for a coat then some Gun wax (toms Gun wax you can make it your self) and it feels way better then the stock finish that was abit rough. I also steamed out the dents and sanded down a few flaws in the finish now it looks like new and is nice and smooth to the touch

You can add some water and the green dish soap to clean parts I did that for all the metal parts then I dried them and oiled them to prevent rust if I left something wet.
 
I wouldn't even use a steering wheel...just vise grips and elbow grease.

There isn''t enough ammonia in glass cleaner (10% max) to cut the shellac but it's enough to cut the cosmo (saponification)...perfect for cleaning up the stock.


Been cleaning grease off guns since the 80s with that stuff and every one of them has turned out just fine. Dry everything off as you go and you won't hurt the finish.
 
Don't use water... not necessary

WD40 for all metal parts, simply wipe off big chunks of cosmo first, saturate the metal in wd40, leave for a minute, wipe off ALL gunk (it will come of really easily), and just oil with gun oil and your done!

for the stock, just use a warm, damn rag to wipe it clean, too much water is bad for wood
 
I used murphy's oil soap and rags plus some steel wool. It came really clean but perhaps my laminate russian wasnt as bad as others on here.

Edit: I just found out it wasnt as bad. A friend gave me a russian hardwood today and this thing is just oozing cosmoline like sweat.
It seems the laminate ones dont absorb it the same, Does anyone know what the russians used in the 50s, hot capitalist pig blood?
 
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