Gunsmithing How to clean off 65 year old grease?

[ArcticLight]

I bought a NOS buttplate for an M1903, came in teh green duct tape like wrapping, greased but the grease appears to be part of the buttplate.

I don't want to lose the original finish under the grease but it's hardened pretty well.


What's good to use? I've got stuff like goo-gone, lighter fluid etc etc - good or not?

 

[bohem]

Re: How to clean off 65 year old grease?

I make a 1 part cleaning solution and 3 part boiling water mixture of a cleaner called "Purple Power"

Simple Green in super hot water works OK too.

Get something that can take the heat of the boiled water and is large enough to stick the whole buttplate in there and submerse it.

Mix up the solution, drop in the buttplate, wait about 2-3 mins, pull it out and the grease will practically wash itself off.

 

[Victor N TN]

Re: How to clean off 65 year old grease?

It MAY be cosmolene. Cosmolene feels and looks like a cross between candle wax and jello. We used to use kerosene and a stiff paint brush to clean it off machine parts.

 

[ArcticLight]

Re: How to clean off 65 year old grease?

I'm going with the hot water trick, if it's cosmoline it's ancient old cosmoline!!!!

Usually cosmoline acted like vasoline sorta but this is old and sticky, not quite like grease so it probably was exposed to air....

Thanks!

 

[ArcticLight]

Re: How to clean off 65 year old grease?

That did the trick!!!

That lil trap door opened for the first time in 67 years

 

[bohem]

Re: How to clean off 65 year old grease?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ArcticLight</div><div class="ubbcode-body">That did the trick!!!

That lil trap door opened for the first time in 67 years

</div></div>

Glad to hear it

 

[Victor N TN]

Re: How to clean off 65 year old grease?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ArcticLight</div><div class="ubbcode-body">That did the trick!!!

That lil trap door opened for the first time in 67 years

</div></div>

Glad you found a trick.

 

[ArcticLight]

Re: How to clean off 65 year old grease?

FYI - I just used hot water, and wiped it down with paper towels.

WHen that was as clean as it couldg et, some shooters choice on a nylong toothbrush, and topped it off with Rem-oil - she looks brand spanking new!!!