Removing cosmoline

[b.hennick]

Someone asked me for a safe method of removing cosmoline from a WWII sword. I remember reading something about this but am at a loss for what the final resolution was. Can anyone please let me know what works safely to remove cosmoline from a Japanese WWII sword?

Thanks!

[Stephen]

was my first post on the new board, Opps works wonders.

[Stephen]

http://militaria.co.za/nihontomessagebo ... 059be069e2

[kusunokimasahige]

WOOOOOPSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

 

KM

[Stephen]

DONT STEAM YOUR SWORD!!!

[kusunokimasahige]

yeah i just read the full article......... my bad.......

 

GOMEN NASAI!!!!!!

 

KM

 

ill delete the link!

[Darcy]

They should try WD-40 first and see if it has the right effect. WD-40 is a mixture of mineral spirits and mineral oil, and both are reported to have positive effects.

 

There are several automotive products specially formulated for removing cosmoline, so he might want to make a trip to Canadian Tire to see. One is called Purple Power. Citrus based solvents also apparently may work.

 

WD-40 won't harm the metal, the others should be OK but "who knows.

[John A Stuart]

Hi, When we received new issue of rifles, FN C1 A1 at that time, they were covered in preservative and of course had to be cleaned. Standard procedure was to use gasoline. Worked great. This was on the parade square so no fire hazard. Leaded gas then, probably still traces in me. Naptha or white gas would have no possibly harmful additives. This certainly does not harm steel. John

[Brian]

Cosmoline is nasty stuff. The gun guys know it well, as many surplus rifles come caked all over them.

There are many ways to remove it, but you will have to take care with a sword, and properly apply liberal doses of oil afterwards to prevent any corrosion.

 

Cosmoline: A yellowish or light-amber colored ointment like mass, having a slight fluorescence, petroleum like odor and taste (do not taste it please). Similar to Vaseline in properties, appearance, and thickness. It is the residue obtained in the distillation of petroleum oils and then purified. Cosmoline is a homogenous mixture of oily and waxy long-chain, non-polar hydrocarbons. It can range in color from white to yellow and differ from one another in consistency and shear strength. Cosmoline melts at 113°-125° F and has a flashpoint of 365° F.

 

I use petrol or diesel to remove it. Other good methods are kerosene and Ronsol lighter fluid. All of these should be done outside in a well ventilated area.

be careful not to get there near any fittings that have any plating, as I don't know what they will do to soft metals.

WD-40 and other solvents work ok, but will take more time. Basically you need a degreaser. Remove the bulk with very hot water, and the rest with a solvent.

If you search google for "remove cosmoline" you will come across many pages on this. The best is to use common sense and try a method in a very small area to see the results.

As I said..be careful of fittings and any non-iron parts! Oil the blade properly afterwards and I suggest keeping them well oiled for a while afterwards to make sure no traces of any solvents remain to cause corrosion or rust.

 

Brian