Mineral Spirits

[u/JuiceYHM]

I'm awaiting the arrival of my SKS and I've been gathering the things I'll need to clean up the cosmoline. However I can not find mineral spirits anywhere. But I found this jug that says it's a substitute. Anyone ever use something similar?

Also did Canada ban spirits or something? Because everywhere says out of stock except substitutes.

Thanks in advance.

[u/lunchbawkz]

I just cleaned one of the ones I got from Tenda last month. I just used boiling water to clean it all and a heatgun for the stock. Took a solid evening but no toxic chemicals used.

My first SKS I had years ago I cleaned with mineral spirits and it was a big pia for me, especially in winter time. The hot water method took just a bit longer but it wasn't a bad experience at all.

[u/JuiceYHM → u/lunchbawkz]

I may have to do this. I live in a condo so I'm not super excited for fumes I was going to do most of the spraying outside on my balcony (extremely well covered balcony so no one can see me) but I've been reading a lot about hot water and letting the metal parts sit in a container in the hot water for a bit.

Thanks mate!

[u/lunchbawkz → u/JuiceYHM]

That's one of the reasons I did it with hot water this time. I don't want to be in my garage with it being -15 degrees in there, and I didn't want fumes in my kitchen.

Literally two aluminum trays from Dollorama, my electric kettle which I already had (or get a cheap $8 one from value village), and a ton of q-tips and some CLP and it was really easy. The first tray I let them sit in hot water for an hour, then transferred them over to the second clean pan to do another pass. I think all in it took 4 hours of me faffing around, but I was doing multiple passes in the same spot with my kettle on the barrel and receiver just to make sure it was all clean.

Edit: the pans were on my stovetop and I let them sit at medium heat pretty much the whole time

[u/JuiceYHM → u/lunchbawkz]

Thanks for the input I'm likely going to just try it this way first now. Can't wait I'm excited to take it all apart. It's my first gun so taking my time will be good to figure it all out and appreciate it.

[u/EnvironmentBright697 → u/JuiceYHM]

I got high as a kite once cleaning cosmoline off of an SKS with mineral spirits in my basement in the winter once. Started feeling pretty weird until I realized I should probably open the door for fresh air despite the cold. Do not recommend unless you’re gonna do it entirely outside.

[u/JuiceYHM → u/EnvironmentBright697]

Yeah I think I'm going to skip on the Chems and use hot water and WD40 lol. High from paint thinner is not the high I desire lol.

[u/Fc1145141919810]

This "mineral spirit substitute" works just as good as the original stuff. I have achieved very good results with this stuff mixed with tung oil for furniture refinishing.

But cosmoline-wise I'd still recommend hot water only because of less mess to deal with.

[u/JuiceYHM → u/Fc1145141919810]

I'm going to do the Hot-Water and WD40 method and see what I can do. Appreciate the information.

[u/Parking_Media → u/Fc1145141919810]

Sucks for cleaning brushes though you have to buy one of the centrifugal spinny things

[u/SpectreBallistics]

Canadian Tire has it.

Personally I just use WD40 and a rag. It seems less harsh.

The only part you really need to clean well is the bolt to make sure the firing pin isn't stuck.

[u/JuiceYHM → u/SpectreBallistics]

WD40 on the metal correct? That helps remove the cosmoline? Interesting.

Yeah I found a video on how to work on the bolt/firing pin. No slam fire from me friend. 😂

[u/SpectreBallistics → u/JuiceYHM]

Cosmoline is just waxy grease. Anything that works on oil or grease will remove cosmoline.

[u/JuiceYHM → u/SpectreBallistics]

Thank you for sharing, Appreciate it. I already have WD40 so that helps.

[u/Brandon_awarea]

These new imports are much less difficult to clean than the older Russian ones. I found hot water and scrubbing was enough on all 4 of mine

[u/JuiceYHM → u/Brandon_awarea]

Roger that. Good to hear. Thanks

[u/Remarkable_Vanilla34]

A paint and grease remover will be avalibe at your local auto store, home hardware, that's pretty much what minerals spirits are used for, thinning certain paints and removing grease or solvent based paints. It's probably overkill for what you're trying to do. I would just look at some kind of degreaser or aerosol solvent. Like others have said WD40 or something like that, it'll be easier to control, and if it doesn't work, you can step up from there.

[u/ComradeGordgiev]

just use heat brother i used a hair dryer and a pair of heat resistant work gloves and it literally just melts off

[u/Barbarian_818]

The Solvable line of chemicals, carried by Canadian Tire, Home Depot and Home Hardware are all made by Recochem. There is a recall on paint thinner (which is what mineral spirits are) because they do not have the proper chemical labeling. They got the US label applied at the factory.

Recochem Recall

[u/GroundGuy88]

Canadian tire sells it

[u/JuiceYHM → u/GroundGuy88]

All of them in my area have none.

[u/SlipperyBridge → u/JuiceYHM]

HomeHardware is where I got mine last time I needed some.

[u/JuiceYHM → u/SlipperyBridge]

I'll check them out the next time I'm out. Hopefully otherwise I guess I'll just use hot water 🤣

[u/zay70140 → u/JuiceYHM]

if you have access to a Cloverdale paints they should have it too

[u/Agent_1812]

any hardware store that sells paint, 1 litre should be plenty

[u/Elfishtitan039]

Canadian tire usually stocks it. Usually in painting supplies next to paint thinner.

Edit: I just double checked and that’s the exact same stuff I used and it worked perfectly.

[u/nax_91]

I have used brake cleaner to clean off cosmoline. Wipe off the excess with paper towel, gun patches for the bore, gas tube and small areas and then brake cleaner. Please make sure you disassemble the bolt and the firing pin, it needs to be free floating, nice and jiggly, it should move freely when you shake it, a dirty firing pin is usually the culprit for the notorius SKS slam fire. Enjoy your new purchase, a must have of any Canadian firearm owner.