WD40?

[omega]

I use WD40 on my Russian M44 to displace moisture after using hot soapy water in the bore

[TheGood]

WD-40 is made to displace water. It's used on gun parts after hot-dip bluing/rinsing in water. The problem with WD-40 is that it also grabs water from the air and can become water saturated.

It's good to spray your guns down with it after getting damp/wet like duck hunting or hunting on rainy days, that will help get the water out of the pores of the metal. But after a good soak you should wipe down/clean and re-oil with a standard gun oil.

[hambam105]

The controversial use of WD40 on firearms has been settled for at least 35 years that I know of.

It is not about lubrication or exterior finish protection. It is about the adverse effects of WD40 exposer
to the single primer located at the base of each modern cartridge. So.....

For all those that believe differently are hereby allowed to use as much WD40 on their firearms as they feel necessary.


.

[wolfmann]

I have used it many times for a quick clean and go.
I have used it on my bikes and cars during winter storage up here in the mountains with no ill effects.

[DrjonesUSA]

No, absolutely not.
If it's SHTF time and literally all you can find is WD40, OK I guess.

But to choose it when you can select from a huge variety of purpose-made products?

No way.

Don't cheap out; buy a known quality CLP for your guns, unless you just don't care about them.

Eezox is my choice.

[bergmen]

From the company itself back in 1992:

"Mon Oct 19, 1992
WD-40 Company, P.O. Box 80607, San Diego, CA 92138-9021

Louis E. Repaci
Manager-Marketing Services

I would like to set the record straight and correct the erroneous information regarding the use of WD-40 on firearms. WD-40 is a lubricant, penetrant, rust preventative, moisture displacer and cleaner used extensively in the firearms industry on:

* Gun barrel (inside and out)
* Ejection mechanism
* Firing Pin and Magazine

WD-40 does not contain chlorinated paraffins or contribute to stress corrosion cracking of stainless alloys. WD-40 does not degrade into acidic byproducts under exposure to ozone.

WD-40 does not contain Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC's), HCFC's, Halon's, or 1.1.1 Trichlorethane (Methyl Chloroform); chemicals that are alleged to contribute to the depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer.

WD-40 is used exclusively at Trinidad College's School of Gunsmithing and Colorado for general gun care and maintenance as well as after the bluing process to displace the saltwater solution in order to prevent metal corrosion and rusting.

According to Professor Harold Thomason, WD-40 displaces water which is why it is used in the final stages of the bluing process.

1. For excessive powder build up use WD-40 as a cleaner.

2. If a case is used for storage, WD-40 is all the protection
required. Under these conditions WD-40 will protect the fire arms
for one year or more.

3. If WD-40 is used with teflon, silicone, graphite or grease,
softening of these type lubricants may occur. To correct this
simply flush with WD-40 to remove the gummy residue. WD-40
is all the protection required.

4. WD-40 may stain unfinished wooden stocks. WD-40 has no effect
on finished wood.

1061 Cudahy Place, San Diego, CA 92110. (619) 275-1400
Telex 312466 FAX (619) 275-5823"


Dan

[DrjonesUSA]

From the company itself back in 1992:

"Mon Oct 19, 1992
WD-40 Company, P.O. Box 80607, San Diego, CA 92138-9021

Louis E. Repaci
Manager-Marketing Services

I would like to set the record straight and correct the erroneous information regarding the use of WD-40 on firearms. WD-40 is a lubricant, penetrant, rust preventative, moisture displacer and cleaner used extensively in the firearms industry on:

* Gun barrel (inside and out)
* Ejection mechanism
* Firing Pin and Magazine

WD-40 does not contain chlorinated paraffins or contribute to stress corrosion cracking of stainless alloys. WD-40 does not degrade into acidic byproducts under exposure to ozone.

WD-40 does not contain Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC's), HCFC's, Halon's, or 1.1.1 Trichlorethane (Methyl Chloroform); chemicals that are alleged to contribute to the depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer.

WD-40 is used exclusively at Trinidad College's School of Gunsmithing and Colorado for general gun care and maintenance as well as after the bluing process to displace the saltwater solution in order to prevent metal corrosion and rusting.

According to Professor Harold Thomason, WD-40 displaces water which is why it is used in the final stages of the bluing process.

1. For excessive powder build up use WD-40 as a cleaner.

2. If a case is used for storage, WD-40 is all the protection
required. Under these conditions WD-40 will protect the fire arms
for one year or more.

3. If WD-40 is used with teflon, silicone, graphite or grease,
softening of these type lubricants may occur. To correct this
simply flush with WD-40 to remove the gummy residue. WD-40
is all the protection required.

4. WD-40 may stain unfinished wooden stocks. WD-40 has no effect
on finished wood.

1061 Cudahy Place, San Diego, CA 92110. (619) 275-1400
Telex 312466 FAX (619) 275-5823"


Dan

Huh.......well..........go figure.....

I still love my Eezox & have no plans, need, nor desire to switch.

I also still believe you are best off using a product that was formulated from the ground up specifically for firearms.

I mean; why not use WD40 in your engine or on wheel bearings? Right tool for the job....

Same thing I say to guys insistent on using 10W-30 on their guns. Can you? Obviously. Does it work? I guess.
Does that mean it's the best possible product for the job?

Heck no. But..... you do you.

Good info nonetheless.



Also; doesn't WD40 come almost exclusively in aerosol cans? No thanks for guns!

Huge mess....






.

[bohoki]

no damage but no real help

[WWDHD?]

Poke a hole in the can to pour the rest out!

And do what with it? For me the point of wd40 is to be able to spray it under pressure into small areas- of which it's pretty good for. IMO they need to work on their packaging & figure out a way to keep it spraying till the can is empty- or near it at least.
I've read CRC 5-56 is very similar to wd40. I might look for some of that & try it out. PB Blaster is really good at rusted/stuck fasteners.

[oddball]

WD40 is not the best long term preservative. What it is, is a water displacement solvent with a little oil. It's used to dissolve and flush away gunk and leave a very slight oil film. When used correctly, it is a good product.

The only time I specifically use WD40 for firearms to flush out the gunk in the barrels of my O/U shotguns; the plastic residual of wads and gunpowder and carbon builds up after a day of shooting clays. I spray liberally inside barrel, let it stew for a half hour, then brush and wipe out. THEN I use a proper CLP (Slip 2000) to finish the inside surface.

[-hanko]

Check out this guy's experiment page:

http://www.dayattherange.com/?page_id=3667

He compares 46 products, including WD-40, for lubricity and rust protection.

That so-called "test" was roundly criticized when it first hit the web. Tester's methods are not repeatable, the foundation of any real-life tests. His experiment is BS.

The author's method of checking friction has zero to do with firearms, and how they work.

Corrosion testing is not performed by exposing parts at the beach.

[RandyD]

This is not a scientific finding, instead it is just my anecdotal experience. When I was a kid, we did not have a lot of specific solvents, so I used Hoppes 9 and WD-40 a lot. When I was home, I was always cleaning my firearms. I just had a conversation with my cousin, and he was commenting that he remembers the smell of WD-40 every time he came to our house. I used those two solvents for decades and never had a problem. I especially liked how I could use WD-40 to blow out the unburnt powder in the small crevasses on my .22, and I used it on my trigger assemblies.

The easiest and most economical way to prevent corrosion in my opinion, is have a rag that has some oil on it. Do not use it to clean your firearms. Store it in a baggie, and use it to wipe your firearm on a weekly basis.

[jarhead714]

I use WD40 on my Russian M44 to displace moisture after using hot soapy water in the bore

[TheGood]

WD-40 is made to displace water. It's used on gun parts after hot-dip bluing/rinsing in water. The problem with WD-40 is that it also grabs water from the air and can become water saturated.

It's good to spray your guns down with it after getting damp/wet like duck hunting or hunting on rainy days, that will help get the water out of the pores of the metal. But after a good soak you should wipe down/clean and re-oil with a standard gun oil.

From the company itself back in 1992:


WD-40 is used exclusively at Trinidad College's School of Gunsmithing and Colorado for general gun care and maintenance as well as after the bluing process to displace the saltwater solution in order to prevent metal corrosion and rusting.

According to Professor Harold Thomason, WD-40 displaces water which is why it is used in the final stages of the bluing process.

Like I said before (in red). Thanks for posting the supporting letter, bergmen.

The 'WD' in WD-40 is short for "Water Displacement".

[sofbak]

^^^^And the 40 is for "formula attempt #40."