The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: Hazcat on September 01, 2008, 07:52:51 AM
-
I bought a pig sticker (bayonet) for my Ishy. REALLY COOL!
BUT the scabbard is full of cosmoline. It is metal and mostly leather. How do I clean the leather (especially the inside)? Any ideas?
-
My wife used to be a leathersmith and they always cleaned leather with a soap...can't think of the name of it anymore but it's made just for leather. Tack stores would probably have it. I'm not sure what cosmoline is though...oil based? Then you're in a different wicket.
-
Cosmoline is a polite name for grease! YUCK!
-
saddle soap perhaps?
-
saddle soap perhaps?
A good liquid saddle soap will help remover the cosmoline.
BUT, take it from this old cowboy, use a good leather conditioner afterwards - even saddle soaps will break the leather down. Rinse the inside well, then saturate with conditioner, then let dry. Should be clean and good to go another 50 years.
-
I read several different methods that work on rifles but they all sound like they would be bad for leather. The most popular is boiling water or a steam sprayer. It doesn't take a lot of heat to melt cosmoline. Also popular are a blow dryer, mineral spirits, brake cleaner, and other solvents. Hot water might not be too bad but solvents destroy leather. If you google cosmoline removal you may be able to find a good way for leather. There are lots of articles but of course they all seem to be about the guns themselves.
-
If you can find it (look in a boot store) get some "Bick's Leather Balm"...it's good stuff.
Clean with saddle soap, as mentioned above, then coat with balm...wait a few days and re-coat.
I've been using it on boots and holsters and sheaths for years.
Justin Boot balm works too.
-
Haz...Lexol was the name of the leather cleaner i was talking about. It's pretty good on greeazsy stuff, so it might work.
-
I read several different methods that work on rifles but they all sound like they would be bad for leather. The most popular is boiling water or a steam sprayer. It doesn't take a lot of heat to melt cosmoline. Also popular are a blow dryer, mineral spirits, brake cleaner, and other solvents. Hot water might not be too bad but solvents destroy leather. If you google cosmoline removal you may be able to find a good way for leather. There are lots of articles but of course they all seem to be about the guns themselves.
Haz came up with an Eco friendly way to clean the small parts, He put them in a plastic bag and hung them in the sun letting the heat do the work for him. ;D
-
Another fat should do very well at getting it out, just not to sure what it would do to the leather.( most leather cleaners are some type of fat)
-
I'm listening guys and mulling them over. ALL ideas are welcome.
THANKS to the replies so far.
Fat will breakdown petroleum?
-
I'm listening guys and mulling them over. ALL ideas are welcome.
THANKS to the replies so far.
Fat will breakdown petroleum?
No, but it will beat it like a red-headed step-child. ;D
-
No, but it will beat it like a red-headed step-child. ;D
How could you be so insensitive! I was an abused red headed step child. It is NOT a joking matter!
Do you never engage your brain before opening your mouth?
YOU, THE OWNERS AND MODERATORS OF THIS BLOG WILL BE HEARING FROM MY LAWYER!
-
GOTCHA! (http://www.clicksmilies.com/s1106/lachen/laughing-smiley-011.gif) (http://www.clicksmilies.com/s1106/lachen/laughing-smiley-014.gif) (http://www.clicksmilies.com/s1106/lachen/laughing-smiley-008.gif) (http://www.clicksmilies.com/s1106/lachen/laughing-smiley-012.gif)
-
HP Citrus™ offers a special blend of ingredients to provide a powerful, non-alkaline, no-rinse, cleanerdegreaser-
deodorizer with an organic bleaching compound that is color safe on all types of surfaces. It
has been formulated with stabilized hydrogen peroxide specially designed to synergistically work with
unique wetting agents and water softeners. HP Citrus™ contains no oils, caustics, harsh acids,
chlorinated solvents, petroleum solvents, silicates, phosphates, nitriloacetates, nitrates, or toxins. HP
Citrus™ provides cleaning professionals with several advantages over conventional cleaning products.
It is safe, versatile and environmentally responsible without sacrificing performance. HP Citrus™ is
safe to use for cleaning, degreasing, brightening and deodorizing floors, windows, walls, countertops,
cabinets, carpets, toilets, urinals, sinks, partitions, ledges, ceilings, concrete, terrazzo, quarr y tile, tile
grouting, garbage cans, dumpsters, grease traps, floor drains, garbage disposals, malodors, cooking
odors, light fixtures, mirrors, stainless steel, chrome, plastic, vinyl, glass, Formica, treated wood,
leather, rubber, appliances, desks, porcelain, porcelain enamel and many, many other types of surfaces
not harmed by water. It will effectively remove deposits of glycerine, Vaseline, tallow, inorganic
lubricants, synthetic fats, paraffins, fatty acids, laundry stains, blood spots, greasy deposits, food
residues, urine salt deposits and many other tough stains and deposits. It also is an effective odor
neutralizer against the toughest malodors in grease traps, drains, tile grouting, garbage disposals,
dumpsters, portable toilets and other places where unpleasant odors are found.
http://www.coastwidelabs.com/products/prodlit/PLS3350.pdf (http://www.coastwidelabs.com/products/prodlit/PLS3350.pdf)
Search on 'leather degreaser' or 'citrus degreaser safe for leather' for other options. Cosmoline is very closely related to vaseline. Citrus is generally safe, but try it in a small area first, as with all cleaners.
-
How could you be so insensitive! I was an abused red headed step child. It is NOT a joking matter!
Do you never engage your brain before opening your mouth?
YOU, THE OWNERS AND MODERATORS OF THIS BLOG WILL BE HEARING FROM MY LAWYER!
It's OK, Tab, I didn't mean anything by it, It was just a . . . .
Wait, it's from Haz.
Never mind.
8)
-
Thanks Fatman.
As many have said of the members here before, the range of knowledge is stunning!
-
Knowledge of the range too. ;D
-
RUN FOR YOUR LIVES>>>>>>>>The wordsmiths are invading! ;D
-
I once heard ... but never tried it ... was that cat urine is really good at breaking down grease.
First, give your cat a couple of salty sardines to eat. They will force your cat to drink extra water. After that, pick your little kitty up and give them a gentle squeeze to facilitate the process. Sometimes it may help to put their paws in warm water. Word of advice, be sure you are aiming him/her in the right direction and towards what you want cleaned. After all, you don't want your cat whizzing on you.
With your cat's help, soak object really good. If you have more than one cat, great. Do this with two or three for easier cleaning. Just remember to aim the little critter the right way. You don't want to have an negligent discharge of cat piss. Let said cat whiz dry and you won't have a care in the world left for the grease.
Prior to the squeezing and whizzing process, you will need to set up a camera so we can all watch the video. Good luck!! ;D
-
LOL!!!!!!!!!!
Here, try using my kitty..
(http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p78/hazcater/Fun%20Stuff/tigerDM2805_468x525.jpg)
-
Man ... that cat could clean a saddle and the interior of my Tahoe! ;D