A3379 2 Posted March 23, 2012 Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 Since most people agree that the European surplus are the best, i just ordered seven of those and waiting. But it seems like most of those come covered in cosmoline so i got to be ready to clean. Some guys boil water to get the cosmo shit out, others clean with chemicals. I want a quick and effective clean so i can have more time a the range. conversion of my 7.62 almost done. How and what you guys clean cosmo out with Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Venom 15 Posted March 24, 2012 Report Share Posted March 24, 2012 (edited) I use the dishwasher on potscrubber setting - no detergent, just heat, steam and water oil all bare metal immediately afterwards though. just dont let the wife know. Edited March 24, 2012 by Venom Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mogunner 240 Posted March 24, 2012 Report Share Posted March 24, 2012 I use the dishwasher too, it's an old POS that we don't use for dishes because it takes too much water and I have a couple of kids still living at home that wash the dishes... Now on my old Mosin parts, I have an old canning pot that is just for my shop uses, I boil water and toss whatever it is that needs 'de-cosmo'd" in it for about 15 minutes, take it out, most times it dries instantly from the heat but I blow it out with clean, dry compressed air then wipe it down with a rag that has a bit of CLP on it, then reassemble. Mineral spirits dissolves it immediately as well, I bought some of those mags as well and was looking at them tonight, they have some super-sharp edges on the lips that I want to clean up a little, so I'm thinking a good wipedown with an old rag soaked in mineral spirits instead of the dishwasher this time. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
armory 142 Posted March 24, 2012 Report Share Posted March 24, 2012 Ever try Purple Power? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mogunner 240 Posted March 24, 2012 Report Share Posted March 24, 2012 I use a shitpot of Simple Green on stuff, but never tried it on cosmo, I don't see why it or the Purple crap wouldn't work just fine. Probably have to use it straight instead of diluted. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
hutchsaiga 93 Posted March 24, 2012 Report Share Posted March 24, 2012 I just take them apart. Run the sink as hot as it goes. Fill a big bowl with soapy. Scolding hot water and let the bodies. Springs. Followers. And floor plates soak for ten minutes or so. then wipe them down with paper towels. Give the springs and inside the bodies a very light coat of gun oil then reassemble. The ones I have gotten from aimsurplus were very clean and didn't take much to get spotless. The ten I got at the gunshow last week. Well. Those were packed with Cosmo. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bai78 1 Posted March 24, 2012 Report Share Posted March 24, 2012 Mineral spirits & lube/grease once cleaned...that my 2¢ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kresk 10,063 Posted March 25, 2012 Report Share Posted March 25, 2012 Mineral spirits & lube/grease once cleaned...that my 2¢ That works for me, with a small brush. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bigtwin 219 Posted March 25, 2012 Report Share Posted March 25, 2012 (edited) My wife has one of those Shark brand hand held steam cleaners. That is what I use to clean off cosmoline from Mosins to mags. Come to think of it, I probably use the steamer more than she does. It works great, parts come out clean and the heat makes them dry quickly then a normal oiling GTG! Edited March 25, 2012 by Bigtwin Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jsnlor 0 Posted March 25, 2012 Report Share Posted March 25, 2012 Can of brake cleaner from the auto parts shop cleaned it right off. Since it also removed all the grease, I hit it with some basic gun oil to re-coat the parts for corrosion prevention. Worked like a charm. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mogunner 240 Posted March 25, 2012 Report Share Posted March 25, 2012 I did mine from AIM today, they weren't bad at all, just a little bit of cosmo at the top. Took the floorplate off, spring and follower out, ran hot water over it, scrubbed with Dawn and scrub brush, blew it dry and a quick wipe with some Remoil and put them back together and loaded them up. I'm torn between buying three more or buying ammo, and I'm thinking the ammo is winning... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DrThunder88 912 Posted March 25, 2012 Report Share Posted March 25, 2012 I just break them down and Brakleen them. I wipe off any residue with a paper towel and then wipe a thin layer of CLP on everything. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rocketfoot 29 Posted March 25, 2012 Report Share Posted March 25, 2012 I like to clean cosmo in the parts cleaner at work! Works great but gets some strange looks from the other employee's...LOL! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
scattergun10 125 Posted March 25, 2012 Report Share Posted March 25, 2012 -Disassemble mags -Slowly, but liberally, pour boiling hot water over all mag parts. Cosmo will melt off like butter. -Thoroughly dry all mag parts with paper towel -Reassemble mags Quote Link to post Share on other sites
patriot 7,197 Posted March 25, 2012 Report Share Posted March 25, 2012 (edited) My way: Soak in a bucket of kerosene. Spray with Simple Green and let soak. Spray down with HOT water. Spray down with Ballistol. Wipe off excess. Load. Test fire. This works with both soft (heavy grease) Cosmolene and hard Cosmolene. The hard kind looks almost like a plastic. I've cleaned rifles and parts covered with the stuff this way. Works great. No scrubbing. No rust. Edited March 25, 2012 by patriot Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sumsky 115 Posted March 25, 2012 Report Share Posted March 25, 2012 I use Boiling hot Mr Clean. Falls right off. Lemon scent of course. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lord Ak-47 49 Posted March 25, 2012 Report Share Posted March 25, 2012 I just break them down, take an old rag and wipe off all parts to eliminate heavy cosmoline build up. Then take some cleaning solvent and use an old tooth brush on internals and hard to get spots. Then wipe again with rag & reassemble. Takes about 5 minutes a mag. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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