Posted: 4/23/2007 2:20:04 PM EDT
I have about 20 AK mags and 20 Bren Mags that are covered in Cosmoline. The Cosmoline on the AK mags is like a wax on some of the mags YUCK!! . Is there a good way to get the cosmoline off other than 200 LBS of rags, 2 gallons of solvent and 10 hours of elbow grease? I live in a subdivision so I do not have a workshop where I can dunk them in Solvents and let them soak, besides what the heck do you do with the remaining solvent. You can not just dump it down the drain.... Do you know of any local places that would offer a service to "de-grease" them? Thanks! FNGfromGA out |
| Depending on how big the magazines are you can buy the one gallon can of Carb cleaner. The kind that comes with the basket for dunking parts. Or for bigger stuff buy more than one can and pour them into a larger metal bucket. Put the magazines in and let them soak overnight or all day. Take them out and hose them off with the hose. Make sure you get all the solvent washed off. If you have compressed air blow them off. If you don't, put them in the oven set at 200 degrees. DO NOT use Carb cleaner on magazines that have PLASTIC parts and or painted parts. Do not put magazines that have plastic parts in the oven. This carb cleaner is very smelly and is best used outdoors. Another method is to buy Purple Stuff or Simple Green. Mix it one to one with water in suitable size container. Submerse the parts for same time period as above. Then wash off with water and dry and oil. This method is good for magazines that have plastic parts. But, you DO NOT put aluminum parts in PURPLE STUFF. It will eat them. I don't know if Simple Green is safe for aluminum. |
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Big pot of boiling water + Zep Orange degreaser in a big Home Depot bucket worked for my AK mags. Let em stew a bit, then wipe the cosmo off with old tshirts. Worked great for me. The degreaser is safe since its just citrus oil based so you can dump it outside when you're done. |
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yep, any of the citrus based degreasers like Zep and Simple Green are easier to work with and can be used indoors or get all over yourself without worry. a citrus based degreaser, warm/hot water, and a plastic brush....you can even do it in the tub and a quick cleanup won't even hit the radar with Kitchen6. 
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So I have a stash of FAL, M14, and G3 mags. I'm finally getting around to getting the matching rifles (honest, honey, I need the rifle to make the mags work). The G3 mags are painted alloy, while the FAL and M14 mags are parked steel. Is there a method of cleaning that will work for all these mags (i.e. without stripping the paint off the G3 alloys)? Thanks, BoB |
brake cleaner eats park.. Dont ask how I know :) Simple green and aluminum are enemies as stated above. and Purple Power sold at walmart or HD would be fine. Or find a friend with a parts washer and leave them overnight. |
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FNG: I used a 5 gal bucket of what started its life as gasoline. I keep that 5 gal for Jeep related stuff cleaning parts just like this. Not sure how close you are to Marietta but you are welcome to come dump them in that. I keep that gas so I don't have to worry recycling it. Seth |