[buyobuyo]

I picked up another Mosin this weekend, an M91/30. There is cosmoline in the sling, and I was wondering what you all recommended for getting it out. I tried scrubbing it with Simple Green, but it's not doing anything after getting the excess off. The thought of running thorough the washing machine based through my mind, but leather and mass amounts of water doesn't seem like a good idea.

 

[BobVZ]

I've soaked mine in two changes of mineral spirits(6hrs each) , blot w/paper towels and air dry. Then I re-apply neatsfoot oil to the leather if needed to prevent drying. If there are residual stains you can use saddle soap on the leather.

 

[buyobuyo]

I haven't used mineral spirits before. Does it give off a lot of fumes? Would I have to leave it outside to soak or can I do it inside?

 

[BobVZ]

There is a low odor type sold at hardware and paint stores that can be used indoors, but there is still some odor - alot like oil-based paint. I put the slings in a large coffee can with a plastic lid. Normally I hang them outdoors to dry. You could hang them in a bathroom that has a vent fan that exhausts air to the outside.

 

[jjk308 In Memoriam RIP]

Try lamp oil instead of mineral spirits. It's a highly refined kerosene and good solvent, and is available scented - bayberry is popular this time of year. I use it instead of kerosene in my homemade Ed's Red gun cleaner - stops the wife from complaining about the smell.

Best bet for treatment after getting the oil/grease out is to use a leather restorer made for car seats and furniture. I've found that neatsfoot oil itself will rot and smell bad after a while so i no longer use it.

 

[AZshooter]

TCE or acetone for really aggressive cosmo removal.

+1 on the No Neatsfoot Oil.

 

[uncle ted]

heat it with your wifes hair dryer and then wipe it clean as it oozes out, then apply some pecards antique leather dressing. some Cosmo in the sling isn't a bad thing it helps preserve the leather.

 

[buyobuyo]

Thanks for the ideas. It probably doesn't make a difference, but the sling is a nylon dog-collar sling. The cosmoline is in the nylon. The heat idea sounds like it maybe the simplest. Don't have a hairdryer, but I'm thinking about trying a disposable pan in the oven with a little water in it to help keep from burning anything.

 

[tribunicus]

i just wash it by hand in the sink with dish soap. i use baseball glove conditioner on all leather.

 

[caerlonie]

Dry-cleaning is an effective way to remove grease.

 

[Dancingchicken]

I had the same issue with the scabbard from a Lee Enfield 1907 bayonet. That thing was caked with cosmo. I had decent luck with laying it on the hood of my truck at the peak heat of the day then going back to it every hour or so to wipe up what had oozed out. Took about a week, but eventually I even got some of the original lighter-brown color back in the leather. Won't help much this time of year unless you are in Australia, though, mate.