remove smell from gun

Shadow9mm · November 23, 2022, 11:35 PM

So I recently acquired a PSA AK-47. The gun has a FUNKY smell, best guess is burnt machining oil. I cant quite put my finger on it. Trying to figure out how to get rid of the smell. I have already cleaned it, wiped everything down. Applied frog lube paste, which has kind of a minty smell. Hit all the parts with a heat gun to warm it all up and help the frog lube to adhere to the parts. Its a little better, but I can still smell it. Its like its in the metal.

Gotta say this is the first time I have run into this issue. I figured a cleaning with some good smelling lubricant would solve the problem. Any ideas?

**44 AMP** · November 24, 2022, 12:44 AM

Detail strip the gun. DEGREASE all metal with appropriate solvent. Seal all wood with something impervious (or replace wood with other wood)

Reassemble, check for smell. Lube properly and use.

I say seal the wood, simply because its easier. IF the smell is coming from something that has "soaked into the wood" you may never get it out, only seal it off.

Alternately, painting everything might cover up the smell...then you'll just smell the paint,.....

Bill DeShivs · November 24, 2022, 12:46 AM

Odors can't be absorbed into metal.
Take the gun out of the stock. Clean the metal parts with mineral spirits, then oil with something that's not stinky.
Check the stock to see if any old grease or oil is present and stinking.

Sevens · November 24, 2022, 01:51 PM

I can't help with chi-com stuff but I would stay MILES away from Frog Lube. When that stuff goes bad it turns all sliding parts in to S L O W motion machines.

I believe there is a fantastic triumvirate of horrendous fluids that should never be put inside firearms. WD-40, Frog Lube and Rem Oil. There are certainly others, but these are the ones that gunfolks goof with and they are bad.

Bill DeShivs · November 24, 2022, 02:21 PM

Nothing wrong with WD 40, properly used.

stagpanther · November 24, 2022, 05:36 PM

Does it have a fishy smell like tuna gone bad? I once had the pleasure of cleaning an old original JM marlin that had been abandoned in a garage for over 30 years and that sucker was a mess and reeked bad. My theory was it had been cleaned and lubricated with some kind of lube that had natural components--beeswax mixed with God know's what and it simply went rancid. Stuff didn't come entirely out with just a petroleum based solvent, either.

Shadow9mm · November 25, 2022, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stagpanther

Does it have a fishy smell like tuna gone bad? I once had the pleasure of cleaning an old original JM marlin that had been abandoned in a garage for over 30 years and that sucker was a mess and reeked bad. My theory was it had been cleaned and lubricated with some kind of lube that had natural components--beeswax mixed with God know's what and it simply went rancid. Stuff didn't come entirely out with just a petroleum based solvent, either.

Yes, kind of a fishy burnt grease smell. But is from the factory. Either the grease or lubricant, or machening oil

Shadow9mm · November 25, 2022, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sevens

I can't help with chi-com stuff but I would stay MILES away from Frog Lube. When that stuff goes bad it turns all sliding parts in to S L O W motion machines.

I believe there is a fantastic triumvirate of horrendous fluids that should never be put inside firearms. WD-40, Frog Lube and Rem Oil. There are certainly others, but these are the ones that gunfolks goof with and they are bad.

Never had a problem with frog lube when properly applied. Trick is to heat it to get it to adhere to the metal, then wipe of the excess. Never had it go bad, been using it for a few years now.

**44 AMP** · November 27, 2022, 01:41 PM

Remove front sight. Drag stinky AK out from underneath and throw away, Replace with "non stinky AK". Reinstall front sight.

Problem solved!!!

(and re-using the front sight is entirely optional,,,

)

stagpanther · November 27, 2022, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Yes, kind of a fishy burnt grease smell. But is from the factory. Either the grease or lubricant, or machening oil

I for one would be fascinated to hear what the response from PSA is--have you called them and told them their new AK was a stinker?

Shadow9mm · November 27, 2022, 06:16 PM

Well, I got to check zero on it yesterday. Standing braced on a tripod with iron sights it groped about 2in at 50yds but about 2in to the left.

However having fired only 3 rounds, as I am still looking for a sight tool. I think the ammo may be the issue. Its steel cased lacquered with a cyrillic head stamp. Smell was strong after firing those 3 rounds. I need to burn through that ammo next range outing. only have about 57round of the stuff. then clean the gun out again. Hopefully it will go away in time.

FrankenMauser · November 28, 2022, 02:03 AM

Give the rifle a detail strip and full douche and scrub with mineral spirits.
After that, stop firing combloc ammo that is loaded with propellant based on cow dung and sheep urine.

stagpanther · November 28, 2022, 02:32 AM

Quote:

Well, I got to check zero on it yesterday. Standing braced on a tripod with iron sights it groped about 2in at 50yds but about 2in to the left.

However having fired only 3 rounds, as I am still looking for a sight tool. I think the ammo may be the issue. Its steel cased lacquered with a cyrillic head stamp. Smell was strong after firing those 3 rounds. I need to burn through that ammo next range outing. only have about 57round of the stuff. then clean the gun out again. Hopefully it will go away in time.

Not all comblock bulk ammo is that bad--I've found Wolf polyformance to be excellent in my PSA AK.

Shadow9mm · November 28, 2022, 06:45 AM

Apparently is Russian produced BVA. Lead core non corrosive. But man is it stinkey. Thankfully i only have 57rnds of yhe stuff to get rid of.

**4V50 Gary** · November 28, 2022, 11:54 AM

@Shadow9mm - Does BVA stand for the refrigeration oil?

Shadow9mm · November 28, 2022, 07:46 PM

I think its best value ammunition.

November 23, 2022, 11:35 PM	#1
Shadow9mm Senior Member Join Date: March 21, 2012 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 3,975	remove smell from gun So I recently acquired a PSA AK-47. The gun has a FUNKY smell, best guess is burnt machining oil. I cant quite put my finger on it. Trying to figure out how to get rid of the smell. I have already cleaned it, wiped everything down. Applied frog lube paste, which has kind of a minty smell. Hit all the parts with a heat gun to warm it all up and help the frog lube to adhere to the parts. Its a little better, but I can still smell it. Its like its in the metal. Gotta say this is the first time I have run into this issue. I figured a cleaning with some good smelling lubricant would solve the problem. Any ideas? __________________ I don't believe in "range fodder" that is why I reload. Last edited by Shadow9mm; November 24, 2022 at 12:18 AM.

November 24, 2022, 12:44 AM	#2
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,846	Detail strip the gun. DEGREASE all metal with appropriate solvent. Seal all wood with something impervious (or replace wood with other wood) Reassemble, check for smell. Lube properly and use. I say seal the wood, simply because its easier. IF the smell is coming from something that has "soaked into the wood" you may never get it out, only seal it off. Alternately, painting everything might cover up the smell...then you'll just smell the paint,..... __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

November 24, 2022, 12:46 AM	#3
Bill DeShivs Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 10,986	Odors can't be absorbed into metal. Take the gun out of the stock. Clean the metal parts with mineral spirits, then oil with something that's not stinky. Check the stock to see if any old grease or oil is present and stinking. __________________ Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler www.billdeshivs.com

November 24, 2022, 01:51 PM	#4
Sevens Senior Member Join Date: July 28, 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 11,756	I can't help with chi-com stuff but I would stay MILES away from Frog Lube. When that stuff goes bad it turns all sliding parts in to S L O W motion machines. I believe there is a fantastic triumvirate of horrendous fluids that should never be put inside firearms. WD-40, Frog Lube and Rem Oil. There are certainly others, but these are the ones that gunfolks goof with and they are bad. __________________ *Attention Brass rats and other reloaders:* I really need .327 Federal Magnum brass, no lot size too small. Tell me what caliber you need and I'll see what I have to swap. PM me and we'll discuss.

November 24, 2022, 02:21 PM	#5
Bill DeShivs Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 10,986	Nothing wrong with WD 40, properly used. __________________ Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler www.billdeshivs.com

November 24, 2022, 05:36 PM	#6
stagpanther Senior Member Join Date: March 2, 2014 Posts: 11,790	Does it have a fishy smell like tuna gone bad? I once had the pleasure of cleaning an old original JM marlin that had been abandoned in a garage for over 30 years and that sucker was a mess and reeked bad. My theory was it had been cleaned and lubricated with some kind of lube that had natural components--beeswax mixed with God know's what and it simply went rancid. Stuff didn't come entirely out with just a petroleum based solvent, either. __________________ "Everyone speaks gun."--Robert O'Neill *I am NOT an expert--I do not have any formal experience or certification in firearms use or testing; use any information I post at your own risk!*

November 27, 2022, 01:41 PM	#9
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,846	Remove front sight. Drag stinky AK out from underneath and throw away, Replace with "non stinky AK". Reinstall front sight. Problem solved!!! (and re-using the front sight is entirely optional,,,) __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

November 27, 2022, 06:16 PM	#11
Shadow9mm Senior Member Join Date: March 21, 2012 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 3,975	Well, I got to check zero on it yesterday. Standing braced on a tripod with iron sights it groped about 2in at 50yds but about 2in to the left. However having fired only 3 rounds, as I am still looking for a sight tool. I think the ammo may be the issue. Its steel cased lacquered with a cyrillic head stamp. Smell was strong after firing those 3 rounds. I need to burn through that ammo next range outing. only have about 57round of the stuff. then clean the gun out again. Hopefully it will go away in time. __________________ I don't believe in "range fodder" that is why I reload.

November 28, 2022, 02:03 AM	#12
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,424	Give the rifle a detail strip and full douche and scrub with mineral spirits. After that, stop firing combloc ammo that is loaded with propellant based on cow dung and sheep urine. __________________ Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.

November 28, 2022, 06:45 AM	#14
Shadow9mm Senior Member Join Date: March 21, 2012 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 3,975	Apparently is Russian produced BVA. Lead core non corrosive. But man is it stinkey. Thankfully i only have 57rnds of yhe stuff to get rid of. __________________ I don't believe in "range fodder" that is why I reload.

November 28, 2022, 11:54 AM	#15
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,841	@Shadow9mm - Does BVA stand for the refrigeration oil? __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

November 28, 2022, 07:46 PM	#16
Shadow9mm Senior Member Join Date: March 21, 2012 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 3,975	I think its best value ammunition. __________________ I don't believe in "range fodder" that is why I reload.