Cosmoline is found on everything from World War II-era rifles to classic and foreign cars. It can be challenging to remove, but the reward can be a collectible firearm or automotive part as bright and new as the day it was preserved.
Metal Parts: Firearms and Automotive
- 1
Disassemble and inspect the firearm or metal part you are cleaning. Cosmoline looks like brown petroleum jelly or greasy wax and seeps into every crevice and cavity.
- 2
Fill a bucket or tub halfway with mineral spirits. Work in a well-ventilated area and wear nitrile gloves and safety glasses.
- 3
Submerge or thoroughly douse the item to be cleaned. Using scouring pads and scrubbing brush, work the mineral spirits into crevices and cavities. As the cosmoline dissolves, the mineral spirits will get dark and dirty. Depending on how thick the coating is, you may have to change out the solvent. Repeat until the metal parts are clean.
- 4
Rinse parts with clear water and polish with a soft cloth until dry.
Wood Parts: Firearms and Collectibles
- 1
Inspect the item. Wood is porous and depending on how long it has been soaked in cosmoline, the preservative will have soaked into every crevice and pore. On wood surfaces, cosmoline typically looks like greasy wax.
- 2
Disassemble the item. Remove fittings and screws for better cleaning.
- 3
Fill a bucket or tub halfway with mineral spirits. Work in a well-ventilated area and wear nitrile gloves and safety glasses.
- 4
Brush the wood with mineral spirits, following the grain and gently working the solvent into crevices and cavities. Wipe the surface with a soft cloth periodically to gauge the progress of the cleaning. Stop applying mineral spirits when the original finish on the wood is visible.
- 5
Rinse with clear water and allow to air dry. Repeat cleaning if surface still looks or feels greasy.
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