9 thoughts on “Battling the Cosmoline”

  1. That is sooooooo much fun. I need to buy another milsurp just so I can go through that again.

    Seriously though… its a good thing the SKS isn’t that complicated… I still know I’ve missed some of the nooks and crannies in mine. It shoots, and doesn’t get gunk on my shirt though, so I’m not all that worried.

  3. I want to get an SKS in the near future, and I keep hearing about the legendary measures required to clean the crazy things. Is there a guide somewhere that tells a clueless person how to do it? I know I’m going to need such instructions; hopefully before the summer is out.

  4. The best way I found to clean off cosmoline was something like this. Just make an oven out of a trash can. The cosmoline runs right off.

  5. It’s not that difficult to clean. No more difficult than any other rifle. It’s easier than a kalashnikov, because the gas system operates more cleanly.

  7. Paint thinner works pretty decently too. Basically any light hydrocarbon will get rid of cosmoline, but that creates a hazardous waste problem. I’m trying to keep solvent use to a minimum. Basically, I melt the cosmoline off in the oven first, which gets the bulk of it to drip out, then wipe with a cloth. I then get the nooks and crannies with the Gunzilla stuff. Some cosmoline coating being left is beneficial, since it’s a corrosion inhibitor. It’s only really the barrel, gas system, and any other place that gets hot that I’m concerned about getting it all completely out.

  8. I believe over at beerbaitnammo.blogspot.com, he stated in using a steamer to remove the bulk of cosmoline. I tried the method and like it for mass removal. Granted I sitll had to use some solvents,but the steamer kept it to a minimum,which makes the wife happy. The smell of it gives her head aches.

  9. I use mineral spirits, do it outside and put the used stuff in a tub I can seal for future use; the old grease settles to the bottom.

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