cleaning cosmoline off Enfield

SSD0321

I picked up an Enfield that is caked in cosmoline or packing grease, I'm not sure if they are the same thing. I would like to clean it up and refinish the stock, as well as clean up the metal and give it that flat black spray I see in the gun shop. Any suggestions as to what is the best way to start cleaning the gunk off or how to prep the rifle for a make over?

akfanatik

one of my friends used gasoline and kerosine on his sks, that should work

Wehrmacht_45

NEVER EVER yse gas as a cleaner, especially in hot weather. I would suggest remvoing the stock and using a heavy duty degreaser like simple green on the metal. For the stock nothing works like heat. In the summer I have wrapped some stocks in a black garbage bag and hung it outside on my closeline. If you rig it right the black bag will sweat the cosmoline out of the wood and down into the bag. Just leave room at the end as a resevoir. Other things you can do is use alot of mineral spirits that will not hurt the wood. I have seen some people use Murphy's oil soap as well with decent results. Several applications may be needed since the wood really soaks up the cosmoline.

SSD0321

T/Y O'reilly
OORAH

CobrayKid

Field strip down to barreled receiver and take it to the car wash with some degreaser. Just blast it off. (With water)... Used to do them by the dozen that way before gun shows.

Kimbercolt

we used cosmoline alot on extended storage items.
gun barrels, we used pd 680, but never get around that
stuff again, take the stock off, then use spray on engine
cleaner, once clean use oil base rust preventive quick.