"RonB" wrote in message
news:S8add.5657$EZ.1493@okepread07...
I have seen quite a few grumbles here and there regarding removal of
cosmoline or other protectants from new tools. Some manufacturers
recommend kerosene.

The last few times I have used full-strength Citrus Degreaser with a lot
of success. These were citrus bike chain degreaser or full-strength
Advanage (not Advantage) degreaser sold by fund raisers nation-wide. Just
spread it over the table, rub it into thicker areas with fingertip
pressure (rubber gloves if sensitive), let it sit for 10 minutes or so,
wipe it off with a wad of paper towels. You might have to go over it
again to remove spots and residue, then wipe with a damp rag and apply
protectant. Advantages over kerosene:

- I think it works better
- Less messy
- Non-flammable
- Doesn't stink. In fact, it smells pretty good
- I have seen no signs of it going after paint like some petroleum-based
solvents.

Thought this might be timely. We should be well into the Christmas-hint
season.
Back in 1960. I had an after school job cleaning the cosmoline off a bunch
of WWII surplus tap cutting machines. We used a product called Stoddard
Solvent. It worked pretty good. Afterword, we dumped the used solvent in
the old dry creek behind the plant. A few years ago, I see that two
subdivisions that grew up along the route that dry creek took to the river,
have had to put in municipal wells due to pollution. I've wondered if that
could have been partly due to the solvent we dumped. As I remember, the
stuff didn't smell too bad.