m1 garand cosmo

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Kroeger

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hello everyone i recently picked up a M1 garand still in cosmo, usually i just use brake clean and g96 and it seems too do an alright job getting the grime off, would there be a better option? this M1 was a bit more expensive then my sks's, mosin's, and SVT40's, so ill take some extra care and time to make sure it's done "properly" . and no im not using a dishwasher hahaha
thanks in advance
 
Varsol or mineral spirits. Not only is MS safe for wood, it's used in the finishing process to thin out linseed / tung oil to make the first sealer coat.

They're basically the same thing, MS just stinks slightly less. I use MS.
 
Varsol is a Canadian brand name for mineral spirits(use 'Varsol' on a U.S. forum and they have no idea what you're on about.). Cheap. Easy to find and works well. Strip your rifle and drop the whole thing into a tub of it for 24 hours, then wipe the gunk off.
DO NOT PUT SAID GUNK DOWN ANY DRAIN. Cosmoline is petroleum based.
Your rifle's metal and stock will need oiling after a Varsol bath.
U.S. military used diesel fuel because it was cheap and they had lots. Not because it's better. Diesel fuel and any other gasoline related stuff is toxic as hell.
 
sunray said:
Varsol is a Canadian brand name for mineral spirits
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:rolleyes:

Izzit? Well that explains this then...

13-374_Varsol_155x366.png

13-344_Mineral_Spirits_155x366.png


Again, still, forever and always, you are incorrect in your correction.

http://www.recochem.com/faq/paint_thinners_solvents
What is the difference between Mineral Spirits and Paint Thinner? What other names is it known by?
Mineral Spirits has fewer aromatic solvents while other similar Products – Paint Thinner, Varsol® Paint Thinner – contain higher concentrations. Both are petroleum distillates and are generally interchangeable.
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You never noticed there's one bottle labelled "Varsol" and one beside it labelled "Mineral Spirits" on the shelf at Canadian Tire I guess, hey?

As I say, Varsol is slightly stinkier, so I prefer Mineral Spirits.

Man, seriously. It's like twice the work to answer the original question, then have to come back and correct your inevitable reply.
 
I think the more important question is where did you find a full garand all wrapped up in cosmo? once you got it cleaned up how bout a few pics and see if its a parts correct Garand.
 
Jezze it's been a while since I have had any free time lately too work on and of my projects. Just got the m1 stripped down tonight and I'll be picking up varsol tomorrow evening. When the stock is clean of all the Cosmo, what would be a good product to put back on the wood so it doesn't dry out? Sorry to bring up an old thred.... Thanks again for all the helpful info
 
Kroeger said:
When the stock is clean of all the Cosmo, what would be a good product to put back on the wood so it doesn't dry out?
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The US M1 Garand manufacturers used "drying oils". Raw linseed oil (from flax seed)was the original stock treatment, then they switched to raw tung oil (from tung tree nuts) around 1943, as its smoke point was higher. They're both very similar vegetable oils high in polyunsaturated fatty acids that react slowly with oxygen to form intramolecular cross-links (the curing process). Rub it on, allow to sit 5-30 minutes, then rub it off, repeat every day or two for a week or two depending on how much you've stripped the patina from the stock.

Incidentally, boiled linseed oil has a cobalt catalyst to accelerate the curing process. I prefer the raw oils, especially the tung oil, simply because I prefer the odor better than that of linseed oil. I never have fired enough rounds with such rapidity that I had to be concerned about the smoke point.
 
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In woodworking they have a saying for applying linseed oil
Every day for a week, every week for a month, every month for a year, and then once a year.
 
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