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Posted: 7/27/2006 6:12:00 PM EDT
[#1]
Disassemble and stick them in the dishwasher on a potscrubber setting with some cascade. Cleans them up inside and out. You will need to rub them down with some oil as soon as they are done as they will start to rust.
I'm just about done with 100 mags this way. I've only had one covered enough that it will have to soak in some mineral spirits before it goes back in the dishwasher. By far the best method I've tried. Doesn't leave a residue in the dishwasher either. |
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Posted: 7/27/2006 7:46:44 PM EDT
[#2]
I disassemble and wipe the cosmoline gunk off with rags.
I then spray them down with a degreaser and some simple green and use rags to get the heavy cosmoline off. I then wipe them with more rags. If needed I rinse them with a big pot of boiling water. Dry in the oven and lube. Sometimes after rinsing with boiling water I will use the dishwasher but if I am not going to use the dishwasher unless I get the thick gunk off first. I don't pour grease down my drains either when I cook. Rags are cheaper then plumbers. |
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Posted: 7/27/2006 8:14:14 PM EDT
[#3]
I never thought about it like that before. |
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Posted: 7/27/2006 8:15:47 PM EDT
[#4]
i don't know if it is bad for them or not but i have used EASY OFF oven cleaner before.
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Posted: 7/27/2006 8:32:04 PM EDT
[#5]
I saw a post by JOHNO and remembered I have used the same thing to cut right through the cosmoline with less effort. Penetrating spray lubricant from Checker or Autozone. Spray, let it set awhile and it should come right off with rags leaving enough penetrating oil that if there is any rust it should wipe off in a day or two for the most part.
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Posted: 7/27/2006 8:54:11 PM EDT
[#6]
The dishwasher trick works , but I prefer an old pot on
a portable hot plate or gas burner outside . I use water with a little citrus based degreaser , get the water boiling and drop the disassembled mags into the pot for 3-4min . Then I pull the parts out with tongs and lay them out on a towel to dry in the sunlight . They dry quick , less then a min usually and they are squeaky clean . Once I'm done with the batch I use EEZOX on the parts and reassemble . I just did a batch of Norinco M-14 mags that were literally packed with cosmo , and the used wash water mix makes a good weed killer  |
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Posted: 7/27/2006 8:59:20 PM EDT
[#7]
Kerosene and a brush works well. Oil them up when done.
Me....I love the waffle..... |
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Posted: 7/28/2006 4:38:58 AM EDT
[#8]
I use Orange smelling degreaser .
I do this outside and wear safety goggles. Put them in Turkey pan or other container and spray them really good putting the worst ones on the bottom . Give them all a real good squirt and start wiping down the least coated ones with a rag or old bath towel . Real bad ones I resoak and wipe a few times until most of cosmo is off. Then lay them all out and spray Rem oil all over them . Some will need to be taken apart but most will be good to go after that . Usually soak them in the oil a day or two. Did 24 last nite this way . |
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Posted: 7/28/2006 7:00:22 AM EDT
[#9]
petrol and a match
 Jim |
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Posted: 7/28/2006 7:11:31 AM EDT
[#10]
Is cosmoline flamable? |
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Posted: 7/28/2006 8:11:41 AM EDT
[#11]
I just cleaned my 24 SG mags. I used WD-40 and a roll of paper towels. I would lay five down on a string of paper towels on the floor of the garage, spray one side of the mags, turn them over and spray the other side. Then start wiping. Repeat the process a second time and they were very clean. Some of these mags had globs of cosmo on them. After I finished, I gave them a coat of oil and put them away in zip lock bags. Total process was about one hour.
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Posted: 7/28/2006 12:04:00 PM EDT
[#12]
I have used a hand steamer with great results.
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Posted: 7/28/2006 12:25:17 PM EDT
[#13]
Just found a great way, will take pics tommorrow assuming weather holds, it's 95F here, I'm laying the mags out in the sun on some newspapers, after 10-15 minutes just wiping the cosmoline right off. Plan to dissassemble them and do the same for springs, followers, floor plates.
Then I'll wipe them with a light coat of Breakfree if anything just to get rid of the stink! |
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Posted: 7/28/2006 12:28:57 PM EDT
[#14]
I like the smell. After handling the cosmo'd up mags (and washing my hands), I kept smelling my fingers all night. 
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Posted: 7/28/2006 2:09:09 PM EDT
[#15]
I use a lot of acetone in my garage, so I usually just set a tub of acetone in the sun to warm it up, then toss the mags in. The cosmo melts away instantly. I hang the mags to dry and wipe them down with Ed's Red. I've been using this method for years on old surplus weaons and equipment.
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Posted: 7/28/2006 2:29:40 PM EDT
[#16]
I use Purple Power (or a similar degreaser) for all my cosmo cleaning needs. Works on wood, and metal. I have a Rubbemaid tub I clean part in. Some PP, hot water, a toothbrush, scrub, scrub, scrub. Rinse in hot water, lay on a towell to dry. Oiling may be required to avoid flash rust. But it works very well.
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Posted: 7/28/2006 6:27:28 PM EDT
[#17]
Thats what I did. I got 2 orders from SG was able to clean all with a couple of tall bottles of carb cleaner and a little steel wool for caked gunk and let drain. Workd great was fast and easy. Then refinished after wipeing down with some thinner, steel wool and papertowels and theyve all come out great and are holding up well. |
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Posted: 7/28/2006 6:45:55 PM EDT
[#18]
How should I lube the mags after I have cleaned and heated them in the oven to get rid of moisture? Maybe a little Mil-Spec and a little more oven cooking?
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Posted: 7/28/2006 6:53:05 PM EDT
[#19]
http://www.surplusrifle.com/shooting/cosmoline/index.asp
Not a method I have used, I was just looking up what Cosmoline even is and came across this. Donk |
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Posted: 7/28/2006 8:15:34 PM EDT
[#20]
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Posted: 7/28/2006 9:01:55 PM EDT
[#21]
Lemon oil will go through cosmoline like shit through a goose. Its my preferred method.
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Posted: 7/29/2006 6:02:37 AM EDT
[#22]
From reading what this stie had to say, it seems boiling mags will work the best for getting cosmoline off. |
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Posted: 7/29/2006 8:10:49 AM EDT
[#23]
Just set them out standing up in our current Oklahoma heat wave.
The cosmo will melt out the bottom. 
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Posted: 7/29/2006 8:11:46 AM EDT
[#24]
I can't believe no one has posted this trick.
Gasoline or fuel oil works great!!! you don't even need to disassemble them, just dip, soak, shake repeat. |
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Posted: 7/29/2006 11:26:35 AM EDT
[#25]
another thread just like this has the suggestion of taking them to a garage that has a parts cleaning bin.
this sound good but i have never tried it. Has anyone tried this and had any luck?? |
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Posted: 7/29/2006 11:27:11 AM EDT
[#26]
another thread just like this has the suggestion of taking them to a garage that has a parts cleaning bin.
this sound good but i have never tried it. Has anyone tried this and had any luck?? |
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Posted: 7/29/2006 4:02:34 PM EDT
[#27]
Regarding the "take them to a shop" - if you know someone or know someone that knows someone - yes... get them in a solvent tank. That works best. You don't have to do anything. Just let them soak in solvent for about an hour and you can pretty much blow them clean with an air hose.
You might also try the Citrus Degreasers or Simple Green - check your automotive stores for something "earth friendly" if you're going to just be dumping it down the drain when you're done. Otherwise, solvent is the only way to go.
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Posted: 7/29/2006 5:58:07 PM EDT
[#28]
I'm with Santana, I just used gas. Gas cleans everything from cosmoline to cooties. Remember that always, my son.
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Posted: 7/30/2006 2:22:52 AM EDT
[#29]
great thread
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Posted: 7/30/2006 1:50:06 PM EDT
[#31]
I have been dissasembling the mags and using a heat gun and rags. The cosmoline just wipes off.
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Posted: 7/30/2006 2:18:24 PM EDT
[#32]
I just did twelve from SG earlier today. I did the dissasemble then WD-40 and rags method. I came here to find out what kind they were and found this thread. I wish I would have found this thread first.
Do I still need to oil them up? After reassembling them I did a final wipedown with WD-40. |
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Posted: 7/30/2006 5:18:40 PM EDT
[#33]
I'm doing the "let the cosmoline melt in the sun and wipe it off method", works reasonably well, You can see some of the cosmoline dripping off here
.jpg) the ratty comb was used as a poker to press up on the mag release plate without scratching it |
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Posted: 8/2/2006 12:13:35 PM EDT
[#34]
I disassemble a magazine, spray a citrus degreaser on the parts, scrub with a toothbrush where necessary, and throw the parts into a bucket. Next I pour boiling water into the bucket. After letting the parts soak for a couple minutes, I pull them out with needle nose pliers and spray them with the steam cleaner.
Then I wipe down the parts to dry them and get cosmo residue off. Reassemble and good to go. I'm a pretty thorough person, so it frequently takes me 1/2 hour to a solid hour, depending on how much cosmoline is on the magazine. |
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Posted: 8/2/2006 12:36:08 PM EDT
[#35]
I try to keep WD40 away from my mags. WD40 is a penetrating lubricant and has been known to contaminate primers. It's not a big problem with most of the sealed primers on steel cased ammo, but I ruined a mag full of unsealed ammo with WD40 a few years ago. |
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Posted: 8/2/2006 1:23:06 PM EDT
[#36]
The only bad thing I've heard about WD-40 is that it's parrifin based and can gum up with time. Weather the paraffin thing is true or not I do not know, but if left on thick, it can sure gum up. If you spray it on and wipe it off, I'm sure it's fine, but I do like Breakfree better. Breakfree is the 'lube of the gods'.
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Posted: 8/2/2006 5:08:30 PM EDT
[#37]
I use Bounty PT soaked in 96% (or any >90%) rubbing alcohol on metal mags followed by a thin coat of CLP to replace the rust protection removed by the alcohol. The packing grease comes right off with ease.
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Posted: 8/2/2006 5:52:37 PM EDT
[#38]
+1. They smell kind of bad for a while, but it's like a hot knife through butter. After using elbow grease on my first few SG mags (which didn't work too well), I just dumped some gas on them in a bucket and voila! |
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Posted: 8/9/2006 7:57:48 PM EDT
[#39]
Prob would NOT work on mags but on my SKS's I took them apart, made a half circle with foil and put a 4k work light on all the parts sitting on the foil. The cosmoline just drips off.
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Posted: 8/9/2006 8:06:17 PM EDT
[#40]
Try using E85 Less smelly. I just soaked things for a few minutes, used a sponge to wipe off some of the thicker deposits halfway through the soak time. Worked on my FAL mags anyway.
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Posted: 8/9/2006 10:30:06 PM EDT
[#41]
I use brake cleaner and a bucket. I dissasemble the magazines and place the components in the bucket and proceded to spray them with brake cleaner. After I have exhausted several cans of the stuff *usually like 6-8 for 4-6 magazines* I leave the magazines to soak in the brake cleaner for a few hours or over night. After that, I soak them in warm soapy water and procede to rinse them off. This method seems to work the best for me as after the brake cleaner bath, the mags are usually spotless and the warm bubble bath takes care of the rest. I have also used a pressure washer and a "gopher"...yah know, that gripper thing they sell on TV and at Walgreens? Serious PSI removes cosmoline, dirt. grease....skin.
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Posted: 8/9/2006 10:43:51 PM EDT
[#42]
Do these methods work for AK-74 mags? Bakelite and plastic magazines, etc.
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Posted: 8/10/2006 12:55:54 AM EDT
[#43]
Cleaned 12 more yesterday and stuck them all in the oven on a pan. Took them out and wiped off the little cosmoline residue that remained with an old T-shirt . Easiest way to do it. I didn't even disassemble the mags. Cosmoline just ran out. Used a little CLP on a rag and I was done.
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Posted: 8/12/2006 3:38:40 AM EDT
[#44]
That surplus rifle link said that cosmo flashes (ignites) at 365. Remember that when using the oven!
The sun idea fabulous! |
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Posted: 8/12/2006 6:28:38 AM EDT
[#45]
Plastic washtub, preferably square or rectangle that you can stack mags in. 2 to 3 gallons of kerosene or diesel fuel. Cover mags with kero/diesel. Cover tub with cardboard or plastic. Walk away for 3 days. Return.......remove mags........airdry..........wipe down. |
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Posted: 10/25/2006 12:01:28 PM EDT
[#46]
i talked to the HEAD HONCO at Centerfire , hes degreased 100s of maggies.
he told me the best crap to use is the "less smelly" version of MINERAL SPIRITS..   he says it works like a dream http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mineral_spirits see<<< |
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Posted: 10/25/2006 12:32:05 PM EDT
[#47]
I clean cosmoline off parts with diesel, then follow with boiling in a lye solution. The strong base of the lye helps prevent rusting until the parts can be coated with oil. Do not handle the parts with bare hands before rinsing thoroughly, however. Tongs and rubber gloves are a must.
Dave. |
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Posted: 10/25/2006 1:24:33 PM EDT
[#48]
Safey note: Make sure to clean out all remains of WD-40 et al from the inside of your mag. WD-40 will ruin primers.
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Posted: 10/26/2006 12:43:49 AM EDT
[#49]
This works great in removing the nasty stuff from mags, guns, and parts. Let the gunk drip in a bucket or "toss-a-ble" container. Follow up with kerosene, acetone, etc., and yur dunn! Brake cleaner works, but I have had mags and guns rust after using it if I didn't immediately apply oil. buckmeister |
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Posted: 10/26/2006 2:43:58 AM EDT
[#50]
For cosmo covered parts I boil in water with a little simple green. Take them out while still hot and all the water dries off instantly (even in the little hidden spaces). I then hit them with some WD-40 (water displacement, just to be sure). Finally, a hit itwith some CLP.
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