News flash: Minwax Wipe-On Poly doesn't strip cosmoline very well

[1KPerDay]

I am such a moron. In preparation to finally strip the cosmoline out of my Ishy 2A enfield, I bought a bunch of supplies, including steel wool, a can of mineral spirits, wipe-on poly, stain, etc.

Poured the mineral spirits into a plastic bucket, dumped the small parts in, and began scrubbing them and also the wood with a toothbrush, etc.

I was somewhat surprised to find that the water was still beading on the wood after several good scrubbings... I even took photos of it as evidence of how much cosmoline had soaked into the stock...


so today, after sanding the wood a bit, using hot water and scrubbing, etc., I stained it with some nice rosewood water-based stain. Looks pretty good. So after it dries, I go to open the can of wipe-on poly and to my surprise, it's almost empty.

the similarly colored, but much larger can of mineral spirits, on the other hand, is completely full.

sometimes I wonder how I manage to get dressed in the morning without help.

:banghead: LOL

 

[Brian Dale]

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Okay, anybody who's never done that, or something just like it, raise 'em up!
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{the sound of crickets chirping}
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Anybody?
.
Bueller?


Thanks, 1KPerDay.

 

[CNYCacher]

Oh man. Thanks for sharing, that is a good story.

 

[koginam]

Brylcreem is not toothpaste and yes alcohol was involved.
for those to young to know Brylcreem was the hair cream for men in the 50's & early 60's and came in a tube, and no it doesn't taste like chicken.

 

[strat81]

Ouch.

Did you attempt to remove it yet? Depending on what you bought, solvent should get it off. I used a water-based poly on my workbench and brake cleaner eats right through it.

 

[1KPerDay]

Brylcreem is not toothpaste and yes alcohol was involved.

LOL

No, I haven't tried to remove it. The small parts were eventually boiled/cleaned with hoppe's and the large metal parts stripped with brake cleaner/solvent and oiled. Surprisingly the liquid poly did dissolve some cosmoline... it turned muddy brown as I cleaned. The stock was scrubbed with dish soap and hot water, and sanded a bit with 220. The painted-on rack number remains, as do all arsenal stamps. I'm sure some poly remained, but it took a nice rosewood stain. At least IMO. I'll try the final coat of poly tonight... if I have enough left. I should have just left the wood well enough alone.

 

[foghornl]

Sargent's Brand "Flea & Tick" Spray does NOT function well when applied as "Gillette Right Guard" should be used....


Never mind HOW I know....I just know

A 50/50 mix of Ivory Liquid Soap and Water is NOT a good engine oil detergent additive.

 

[1KPerDay]

A 50/50 mix of Ivory Liquid Soap and Water is NOT a good engine oil detergent additive.

 

[DoubleTapDrew]

Haha! It happens to everyone from time to time (some of us more than others)!

Brylcreem is not toothpaste and yes alcohol was involved.

Well, it could've been worse...

 

[1KPerDay]

forend stripped, should have left well enough alone

guts mostly clean; today I spent another hour getting the remaining cosmoline (and poly ) out of the receiver.





labeled the screws so I wouldn't forget which was which...



cleaning the small parts and stocks in "mineral spirits"

Wow, there sure is a lot of cosmoline in this wood... look at the water still beading. :banghead:





After staining and 2 coats of wipe-on poly




Didn't like the gloss so i knocked it down with a light sanding of fine steel wool...

 

[1KPerDay]

 

[PavePusher]

Wow, very nice results despite the ummm... mix-up. I really need to get mine done too. Then get someone to tweak my extra mags so they'll feed correctly.

By the way, how did you get your mag apart? I can't seem to figure out the bottom plate removal...

 

[1KPerDay]

It took a lot of swearing and a couple of firm whacks. You need three hands.