Removing cosmoline

[ormachine]

Hi, I bought a JET lathe a couple years back and just had the starter motor fixed, ( bad starting capacitor ).

I noticed the cosmoline on the gears, and was wondering the best way to remove it.

What do you consider the best lube for the gears ?

Thanks, Ron

[JRouche]

Hi, I bought a JET lathe a couple years back and just had the starter motor fixed, ( bad starting capacitor ).

I noticed the cosmoline on the gears, and was wondering the best way to remove it.
Thanks, Ron

WD40 soaked rags. JR

[Forrest Addy]

Lighter (Ronsonal) fluid. Apply with a soft brush dabbing to soften the stuff into goo. Then wipe off withb shop towels. Lighter fluid is very flammable so be careful of fire but it is the best stuff. In fairness WD40 is about second best.

Regardless it take a little time. Give the solvent a chance to work. Rush it and you will only waste time by having to re-do it.

[Deus Machina]

On the gears, just wipe it off with shop rags.

For the nooks and crannnies, I use WD40 and a chip brush. I buy the WD by the gallon and pour it into a spray bottle, rather than using the cans. More cost-efficient, and you have the ability to dip and soak.

Spray it over a bucket, let parts that need it soak, wipe clean.

[x39]

Cosmoline melts at a very low temperature (around 125 deg. if I recall correctly), a heat gun will quickly remove the bulk of it.

[ormachine]

x39, heat gun sounds interesting. Does anyone else like/dislike this idea?

Forrest Addy, where would one purchase lighter fluid ?

Thanks for the replies, Ron

[Mike Burdick]

Elbow grease... and mineral spirits.

.

[Black_Moons]

Kerosene! Or napthonal, or wd40, all work about as well... though kerosene and napthonal like to leave a nice oily film after they dry, helps prevent rusting.. Iv read WD40 likes to leave a film that displaces oil afterwards.

[Video Man]

x39, heat gun sounds interesting. Does anyone else like/dislike this idea?

Forrest Addy, where would one purchase lighter fluid ?

Thanks for the replies, Ron

Otherwise known as "VM&P Naptha", meaning varnish-makers and painters naptha, usually avalilable in paint dept at Home Depot, etc. Lots cheaper by the quart than in those little lighter-refill cans!:)

[Arthur.Marks]

Question on this because I've always used Acetone, and it doesn't mix with painted surfaces and enameled engravings. In other words, it completely ruins them :( How does VM&P Naptha affect paint or enamel... no-go or just dandy?

[saltmine]

Back when I was a lot younger and dumber, I worked in a detail shop.
One of our customers was a Volkswagen dealer who had a problem. All of the brand new VW Beetles being delivered were still in their shipping trim. Volkswagen had applied a thick coating of wax to the painted surfaces and cosmoline to all of the brightwork. Their guys could just manage one VW a day with vigorous scrubbing and various solvents. The cosmoline was another challenge, it wouldn't come off. That's where we came in. Each VW was washed down with standard Stottard solvent (from a 55 gallon barrel) and run through our car wash. The cosmoline coated bumpers and trim was given an extra dose of solvent, then a high temperature pressure washer (yeah, a steam cleaner) was used to remove the cosmoline. The car was washed and dried, then taken back to the detail shop where the paint was buffed out, and a protective coating placed on all of the brightwork. With four guys working we could crank out 15 cars a day. Pretty soon, all of the European Import guys were contracting with us to have their cars prepped...and then along came the Japanese. Needless to say, we got pretty busy.
We soon found out that the Japanese brightwork wasn't as "high quality" as the German stuff, and sometimes blowing the cosmoline off would take the chrome with it.

[Carld]

What's it going to hurt with cosmoline on the gears????:confused: Just leave it there and put some thick grease on every now and then.

Picky, picky, picky.

[wooleybooger]

i use spray can carb or brake cleaner. watch your eyes and it will dry your skin. i bought a mil-surp rifle one time and the easiest way to clean the nooks and crannies,springs and small parts was with carb cleaner and brass brush.

[CCWKen]

I doubt that it's cosmoline. Probably some type of Chinese animal rendering--Maybe pig. :D Just about any mild solvent should work. I always used oil based paint thinner which is mineral spirits.

[Video Man]

Question on this because I've always used Acetone, and it doesn't mix with painted surfaces and enameled engravings. In other words, it completely ruins them :( How does VM&P Naptha affect paint or enamel... no-go or just dandy?
Use with caution on painted surfaces, it's a pretty good solvent.

[Arthur.Marks]

Thanks, Video Man. I guess all the good ones do! :) (too bad, tho-)