Decosmoing a stock?

BFRANKlin · 08-12-2007, 12:30 AM

What the heck is the best way to decosmolene a stock that stays greasy feeling from cosmo? Lay it in the sun then scrub with mineral spirits? Soaking in lacquer thinner will dry it out and make it crack. So will acetone. Alcohol won't cut it. Can't use the oven. WHAT???

just_a_car · 08-12-2007, 01:12 AM

It's covered by BoT near the bottom of the Cosmoline cleaning educational piece:

Educational Zone #23 - Cosmoline Removal - Page 3

Not exactly very helpful, but at least experienced.

toolman · 08-12-2007, 01:13 AM

Take an old towel long enough to completely wrap the stock in. Spread it out and lay out a thick layer of kitty litter or ground corncob from the pet store. Lay the stock on top, cover it completely and wrap it up tight. Lay it out in the sun or leave it in a hot car for a day or two. The heat will melt the cosmoline and the litter\corncob will absorb it.

A-10 · 08-12-2007, 12:16 PM

If you don't mind getting the stock wet, give it a hot shower. That should melt the cosmoline and wash it away.

SilverRun · 08-12-2007, 01:05 PM

If it not real bad - I use the lemon oil furniture cleaner.

SKS NOOB · 08-12-2007, 01:49 PM

Or you can just wipe the cosmo off with mineral spirits and not worry about bleeding it out. The cosmo will only come out when it gets hot past that, AND it acts a great preservative for the stock.

easttexashick · 08-12-2007, 06:37 PM

This is for what it is worth.

I use automotive hand cleaner and an old toothbrush to get rid of surface cosmoline. It's easy on the hands and seems to do the job. Hot water is the only clean up needed.

Not sure if this will work with "baked" on cosmoline.

Some cosmoline is not a bad thing. After all it is a preservative. Just keep an old rag handy if some seeps out in the heat. It's not a big deal unless you demand a really pretty rifle.

There are a lot more details to cleaning up and old rifle, but shant bore you.

Take care,

Easttexashick.

Beer Forever · 08-12-2007, 06:42 PM

Heat works well, but wont get all of it off. I had a stock that was really greasy and went to Ace and got this stuff called Oops. They have it in a spray can, makes it really easy to use, and they have it in metal paint can. Get the spray, spray that stuff on, wait one minute and wipe off with a rag. I have cleaned up a lot of mil surps and when it comes to the stocks, this stuff works the best.

Chris · 08-12-2007, 07:13 PM

Here is my suggestion... choose one or mix...I recommend just using one.
Carb cleaner from walmart, use outside for well ventilation
paint thinner, use outside for well ventilation

Lots of rags, and wipe it down.

Be sure not to have flames near by.

Rave · 08-13-2007, 10:45 AM

If it is a Chinese gun it probably is finished with shellac instead of varnish,you might consider that while stripping cosmo.
The cosmo has probably not penetrated the shellac.

rocketmonty · 08-13-2007, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BFRANKlin

What the heck is the best way to decosmolene a stock that stays greasy feeling from cosmo? Lay it in the sun then scrub with mineral spirits? Soaking in lacquer thinner will dry it out and make it crack. So will acetone. Alcohol won't cut it. Can't use the oven. WHAT???

denature alchool

DANA · 08-13-2007, 08:28 PM

I use my garage parts cleaner.

DANA

Doctor Larry K · 08-15-2007, 09:19 AM

I put both of mine in a scalding hot shower for 20 minutes.

08-12-2007, 12:30 AM	#1
BFRANKlin Banned Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Southern Ohio Posts: 258	Decosmoing a stock? What the heck is the best way to decosmolene a stock that stays greasy feeling from cosmo? Lay it in the sun then scrub with mineral spirits? Soaking in lacquer thinner will dry it out and make it crack. So will acetone. Alcohol won't cut it. Can't use the oven. WHAT???

08-12-2007, 01:13 AM	#3
toolman Mr. Fixit Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: abilene,tx Posts: 5,582 Blog Entries: 22	Take an old towel long enough to completely wrap the stock in. Spread it out and lay out a thick layer of kitty litter or ground corncob from the pet store. Lay the stock on top, cover it completely and wrap it up tight. Lay it out in the sun or leave it in a hot car for a day or two. The heat will melt the cosmoline and the litter\corncob will absorb it. __________________ Don't be messin' with my gun!

08-12-2007, 06:42 PM	#8
Beer Forever Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 2,714	Heat works well, but wont get all of it off. I had a stock that was really greasy and went to Ace and got this stuff called Oops. They have it in a spray can, makes it really easy to use, and they have it in metal paint can. Get the spray, spray that stuff on, wait one minute and wipe off with a rag. I have cleaned up a lot of mil surps and when it comes to the stocks, this stuff works the best. __________________ Paramedic sks forever

08-12-2007, 07:13 PM	#9
Chris HMFIC Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: North Carolina Posts: 3,834,168 Images: 19 Blog Entries: 18	Here is my suggestion... choose one or mix...I recommend just using one. Carb cleaner from walmart, use outside for well ventilation paint thinner, use outside for well ventilation Lots of rags, and wipe it down. Be sure not to have flames near by. __________________ Rules \| Contributing Members No one has the right to deny my personal safety Please be descriptive in your thread titles!

08-13-2007, 10:45 AM	#10
Rave Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tampa Posts: 6,877	If it is a Chinese gun it probably is finished with shellac instead of varnish,you might consider that while stripping cosmo. The cosmo has probably not penetrated the shellac. __________________ USAF '62-'66 .

08-12-2007, 01:12 AM	#2
just_a_car Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Edmonds, WA Posts: 3,522	It's covered by BoT near the bottom of the Cosmoline cleaning educational piece: Educational Zone #23 - Cosmoline Removal - Page 3 Not exactly very helpful, but at least experienced. __________________

08-12-2007, 12:16 PM	#4
A-10 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: North Carolina Posts: 732	If you don't mind getting the stock wet, give it a hot shower. That should melt the cosmoline and wash it away.

08-12-2007, 01:05 PM	#5
SilverRun Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: AL Posts: 1,661	If it not real bad - I use the lemon oil furniture cleaner.

08-12-2007, 01:49 PM	#6
SKS NOOB Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Minnesotah Posts: 689	Or you can just wipe the cosmo off with mineral spirits and not worry about bleeding it out. The cosmo will only come out when it gets hot past that, AND it acts a great preservative for the stock.

08-12-2007, 06:37 PM	#7
easttexashick Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 16	This is for what it is worth. I use automotive hand cleaner and an old toothbrush to get rid of surface cosmoline. It's easy on the hands and seems to do the job. Hot water is the only clean up needed. Not sure if this will work with "baked" on cosmoline. Some cosmoline is not a bad thing. After all it is a preservative. Just keep an old rag handy if some seeps out in the heat. It's not a big deal unless you demand a really pretty rifle. There are a lot more details to cleaning up and old rifle, but shant bore you. Take care, Easttexashick.

08-13-2007, 08:28 PM	#12
DANA Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: WAITSFIELD VERMONT Posts: 1,595	I use my garage parts cleaner. DANA

08-15-2007, 09:19 AM	#13
Doctor Larry K Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Palm Springs, Calif. Posts: 428	I put both of mine in a scalding hot shower for 20 minutes.