Cosmoline Removal

[RocketFoot]

I'm sure this has been discussed off an on before...but lets start a definitive thread with some tips and tricks!

I'll be picking my new Yugo SKS up later today and I'd like to get a refresher course on cosmo removal. I don't want to ruin with harsh chemicals or hot water, so I'm looking for some tips myself...

[imperialism2024]

Well, the wood is obviously the hard part. My favorites for cleaning metal are boiling water and brake cleaner, or both. As for wood, I've had limited success with WD-40... but I'm definitely open to suggestions as well.

[Willie D]

I was leaving the stock outside in the sun for a few weeks until I read about the car dashboard method: Wrap the stock in newspaper, and leave it on a dashboard in the sun. I got more cosmo out in an hour that I had the 2 weeks previous. Didn't even stink up the car.


I cleaned the metal parts with simple green and a ton of elbow grease. Boiled the trigger group. Not fun.

The two methods that look easiest are soaking in mineral spirits or steaming with a hand steamer.

[TheMan42]

Use a heat gun on the stock, that or steam, the cosmoline will just bleed right out. As far as the metal parts go, use mineral spirits, brake cleaner. Also I know that soaking it in a tub of diesel will do the trick.

[DaveM55]

I like using mineral spirits to clean off cosmoline.

[WVBob]

I've used the stock in newspaper and rags method, it works great on a really hot day. I like soaking parts overnight in WD-40.

[david1]

I didnt believe this until last weekend. $3 a can break cleaner. Just get a nice pair of thick rubber gloves. I had on a pair of surgical gloves and the break cleaner melted them almost right off my hand. The break cleaner take off the cosmoline in seconds and then I used a simple gun oil over the gun after it dried. Get the cleaner with the little red extendable hose.

[Jake Mc.]

That's how I cleaned mine. 2 cans of brake cleaner for the metal and a day or two on the dash wrapped in an old towel. Worked like magic...

[XD45]

I got a jug of mineral spirits, a paintbrush and a long plastic bin type thing to soak parts in and I was pretty surprised at how good it worked. I even use the method now on my all metal guns once every couple thousand rounds as it does an amazing job.

I'm not 100% set on a method of getting it out of the stock, i usually combine leaving it out in the sun wrapped up, and a hot rag and iron.

[CarolinaGuy]

There's basically 4 main methods:
mechanical (elbow grease)
heat (firing, sun, steam, heatgun)
weak solvent (mineral spirits, water, etc)
strong solvent (wd-40, brake cleaner, etc).

Start at the top of the list, work your way down as necessary.