Removing Cosmoline...

[Dougster]

... and other similar thick oils/waxes/rust preservatives from intricate metal (or metal/wood, metal/plastic, metal/rubber) parts.

Cosmoline - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

How do you do it? Do you ever take the heating approach (heat in oven/boiling water/heat gun/etc.? Or do you strictly limit your cleanings to "cold" methods... specifically, using mineral spirits (or similar) and hand wiping with rags, q-tips, diapers, paper towels et al?

Inquiring minds would like to know.


Dougster™

[Farmwithjunk]

Carb cleaner OR charcoal starter fluid work fairly well.

[PaulChristenson]

To clean metal use mineral spirits.

To clean wood, one way is to use a heat gun and use a rag to wipe off the cosmo that seeps out of the wood.

Here's a great tutorial on cosmo removal, but he doesn't really go into much with the stock:
Educational Zone #23 - Cosmoline Removal - Page 1
NOTE: he used "greenie" pads to clean the stock of his SKS, but I wouldn't want to have anything more abrasive than a paper towel or dish towel to clean mine off.

[mjncad]

I use mineral spirits or naphtha.

[Dougster]

Thanks guys!

I picked up a gallon of odorless mineral spirits last night at Lowes. I'll give that a try.

I'm sure the GF/GW will appreciate me not using the oven for this slightly nasty task.

Dougster™

[mjncad]

Using HER oven would guarantee you a night or two sleeping with your new man-lift.

[Dougster]

Using HER oven would guarantee you a night or two sleeping with your new man-lift.

Yeah, they say that it kinda stinks up the kitchen and leaves a not-so delectable lingering aroma in the oven.

But such is life! Ya gotta stink up a kitchen to make an omelet... or some old saying like that!



Dougster™

[mjncad]

Ya gotta stink up a kitchen to make an omelet... or some old saying like that!

Let us know how it was sleeping with the man-lift.

[bindian]

Fire works real good.
hugs, Brandi

[PaulChristenson]

Fire works real good.
hugs, Brandi

Is that why bags travel free on Southwest?