I just bought an SKS. Its a romanian in very good condition. All matching numbers, good bore, only a few blemishes in the stock, etc. I'm going to use this to teach my kids how to shoot with iron sights once they outgrow their bb guns. It's also my first "project gun." And if they ever confiscate firearms this is going in a hole in the yard coated in axel greese in a PVC tube with a case of wolf ammo. I'm really pleased with this rifle, it has more character than any of my others.
I disassembled it an noticed a few things. First, there is a very small amount of fine surface rust in the corners of the receiver, but no pits or anything serious. Second, the inside of the stock is not coated in whatever was used of the outside of the stock, just bare wood. Its really dingy in there, kinda like the floor boards in my Dad's barn beneath where the tractor sat for the last 50 years.
My questions are:
Whats a good way to take care of the little amount of surface rust present? Will soaking it with WD-40 and swabbing it out work or should I try something else? I thought of steel wool but am hesitant to use this on the finish. Any suggestions?
Second, should I coat the inside of the stock or just clean it out and leave it bare wood? I'm going to cover up the scratches in the outside with a coat of polyurithane. Was the inside surface left bare for any particular reason other that haste of assembly?
Third, what should I use to grease up the parts before I reassemble it to prevent corrosion? I split my time between Idaho and the coast of Alaska and am worried about the damp salt air.
Thanks all in advance. And thanks to those who recommended the rifle on a thread I started a while ago, I'm very pleased with it.