What is the best way to remove Cosmaline? - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

SnakeEater · 08-13-2006, 12:57 AM

I just picked up another Mosin M44 because I found a crack in the Receiver of the last one. This one is caked in cosmaline(sp) and I want a somewhat easy way to clean it off. Any suggestions?

Paid $68.00 for it a Big 5 it was marked wrong on display and made them give it to me for that price, Orig marked 89 somethig so I am sure the guy looked for the one with the most cosmaline as he could find.

Thanks for your help.

Will

The Knight Of Light · 08-13-2006, 06:50 AM

Elbow grease and a good solvent.

vafish · 08-13-2006, 07:11 AM

Simple Green is the best, easy on the lungs solvent I've found.

I once used gasoline to degrease a Sweedish Mauser, but I wouldn't recomend doing that for health and safety reasons.

**einheit 13** · 08-13-2006, 08:28 AM

mineral spirits work good. A good rule of thumb is that if you have to protect yourself with gloves to use, it isn't worth using. You can use a 'degreaser' such as Simple Green or Purple Power from the autoparts store on the metal parts. If those need more harsh solvents, brake cleaner is pretty good too. On the wood though, a good cleanser such as Dawn or detergent that isn't 'smelly' to remove the heaviest cosmoline and then denatured alcohol or more spirits. Warming the parts to get the cosmo 'soft' is a great idea. Wrap it in news paper and let it sit out in the sun for a while. Wipe it down and keep doing it till you get very little on the paper and then scrub as the method you choose above.

Now when you think you have it all clean and neat, go shoot it-alot, and get more of it out! I have one M44 that I have had for 2 years and if I shoot it hard, I still get cosmo out it. Just don't scrub the wood with a harsh abrasive, cosmo will get into it and it will ooze for a while and hamper any finish you try to put on it.

I_Route · 08-13-2006, 09:17 AM

It is easier to clean off when the firearm is on the warm side. Especially the wood. Leave it out in the sun for a while and the cosmoline will "sweat" out of the pores of the wood.

On the metal parts I usually use the non-chlorinated brake cleaner. Works like a charm.

For the wood I always use a good finish remover since I do not want to get H2O in the wood.

HTH

SnakeEater · 08-13-2006, 12:37 PM

Hey thanks guys LOTS of good things to try and since I live in AZ there is no shortage of sun or hot

!

I love the Knowledge base on this site.

I love shooting the M44 I want to get a 91/30 next.

I Have an M1 Garand and a Mauser and love them both in storage in VA. I can't wait to get back there to get them.

Than you Guys your the best

Will

chupacabrachus · 08-13-2006, 02:56 PM

I've had my yugo sks sitting in the sun for a while with few results. A little came out of the stock, but it still has a really orange/brown/poopy-cosmo color to the wood. I'm about to say the hell with it and start using a solvent of some sort. My 91/30 wasn't too bad when I got it and refinished it... my sks is god aweful though.

bama · 08-13-2006, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chupacabrachus

I've had my yugo sks sitting in the sun for a while with few results. A little came out of the stock, but it still has a really orange/brown/poopy-cosmo color to the wood. I'm about to say the hell with it and start using a solvent of some sort. My 91/30 wasn't too bad when I got it and refinished it... my sks is god aweful though.

If it was me, I would just get a new folding stock (plastic) for the SKS, anyway, and not bother trying too hard to get the cosmoline out of it. The newer stocks would be much more functional, and will cost you $43 or less.

chupacabrachus · 08-13-2006, 04:27 PM

That crossed my mind, but why bother shelling out the cash when I have a perfectly good one already? Those 43 dollars would be better spent on purchasing the now elusive 7.62x39 ammo. I also enjoy refinishing gun stocks; there is a certain therapeutic value to taking your time and getting a job done well.

Gonefission · 08-13-2006, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by einheit 13

mineral spirits work good.

I use mineral spirits also and it does work well. I also use lemon oil for the stocks.

you can also put the metal parts in very water, or use a steam cleaner and melt of the cosmo.

08-13-2006, 12:57 AM	#1
SnakeEater XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Black Canyon City, AZ Posts: 225	What is the best way to remove Cosmaline? I just picked up another Mosin M44 because I found a crack in the Receiver of the last one. This one is caked in cosmaline(sp) and I want a somewhat easy way to clean it off. Any suggestions? Paid $68.00 for it a Big 5 it was marked wrong on display and made them give it to me for that price, Orig marked 89 somethig so I am sure the guy looked for the one with the most cosmaline as he could find. Thanks for your help. Will __________________ When asked "if ALL Marines suffer from insanity?" I simply replied "Marines don't SUFFER from Insanity WE ENJOY IT!!!". SEMPER FI!! http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u...R3VLimited.gif

08-13-2006, 06:50 AM	#2
The Knight Of Light XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Omaha, Nebraska Posts: 8,819 Blog Entries: 12	Elbow grease and a good solvent. __________________ No Matter Where You Go, There You Are. USPSA #L3077 What a great number!!! http://theknightoflight.blogspot.com/ Creator of TOP 'O' THE PAGE!!! Moose Fight

08-13-2006, 07:11 AM	#3
vafish XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Northern VA Posts: 1,239	Simple Green is the best, easy on the lungs solvent I've found. I once used gasoline to degrease a Sweedish Mauser, but I wouldn't recomend doing that for health and safety reasons. __________________ \"If your plan is for one year, plant rice. If your plan is for ten years, plant trees. If your plan is for one hundred years, educate children.\" -- Confucius

08-13-2006, 08:28 AM	#4
einheit 13 XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Virginia, C.S.A. Posts: 5,645	mineral spirits work good. A good rule of thumb is that if you have to protect yourself with gloves to use, it isn't worth using. You can use a 'degreaser' such as Simple Green or Purple Power from the autoparts store on the metal parts. If those need more harsh solvents, brake cleaner is pretty good too. On the wood though, a good cleanser such as Dawn or detergent that isn't 'smelly' to remove the heaviest cosmoline and then denatured alcohol or more spirits. Warming the parts to get the cosmo 'soft' is a great idea. Wrap it in news paper and let it sit out in the sun for a while. Wipe it down and keep doing it till you get very little on the paper and then scrub as the method you choose above. Now when you think you have it all clean and neat, go shoot it-alot, and get more of it out! I have one M44 that I have had for 2 years and if I shoot it hard, I still get cosmo out it. Just don't scrub the wood with a harsh abrasive, cosmo will get into it and it will ooze for a while and hamper any finish you try to put on it. __________________ Once is happenstance, twice is coincidence, the third time is enemy action “It is the lack of will power, and not the lack of arms which render us incapable of offering any serious resistance.”

08-13-2006, 09:17 AM	#5
I_Route XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Merrimack, NH Posts: 846	It is easier to clean off when the firearm is on the warm side. Especially the wood. Leave it out in the sun for a while and the cosmoline will "sweat" out of the pores of the wood. On the metal parts I usually use the non-chlorinated brake cleaner. Works like a charm. For the wood I always use a good finish remover since I do not want to get H2O in the wood. HTH __________________ Later, Jeff If you can read this, thank a teacher. If it is in English, thank a soldier.

08-13-2006, 12:37 PM	#6
SnakeEater XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Black Canyon City, AZ Posts: 225	Hey thanks guys LOTS of good things to try and since I live in AZ there is no shortage of sun or hot ! I love the Knowledge base on this site. I love shooting the M44 I want to get a 91/30 next. I Have an M1 Garand and a Mauser and love them both in storage in VA. I can't wait to get back there to get them. Than you Guys your the best Will __________________ When asked "if ALL Marines suffer from insanity?" I simply replied "Marines don't SUFFER from Insanity WE ENJOY IT!!!". SEMPER FI!! http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u...R3VLimited.gif

08-13-2006, 02:56 PM	#7
chupacabrachus XDTalk 3K Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 3,383	I've had my yugo sks sitting in the sun for a while with few results. A little came out of the stock, but it still has a really orange/brown/poopy-cosmo color to the wood. I'm about to say the hell with it and start using a solvent of some sort. My 91/30 wasn't too bad when I got it and refinished it... my sks is god aweful though.

08-13-2006, 04:27 PM	#9
chupacabrachus XDTalk 3K Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 3,383	That crossed my mind, but why bother shelling out the cash when I have a perfectly good one already? Those 43 dollars would be better spent on purchasing the now elusive 7.62x39 ammo. I also enjoy refinishing gun stocks; there is a certain therapeutic value to taking your time and getting a job done well.

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