cleaning cosmoline w/o taking finish off?

M

MadScientist

New member
Ok, I just read two lengthy posts about getting cosmoline off of mil-surplus guns. Nearly every one suggests some sort of solvent, some of which are strong enough to remove the finish. Well, I have to get some cosmoline off of my new Yugo and I don't want to have to refinish the stock. I was planning on just going over it again and again with old tee shirt parts and maybe some hot water. However, from all the talk, you guys make it sound like the cosmoline has penetrated the wood (has it?).
Is there any long term harm that would result from the tee-shirt and hot water method?
If possible, I'd like to just preserve the original finish (this gun is in excellent condition already).
 
I've found that...

...WD-40 and a couple of old cotton rags work fine.

Don't know what to tell you about the stock, but have you tried a search of the forum for tips?

I can guarantee that *somebody* here has the solution. :)
 
I've used Rem Oil a few times and it works great. Just spray it on, wait a second then wipe it off with a cloth and you're set. And it won't hurt your stock.
 
I've seen a lot of people recommend the cleaner Simple Green. I don't think it is a very harsh solvent.
 
I've used minerial spirtis to clean mil surplus that been stored in cosmoline. I've never seen it damage the wood. Something you may want to do is to apply a small amount of the MS on the stock to see if there's a problem.

Turk
 
Most likely the cosmoline has penetrated the wood. My hobby is to rebuild old milsurps, so disassembly and refinishing is a labor of love rather than a chore. That said, if you have an oil finished stock, solvent (acetone, paint thinner, etc.) would work best, especially if you don't plan to disassemble the rifle. That way if a lille solvent leaches betweent the metal and wood you won't have a potential rusting problem like you would if using Simple Green, which has a water base. After cleaning, apply boiled linseed oil, tung oil or other natural oils over a series of days to replenish the wood.

For cleaning varnished wood surfaces, a good commercial wood cleaner/polish should do, (e.g., Homer Formby's) as the cosmoline should not have penetrated the varnish barrier.

I highly recommed you disassemble the rifle and get all the crud off and out of it and refinsigh the wood properly. I guarantee you will have a great time and your efforts should result in a rifle you will be proud to display and shoot.

Noban
 
I use Murphy's Oil Soap to clean up milsurp stocks. I'll echo Noban and say thay removing the stock is essential!
 
Soap and warm water will get it off just fine. Takes the cosmo off the metal parts, too.

No need to go too crazy with cleaning the stock. If it's teak, there will be some oil in the wood naturally, and it will work its way to the surface after you clean it with soap & water.

Then re-oil with several coats of linseed oil from Home Depot. Home Depot also sells a "Teak Oil" that puts the oil back into the wood to reserve it if you went crazy degreasing it and it's too dried out.

You definitely need to remove the action from the wood before cleaning.

Semper fi,

Bruegger out.
 
I have used Simple Green for just about every kind of cleaning task and I am sold on it.

It will not harm any finish. You can soak parts in it full strength. No armorer's bench should be without it!
 
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