Cosmoline (grease) cleanup?

Skychief · Mar 21, 2018

I had a new toy follow me home today. It's bore and breech have a coating of cosmoline. I've used a breech scraper and removed a bunch of it.

My question is... What solvent would work well for removing all traces of it?

I have plenty of acetone on hand and was about to try it, but, thought I'd ask here first if it would be bettered by another product.

Thanks for the help, Skychief

Bearkiller · Mar 21, 2018

My choice has always been M-Pro7 Gun Cleaner. Been using it for over thirty years with great results.

Smokey Plainsman · Mar 21, 2018

+1 for MPro7, great stuff.

Acetone is very harsh and can present an inhalant hazard in confined spaces. I wouldn't use it.

Zonie · Mar 21, 2018

Acetone, lacquer thinner, MEK and similar fluids will also eat the finish off of the stock if it gets splashed onto it.

Automotive Disk Brake cleaner can remove grease and oil but if I was using it I would definitely work outside where the fumes could blow away.
It also will strip oil finishes off of the stock.

bore_butter · Mar 21, 2018

that's what they used to coat the railroad axle bearing surface for the friction bearings.
they used mineral spirits to soak it off.

Skychief · Mar 21, 2018

Thanks all. Used acetone and all is well. Clean as a whistle.

Thanks much, Skychief

jpm1963 · Mar 22, 2018

Not sure about cleaning inside the bore, but once the metal parts are separated from the wood and somewhat cleaned with the mild solvent of your choice . . . wait for your wife to be out for the night and run the parts through the dishwasher.

Worked well for me . .. :wink:
Jim

Ames · Mar 23, 2018

That's how I turned the master bath into a sweat box to brown my parts. Waited for her to go on a walkabout. :grin:

MSW · Mar 23, 2018

bore_butter said:
that's what they used to coat the railroad axle bearing surface for the friction bearings.
they used mineral spirits to soak it off.

thanks! didn't know about that one ... the 'school solution' for me has always been brake cleaner, but it will trash a nice stock finish in a cold second.

bore_butter · Mar 23, 2018

if they got in a hurry to clean off the axle bearing surface they would heat up the mineral spirits. all that was history come the end of the 60's, when the roller bearing took over.

stronics · Apr 6, 2018

Kerosene?
David

Cosmoline (grease) cleanup?

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