Another Cosmo Question...

[CaRbZ13]

Had my Michigan/CMP trip last weekend and got my self a Garand and a Carbine. I'd like to clean all of the metal this weekend (the stocks in the summer) but was looking for a few ideas. Does anyone have any tips or links that can aid me a bit.

If the weather is nice (it's supposed to be) I can work outside and smell wouldn't be a problem... but are there any other ways to remove it without smell.
Also oven/stove are off limits.

[Dan Shapiro]

Boiling hot water will dissolve the cosmoline. No flammable solvents to worry about. The hot water will also dry quickly. Just spray down afterwards with WD40 in case you missed any wet spots, the WD40 will displace the water.

:cheers:

[ltcboy]

I literally stick everything in the dishwasher. Put in a heavy duty pots and pans scrub. Use regular dishwasher detergent. I have never had a problem. All of the muck, grease, grime & cosmoline will be gone. There is no harmful chemicals, no burnt skin, no hard work. I put the parts in at night before bed, then when I wake up, its all done. It's a very easy process.

If you want to refinish the stock set, put it in also. It will strip the wood down. Just be sure not to let it heat dry. Hope this helps.


Mike

[U.S.G.I.]

I soak my metal in mineral spirits over night myself. Comes off very easy the next morning.

Jeff

[mark1]

I use the hot water. But I pour the water into a bucket. I do not want all that junk going down the drain. It will clog the pipes. Than I wipe down all the parts with denatured alcohol. In most cases the hot water right out of the tap will do fine.
Mark1

[snell]

Go here:
http://parallaxscurioandrelicfirearmsforums.yuku.com/

Go to the forums titled:
Maintenance of Original Configuration Milsurp Firearms.
Check under: C&R Repairs and Adjustments and do a search for cosmoline and you'll get lots of good ideas.
C&R stock cleaning section will give you ideas on how to get it out of the wood as well.

[CaRbZ13]

Do you completely disassemble every part (trigger group, etc.)... or is it ok to leave them complete.

[U.S.G.I.]

Yes completely disassemble you want to get to all the nooks and crannies.

Jeff

[Faulkner]

I soak my metal in mineral spirits over night myself. Comes off very easy the next morning.

Jeff


+1

I had a buddy of mine make me a tray with a lid. I soak it all night and it's real easy to get off the next day.

http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL488/1124764/6541000/120029438.jpg

[cary m2a]

All these are great ways to clean parts,but never use the bath tub:nono:rifle parts came out clean but 2.5 hours to clean the tub before the wife came home :banghead:

[Milsurp Collector]

I got a HRA Correct Grade a few days ago that had gobs of cosmoline inside it. I used my wife's blow drier and a roll of paper towels to remove the cosmo. Field strip it, wipe off the globs with paper towels, then lay the parts on some newspapers and use the blow drier. The blow drier liquifies the cosmo and it drips off or can be wiped off. It works on the wood too. No smell at all and it can be done indoors.

[ralfus]

All these are great ways to clean parts,but never use the bath tub:nono:rifle parts came out clean but 2.5 hours to clean the tub before the wife came home :banghead:

I never had trouble using the tub to soak stocks in TSP for major cleanups. Then I had a brain **** while one stock finish would not lift off. So I coated it in polyurethane remover and laid that in the tub. it started turning white :yikes: it was melting the tub and fusing the redish stock finish into the tubs material :banghead:

[duke266]

Before using any solvents or hot water I use paper towels to get the heavy stuff off. Then, after most is removed, I use the hot water and on real small parts (bolt internals, etc.) brake cleaner and a tooth brush or swab. Once everything is dry I lubricate each part with a coat of CLP Collectors. Don't forget to take a cleaning rod with a patch down the barrel too. Big old plugs come out there. I have heard mineral spirits work but never tried it. Best of luck!

[Rotor]

Don't forget to take a cleaning rod with a patch down the barrel too. Big old plugs come out there.

Yeah. You gotta get the worm out.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a51/Rotor_/1903Mark1/Before%20and%20After/SprGreasePlg.jpg


JR