What's the best way to clean an old mil-surp stock?

**Anthropophagus** · March 14th, 2008, 03:43 AM

I stripped my 91/30 with Easy Off to refinish the stock - it also pulled off all the dirt and oil. I purchased a laminated M44, and I don't really want to go through all of that again. Is there a good way to clean up my M44's stock of accumulated grime and oil that doesn't include refinishing the stock entirely or baking it in an oven?

**normanvin** · March 14th, 2008, 03:56 AM

You might try simply green. I think thats its name. its a green liquid in a spray bottle. i know a mechanic who swears by it, to get grease off of upholstery..

**4XLT** · March 14th, 2008, 11:03 AM

+1 for simple green, great stuff ,

**Kaos** · March 14th, 2008, 11:24 AM

Heat is the best way to get cosmoline out if thats the goal as you noted.

Oven cleaner is supposed to work but simple green should do the trick.

It should be noted that they split the fibers of the wood though (or so ive been told by a guy who refinishes stocks part time for people)

**Jay5oh** · March 14th, 2008, 07:42 PM

Waterless hand cleaner...the no grit kind.

**Hombre** · March 14th, 2008, 07:56 PM

Murphys Oil Soap. I've used it on several mil-surps, cleans off the grime, doesn't hurt the wood and brings out the woodgrain.

**phillyshooter** · March 15th, 2008, 10:00 AM

You could always wrap the stock in newspaper, put it in a dark trash bag and leave it out in the sun for a day or 2. It will draw all of the grease, cosmo and dirt out of the stock.

**ar15jules** · March 15th, 2008, 10:02 AM

Yep, the EasyOff will take EVERYTHING including the finish off as stated.
Jules

**762xIan** · March 15th, 2008, 11:31 AM

Is there a good way to clean up my M44's stock of accumulated grime and oil that doesn't include refinishing the stock entirely or baking it in an oven?

For getting out cosmo and oil and grease I have access to a parts cleaner, if you know someone at a auto shop see if they have one and if you can use it.

For home use and just cleaning, I have done several old Mausers that had decent stocks, just loaded with grease and cosmoline.

I stripped all the metal, used kerosene and a scrub brush (and lots of rags), I imagine mineral spirits would work well also.

Once down to bare wood, I rubbed in some boiled linseed oil.