How To Clean A Gun Packed In Cosmoline

What is Cosmoline ? Cosmoline is something every antique collector of guns may run across during their collecting adventures. It has a yellowish or light-bister colour and looks very much like Vaseline petroleum jelly. Guns, gun parts and other antique military weapons are often coated in Cosmoline to protect the weapons from weathering and serve as a firearm storage preservative to protect confronting rust and corrosion . Commercially Cosmoline is used as a equally a rust inhibitor.

Cosmoline Removal – The Best Method

In that location are several methods for removing Cosmoline, from using chemicals to applying oestrus. Cosmoline melts at 113°-125° F and has a flashpoint of 365° F.

Things you lot will demand for cleaning include rubber gloves, some molar brushes or nylon cleaning brushes, some pliers, some large garbage numberless, newspaper, a large pan to collect the Cosmoline and some patience.

The beginning step to the cleaning process is to pause down the gun into information technology's individual parts. Metallic parts in i location and the wooden stock (Assuming information technology's woods) in another. If there is a lot of Cosmoline, you may non be able to break down the weapon. You may have to use the methods beneath first.

For the metallic parts you accept several choices.

Method ane: Use Humid H2o – This method is the to the lowest degree expensive and the least toxic and seems to work pretty well. After that launder everything down with a strong detergent and water. Make sure to dry all parts then utilise oil.

Method 2: Use A Portable Manus Steamer – This method requires the purchase of a hand steamer or the use of one from a friend. These can usually be establish for $40-$100 at your local hardware store. Normally during the steaming process, you tin concord the various parts in one hand, while you steam with the other. Some small parts may require the apply of pliers to concord due to the heat of steamer.

Method 3: Utilise Brake Cleaner. While much more toxic, restriction cleaner usually does a rather good chore of removing grease and grim buildup. Don't employ Brake Cleaner on forest parts however. The primary downside to using Brake Cleaner is it is NASTY stuff. I try and avoid information technology whenever possible. It may also remove some of the bluing.

Method 4: Mineral Spirits. I recommend if you apply this approach, buy the non-evil-smelling type. Mineral Spirits do a pretty expert job of removing oil and grim. Soaking the parts in a mineral spirit bathroom will eventually melt away the Cosmoline.

For forest parts I recommend Method ane and Method 2. To finish off cleaning woods parts you can attempt wrapping them in a towel and so putting the parts in a blackness trash bag in the sun. The estrus from the dominicus should cook away some of the Cosmoline that has soaked into the wood. An even quicker way is to put the parcel on the front of your cars dashboard, since cars typically get very hot in the sun. I oasis't tried this, but I hear it does an amazing job.

Of the 4 methods, Method ii seems to be the best with the least amount of mess.

Cosmoline Cleanup

Once finished, Cosmoline cleanup is pretty simple. Just dispose of the liquid in trash bags.

A Word Of Caution. Practise not cascade the leftover liquid in your drain pipes, considering this volition surely crusade a clog of epic proportions when the Cosmoline cools in the pipes, solidify and adhering to them.