M1grand match... has been submerged in flood

Longshot4 · June 27, 2021, 12:30 PM

A close friend had his basement flooded night before last. He is overwhelmed in issues... He asked me to clean and oil his M-1 grand match for him. It looks to have never been fired. it was 2 foot under water in a silicone sheath. It is clean but needs to be disassembled and oiled. It appears that he sprayed with oil. Stock has oil blotching saturation. I tried to soak it up into a paper towel. It helped but still blotched.

I'm looking for suggestions on removing oil from stock. I have it off of action. The wepen is like new.

Bill DeShivs · June 27, 2021, 02:16 PM

Garand.

FrankenMauser · June 27, 2021, 02:23 PM

To remove oil from the stock, you'll probably have to use whiting and bag it.
Apply the whiting, put the rifle in a puffed up black garbage bag, and let it do its thing.
Lather, rinse, repeat.

Cosmoline is commonly leached by baking in the sun. But most other oils don't respond the same way.

Longshot4 · June 27, 2021, 09:44 PM

I was able to remove most of oil stain using a rag with Isopropyl alcohol. So now The stock was made after 1953 according to wing cartouche. I'm not sure of the wood. It is a porous wood seams to be stained as walnut. Beach? When I saturated a rag and rubbed the stock to remove oil stain. Stain from the stock finish came off on the rag. I'm thinking of giving stock a sealer to restore to original finish.

Any one with a suggestion?

**Aguila Blanca** · June 27, 2021, 09:47 PM

Linseed oil.

Tung oil.

Longshot4 · June 27, 2021, 11:10 PM

Wow! Tung oil sure brings out the color of the wood. What was left from the oil stains just blended in. I put just a light coat on the stock to close the pores and pop comes the grain. I will let it sit a few days and hit it again with a light coat. That will give me time to study the re assembly. I stopped the take down when I got to the bolt. Hopefully I can dry it out more in the hot sun. Since I don't have any special tools for the bolt for take down.

Thanks for all input. Hopefully I will have a report of progress this week.

June 27, 2021, 12:30 PM	#1
Longshot4 Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2014 Posts: 868	M1grand match... has been submerged in flood A close friend had his basement flooded night before last. He is overwhelmed in issues... He asked me to clean and oil his M-1 grand match for him. It looks to have never been fired. it was 2 foot under water in a silicone sheath. It is clean but needs to be disassembled and oiled. It appears that he sprayed with oil. Stock has oil blotching saturation. I tried to soak it up into a paper towel. It helped but still blotched. I'm looking for suggestions on removing oil from stock. I have it off of action. The wepen is like new.

June 27, 2021, 02:16 PM	#2
Bill DeShivs Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 11,101	Garand. __________________ Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler www.billdeshivs.com

June 27, 2021, 02:23 PM	#3
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 26, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,770	To remove oil from the stock, you'll probably have to use whiting and bag it. Apply the whiting, put the rifle in a puffed up black garbage bag, and let it do its thing. Lather, rinse, repeat. Cosmoline is commonly leached by baking in the sun. But most other oils don't respond the same way. __________________ -Unwilling Range Officer -Unwilling Match Designer -NRL22/PRS22/PRO -Something about broccoli and carrots

June 27, 2021, 09:47 PM	#5
Aguila Blanca Staff Join Date: September 25, 2008 Location: CONUS Posts: 19,037	Linseed oil. Tung oil. __________________ NRA Life Member / Certified Instructor NRA Chief RSO / CMP RSO 1911 Certified Armorer Jeepaholic

June 27, 2021, 09:44 PM	#4
Longshot4 Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2014 Posts: 868	I was able to remove most of oil stain using a rag with Isopropyl alcohol. So now The stock was made after 1953 according to wing cartouche. I'm not sure of the wood. It is a porous wood seams to be stained as walnut. Beach? When I saturated a rag and rubbed the stock to remove oil stain. Stain from the stock finish came off on the rag. I'm thinking of giving stock a sealer to restore to original finish. Any one with a suggestion?

June 27, 2021, 11:10 PM	#6
Longshot4 Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2014 Posts: 868	Wow! Tung oil sure brings out the color of the wood. What was left from the oil stains just blended in. I put just a light coat on the stock to close the pores and pop comes the grain. I will let it sit a few days and hit it again with a light coat. That will give me time to study the re assembly. I stopped the take down when I got to the bolt. Hopefully I can dry it out more in the hot sun. Since I don't have any special tools for the bolt for take down. Thanks for all input. Hopefully I will have a report of progress this week.