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Military Firearm Restoration Corner

Parts Storage Advice


tinkerfive

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I picked up a few receivers the other day and after I get them cleaned up, I'm wondering how I want to

store them for the long term until the day years from now when I use one. I have containers like 5gal buckets with tight lids.

 

What I'm trying to figure out is a coating.

One thought would be to fill the bucket with oil deep enough to immerse the receivers but, I don't relish the idea of

fishing around in a bucket of oil when the day comes that I want to choose a receiver to build on.

My next thought is to dip the receivers in something like chainsaw bar oil since it has cling properties. Then once

coated the receivers can be stored away in the sealed buckets. When the day comes to choose one to build on only my

finger tips get oily.

Is bar oil excessive for the purpose? If I just hose the receiver down with light spray can oil, would that be enough for

long term storage when sealed in 5gal buckets?

 

HELP!

In a quandry

Tinker :huh:

 

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It depends on where you live.

In a dry area like mine, I would think that a coat of oil and sealed in a plastic bag would do for a few years.

In wet area, since we are talking years, I would get some PVC and end caps fill with oil and put the receiver in that.

Be sure to label(...don't ask why I said that. : ) and you are good till your grandson wants them.

 

karl

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I think the people that make ZIPLOC storage bags have a new vacuum bag thats fairly inexpensive. You can prep the metal then coat it with gun grease and vacuum seal it - no air, no rust. I have things like sights and gunparts stored in FOODSAVER vacuum bags. That would work well too.

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Why ATF Vs. a lubricating oil?

Any kind?

 

 

Tinker

I used a food saver bag and rust inhabitor(sp?) oil and seal the whole receiver without taking the air out of the bag, but try to get most of the air out. Then put in a ammo can and coat the rubber with grease. So far after 5 years, receiver looks great.

 

Rob

 

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Why ATF? I'm an equipment operator and heavy equipment is all hydraulics. ATF is a hydraulic oil. Stable at most temperature and pressure ranges with rust inhibitors and anti oxidants. I store my stuff in an unheated garage in a part of the country that can get very cold. If I want to take something out in winter, the ATF just runs off with an easy clean up. Motor oil tends to get like molasses. It is relatively inexpensive. And somewhere I read that it was developed as a substitute for whale oil. Dunno about that.

A mix of ATF and Marvel is even thinner.

I dont think it matters whether its Mercon or Dextron.

The Spec's idea is a good one using less oil.

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Tinker,

How about coating them with RIG and just putting each one in a freezer bag. You can roll them up tight to get most of the air out and seal them up. Put a rubber band around it to hold it tight and stack them up in one of your plastic containers. You can write on the siploc bags with a sharpie, telling you what's inside. RIG is almost as good as cosmolene and a whole lot easier to clean off. A gunsmith buddy of mine coats all of his reamers guages etc. with good old vaselene and they stay stain free for years. Some of his stuff sat for ten years without being used before I borrowed it and they were perfect. JMO

 

-dogz-

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You can't get much better then cosmolene. Don

 

Cosmoline's cousin Vaseline works as well only it costs less. I've got my only receiver coated with wax then a thin layer of generic dollar store petroleum jelly. Hot and dry where I live but evaporative coolers are hard on metal surfaces.

 

My opportunity to take a cheap shot at all you guys up north. Yesterday it was hot and dry alright. I had to use my truck's AC. Official temp was 80 but felt warmer. I thought about all you guys treading snow!!

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Cosmoline's cousin Vaseline works as well only it costs less. I've got my only receiver coated with wax then a thin layer of generic dollar store petroleum jelly. Hot and dry where I live but evaporative coolers are hard on metal surfaces.

 

My opportunity to take a cheap shot at all you guys up north. Yesterday it was hot and dry alright. I had to use my truck's AC. Official temp was 80 but felt warmer. I thought about all you guys treading snow!!

You're a dog AZ. Me thinking about going home the other night. 2wd don't cut it on these days. 12" < 24 hrs. Nothing compared to Kenny though.post-466-1233768392_thumb.jpg

Back to the question. I use an oil called supr-fine. Came in a kit with cold blue, cleaner and a stock finish. I use it for my cast iron surface plate which stays in my basement. We have pretty large humidity swings and the open pore iron never rusts. It's not covered or bagged. The oil is red, smells like some kind of fruit and is fairly thin. It's in the kit to neutralize the acid in the cold blue, but I use motor oil. I'll post the website where it is available. I got the kit at a local gunshow. The cold blue is awesome also.

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I know a couple mechanics who've got a part or two squirreled away, lightly oiled, wrapped in an oily shop rag, and stored in a plastic container. They claim it works.

 

Just an idea.

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Yea, that's true but. . . . . The good old "Black and Gold" victory is keeping us warm!

Sorry but I just had to respond! :lol:

 

PS: I felt like I played in that game. My heart will never be the same.

 

You got me on that one!! I'm still screaming at the tv over that 100 yard interception run. I hope the Steelies went home and froze their nuts off!!

 

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I store mine in cheap cosmo grease and zip lock bags. I have many kits I have picked up over the years and havent gotten around to building yet. Grease works the best, do a search on google for surplus cosmo and by some.

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Tinker, the site to see about the oil I was talking about is: mpi.websitewizard dot com. Or google Van's bluing. It's great oil, but will most likely be alot more expensive than tranny fluid or some of the other perfectly good ideas.

Ron

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You got me on that one!! I'm still screaming at the tv over that 100 yard interception run. I hope the Steelies went home and froze their nuts off!!

I was going to say something, but being from a record breaking team like mine I figured I stay quiet.

Don

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