Cosmoline Removal

[mosinmaster]

Hi,

Is there a good non-hazardous way to remove it? I tried boiling water and dish soap and it got the thick stuff off, but there's still some residue/thin layer left on the parts. !?

 

[agentcq]

I usually use varsol. A warm day always helps as the cosmo will liquify and can be wipped off pretty easily. With a Canadian winter that will be difficult.

 

[hometownhero]

Scrubbing bubbles worked well for me.

 

[mosinmaster]

I've read on the web that people use diesel, brake cleaner, gasoline, degreaser, kerosene, and most recommend mineral spirits.

I saw that WD-40 can remove it and I looked up it's contents and it contains
51% Stoddard solvent (i.e., mineral spirits: primarily hexane, somewhat similar to kerosene)
25% Liquefied petroleum gas (presumably as a propellant; carbon dioxide is now used instead to reduce WD-40's considerable flammability)
15+% Mineral oil (light lubricating oil)
10-% Inert ingredients

So basically, it is a combo of a lot of those recommend methods!

 

[Spinal]

what parts is it on?

for metal any degreaser will work, spray 9 works pretty well.

for wood a heatgun and a towel is the best.

 

[ALLS London]

I used brake cleaner and it worked just fine.

 

[mosinmaster]

I heard that lightly wiping the wood with mineral spirit soaked rag can clean off the surface. Would that strip the shellac off a Mosin?

 

[mrclean89]

I boiled the small metal parts and poured boiling water over the old ones. Worked great. Used a hot rag on the wood and that did the job!

Cheers, McLean

 

[mosinmaster]

Good suggestion regarding the hot rag. You think dish soap and hot water on the rag would help more?

 

[hometownhero]

Good suggestion regarding the hot rag. You think dish soap and hot water on the rag would help more?

Couldnt hurt. Thats what I used when I boiled parts

 

[Grizzly Adams]

I've always used gasoline. Seems to work really well, but of course you have to use common sense.

Grizz

 

[mrclean89]

Yeah i didnt but im sure it would help.

Mclean

 

[Griz327]

Yes Gasoline is what I always use. Cheap and good solvent

 

[steve1479]

There's a guy on youtube if you type in mosin cosmoline removal, I believe his name is Iraq veteran or something along those lines.

I've done a few tricks suggested in his vids (cut a link off the firing pin spring, polished the firing pin & bolt sides, as well as his method for cosmo. removal which is Simple Green mixed with warm water, a tooth brush and elbow grease) and I suggest you check him out.

 

[Rifleman1911]

I have stuck the wood in a oven on low and keep wiping it off. worked for me.

( DO NOT DO WITH WIFE HOME)

 

[mosinmaster]

Cosmoline smells like strong Vaseline. Girls use vaseline, hence wifey/girl shouldn't mind smell?

 

[gunhark]

Cosmoline removal

There are lots of gun cleaner/degreasers available. They all work better with a little heat. Vinegar works well, too, and so does anything that takes grease off an axle or cleans an oil-based paint. When it's all done, do a quick rinse with denatured alcohol and a good clean lint-free rag. Wear gloves.

 

[can14]

Ammonia works for me....cleans the wood like new...

 

[V-Max]

99% alcohol on a rag worked well for the four bears that I had to deal with. It does a real number on the cosmoline, but go easy on the stock, as the alcohol will disolve the shellac.

 

[mosinmaster]

I used boiling water, then WD-40, then rinsed off the WD-40 with boiling water and used a toothbrush to scrub and it came out nicely. Just oiled with G96 afterwards and reassembled.