Cosmoline Removal From Accessories

[skb12172]

No, really. I don't have a problem. I can stop anytime I want…Collecting Mosins, that is.

I just bought a couple more. As is my habit, I'd much rather pay the local gunsmith $25 to degrease it than fool with it myself. My question is about the ammo bag, sling, oil can, etc that are also cosmo-laden.

Should I fill up a five gallon bucket with dawn and water, then get a brush and have at it?

Is there a better way?

Fire Away!

[rightisright]

Clean them? Mine are in a heap somewhere in my basement.

I suppose you could boil the ammo pouch and the sling. But that would harden the leather parts. You could try a citrus based degreaser like Zep.

[Aesop]

Unless you feel comfortable with using flammables, try Simple Green.

No matter what, you'll be working a long time.

[PawPaw]

Varsol. Or whatever the present-day equivalent might be.

This guy uses mineral spirits, which might the the modern day equivalient. YouTube Video.

[Cobar]

According to this LINK mineral spirits are not quite the same as varsol.

I think I remember Denis saying something about white spirit (which the above link says is varsol) and people not being able to find it here.

[skb12172]

Cool. Any specific brand names you recommend?

[PawPaw]

Cool. Any specific brand names you recommend?

I don't believe that boiling water has brand names. Any brand of water will do.

For mineral spirits, just go to a good hardware store and tell them you need some mineral spirits. They'll sell you a quart.

[skb12172]

Boiling water with a nonvolatile degreaser and detergent. Full immersion in said boiling water.

It won't hurt any of the metal or cloth bits.

For plastic bits... yeah, good luck.

Um...

[Darrell]

Borax, washing soda (sodium carbonate), laundry detergent, TSP, dishwashing liquid, simple green, oil eater, ZEP citrus, purple power etc...

Also, heated ultrasonic cleaners work well for this, using slightly more volatile solvents. You still need to do the hard boil to get the big caked on stuff off, but for the detail work ultrasonic cleaners work REALLY well.

Most industrial "non VOC" degreasers (challenger, CRC hydroforce etc...) are potassium hydroxide based, and they work VERY well, but they do require some care in handling for your skin etc... not like the nastier solvent based cleaners, just some care.

Very interesting piece on degreasers:


http://www.wastemin.com/discuss/index.p ... 781CtxdVz4

That is very interesting. We used Ramsey Power Bolt at work, but they discontinued the product. The replacement, called Spitfire (Diversey made both), doesn't work as well and is very expensive. I am a fan of Brakleen non-chlor brake cleaner, but not in such applications. For stuff brought into the shop, we just put it in the solvent tank/parts washer, which has Safety-Kleen in it.

I am not a fan of Simple Green. Never thought it worked all that well, and I cannot abide the smell.

[Old Grafton]

I agree on the nasty throat clogging smell of Stinky Green. Purple Power has worked well for me in my parts washer and smells a hell of a lot better.