Cheap alternatives for cleaning/caching?

[White Devil]

Does anyone know about other products that do just as well as Rem Oil, but are much cheaper? In particular, I was wondering about STP Lithium Grease. What about 140 weight Gear Oil for a field substitute? Anyone know where to find Cosmoline? I've seen several people talk about using brake-parts cleaner as a cheap alternative to Rem Oil. Can you buy just plain Teflon anywhere? Anyone with ideas on cheaper/better cleaning and long-term storage products please respond. Also, what tools are needed to take apart/put together most factory made AK's? I'm having trouble completely disassembling my AK's. Any tips?

[This message has been edited by White Devil (edited 10-01-1999).]

[TinMan99]

I have a recipe for long-term storage in metal-hostile environments, like burying your rifle in PVC pipe out in the woods somewhere kind of preservation. First, clean the firearm completely. Next, order a couple pints of Cosmolene from www.brownells.com. (http://www.brownells.com.) Heat one can on the stove, melting it. If your firearm is gas-action, plug the backside of the gastube and pour molten cosmoline down the barrel with the muzzle plugged. Let it cool and gelatinize. With warm cosmoline and a small brush, paint the insides of your action with cosmolene then paint the outside metal surfaces, coating it with a nice gooey sheath of grease. Wrap the firearm up in either wax-paper or plastic wrap. Wrap that again in sheet plastic and seal it up good with duct tape. Put the firearm in your PVC pipe, toss in a dissicent pack if you have one. Seal it up with the caps and silicon caulking material at the cap's seams. This is an extreme case long-term storage solution for no-maintenance storage or hostile environment storage, such as burying the rifle somewhere in the woods. If youre worried about a wood finish on a firearm, remove the wood and store it seperately. Wood doesn't rust but it can rot, so be careful to keep it dry.

TinMan99

[White Devil]

Thanks Tinman99, sounds like a winner. I was wondering where I could get some Cosmoline. I have searched a little on the internet, and asked my local army surplus store, but was unable to find any. Thanks for telling me how to get some. About the wood, could I just coat it with paste wax a few times? Would this work well enough for long term storage? I'd like to keep the gun in one piece, but if it's better to prevent the wood from rotting, I guess i'll keep the metal and wood seperate.

[col_kurtz]

Blanco Diablo,

If you are looking for a Teflon lube try Tri-Flow it is the best. I coated my guns with Tri-Flow wrapped in plastic and stuck them in Dry Gun bags from www.desertstorage.com (http://www.desertstorage.com) This also helps keep the wood in good shape.

[This message has been edited by Col_Kurtz (edited 10-13-1999).]