Removing cosmoline

[Danger Mouse]

Evening all, just looking for advice on methods for removing cosmoline from a no4 mk2.

So far I have been advised by an NZ stock maker that turps is the way to go. Any further advice or experience is appreciated. My biggest concern is looking after the wood in the process.

It was a mummified enfield that somebody has removed the paper wrap from.

I have been told that renaissance wax is what I should be using to protect the wood (beech) once complete. Any further comment on this too?

Appreciate any information.

Information

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[Alan de Enfield]

Remove the furniture, slowly pour boiling water all over the metalwork, plenty of kitchen paper towel, wipe down.
Pour boiling water, wipe down ……….. repeat, repeat, repeat,

Alternatively put in a tin-bath and heat the water to boiling point, the cosmo will soften and start to 'float off', just wipe down repeatedly until clean.

Reassemble.

Worked for me.

[browningautorifle]

What Alan suggests is what I've used often too...

[philb]

good old petrol

[jonh172]

Once the bulk is removed with the boiling water technique scrub her down with simple green automotive degreaser. Non toxic, easy on the hands and smells nice. Then lightly oil all metal parts with your favorite gun oil.

[JerryEAL]

Labour or labor of love! Nothing like getting something new and spending some quality time together. Whoa, I gotta stop there,, I might get in trouble on the home front.

[Ridolpho]

Attachment 98138I recently cleaned a Mk 2 that had been removed from its wrapper just before I bought it but all the grease left in and on it. A brief dip of the barreled action in kerosene followed by careful drying (and swabs through the bore) and then oiling took care of that. I found the heavy grease that was on parts of the wood was easily cleaned with a soft cloth soaked in RLO. You want to be very careful and avoid scrapes or dings so that you're left with a perfect, brand new rifle. Also be very careful disassembling it as things may be tight and you don't want to ruin a screw head or affect the draws negatively.

Ridolpho

[Brian Dick]

I hope you guys are greasing up all the underlying metal again after inspection/cleaning and before reassembly.

[WarPig1976]

Heat is the key to cosmoline. I have an old Russian 7.62 spam can in the shop I used for boiling bayonets and handguns. I also made a trough out of rain gutter for barreled actions.
A hairdryer or heat gun are good tools for applying heat.
Do it outside or the garage if you live with a women, the stuff stinks.

[mmppres]

Make sure you follow the reassembly instruction on grease on metal under the wood