Quick question and a pic

[blackhawk rock]

Below is a picture of the six new revolvers I bought. From the top going clockwise they are as follows. ASM Walker dated 78,
Pietta 51 Navy 36 cal dated 75, Euroarms 51 Navy 44 cal dated 77, Euroarms 51 Navy 36 cal 4" barrell dated 77, Uberti New Army 44 cal date coded 78 and ASP 61 Navy 36 cal dated 78. All of these have never been fired and only a couple have light handling marks. What is the best way to clean off 35 year old packing grease/glue My beautiful wife let me get these because she felt bad I was going in for back surgery. I have a wonderful wife.

[Crow Choker]

What a lucky guy you are! I've found in the past to take large amounts grease/oil off of metal, mineral spirits works good. Either by wiping with a rag or laying the gun/parts(minus the grips) in a bath of mineral spirits. After laying in a bath of it for a while, the grease will soften and/or desolve. Sometimes gentle wiping/scrubing with a rag and/or a soft toothbrush helps matters. Use a cleaning rod and patch on the bore and cylinders. After degreasing, blowing with compressed air and wiping with soft dry rag will take remaining min spirits off. Never have had any ill effects to any type of gun finish. Take care, mineral spirits is flamable, so don't do around open flames, use in good venilation. You may want to wear a pair of latex gloves too, as mineral spirits will 'suck' the oil from your skin giving them a whitish look. Will look like you've come down with leprosy! Best wishes on your back surgery. What a good wife-wish I'd thought of that back in 06 when I went in for major hand surgery-dang!!!! (although I do have permission to buy a new Carvin guitar when I decide how I want it built and what options).  

[Major 2]

I'd take the grips off and use WD-40
You can get a gal. if you like a soak the frame & barrels, blow them off with Air Pressure and soak again
...best thing is you can use the WD-40 over and over.
Then strain it through gauze and use it for 999 other uses 


no compressor ?   buy a can of Compressed Air ( Radio Shack ) about a $ 1.50

[blackhawk rock]

Thanks for the replies guys. I didn't want to hurt the finish on those case colored guns. The stainless stell New Army got cleaned with a can of starting fluid worked great. I was not sure if it would hurt the finish on the others. My wife is awesome, I have had a rough six months back in December I passed out running a table saw and did a number on my thumb. It took two surgeries on it so far and probably one more. The wife is the best. Once while I was in Afghanistan she bought me a Corvette for our anniversary. I love her . I digress. Thanks again for the help.

Greg

[Rich]

I would use Mineral Spirits.

[Wolfgang]

NICE batch of guns   

Brake parts cleaner is what I use to get the heavy oil off of brand new Italian clone.   It will take all the oiliness off. . . you must then lube it after wiping it clean.   

[blackhawk rock]

When I can get up and around I think I will give the mineral spirits a shot. It seems as if all of the parts are gummed up to include the wedges. Thanks for the suggestions.

Greg

[will52100]

Several good suggestions, I'd go with the mineral spirit soak as I generally have that in gallons in my shop and only spray cans of WD.  A container of some sort, take the grips off and let it soak for a couple of days, scrub with a soft bristle nylon brush and repeat till it's clean.

Some good looking irons by the way.

[wildman1]

I used a citrus based cleaner to remove dried on cosmolene from a Mosin, worked great. If ya get it on yer hands all it does is make em clean. WM

[Papa Irish]

"Goof Off" works for me.  Same thing in another brand is "Goo Gone"

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Be careful with Mineral Spirits.  It's like sniffin' gas or glue.  Make sure you use it in a well ventilated spot, like outside!