[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Question about WD-40 (Page 1 of 2)
Posted: 12/21/2008 2:11:59 PM EDT
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So I'm talking to my buddy at the range yesterday, and he says his father in law has a gunsmith who said "Never use WD-40 on a gun, that stuff is water based and can cause major damage!"
After seeing Old Painless's use of WD-40 on guns I started using it since it was so much cheaper than dedicated gun oil. But to my knowledge WD stands for "Water Displacement", and it was in the 40th try that they got the formula right. So if it is made to "displace water" and prevent rust, how could it be bad for a firearm? I told him to tell his father in law that his gunsmith is a dumbass. Am I right or wrong? |
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So I'm talking to my buddy at the range yesterday, and he says his father in law has a gunsmith who said "Never use WD-40 on a gun, that stuff is water based and can cause major damage!" After seeing Old Painless's use of WD-40 on guns I started using it since it was so much cheaper than dedicated gun oil. But to my knowledge WD stands for "Water Displacement", and it was in the 40th try that they got the formula right. So if it is made to "displace water" and prevent rust, how could it be bad for a firearm? I told him to tell his father in law that his gunsmith is a dumbass. Am I right or wrong? what I understand to bo correct |
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So I'm talking to my buddy at the range yesterday, and he says his father in law has a gunsmith who said "Never use WD-40 on a gun, that stuff is water based and can cause major damage!" After seeing Old Painless's use of WD-40 on guns I started using it since it was so much cheaper than dedicated gun oil. But to my knowledge WD stands for "Water Displacement", and it was in the 40th try that they got the formula right. So if it is made to "displace water" and prevent rust, how could it be bad for a firearm? I told him to tell his father in law that his gunsmith is a dumbass. Am I right or wrong? what I understand to bo correct Yes. I personally don't use it on firearms. |
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You are correct.
WD-40 is not "water based" and anyone that says it is, is .........wrong. 
I spent 32 years in an oil refinery and know a thing or two about oils and solvents. WD-40 is a great solvent and rust preventative. Look here for information on its ability to prevent rust: http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/GunTech/NewsletterArchive.aspx?p=0&t=1&i=503 |
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I have found thru experience that WD-40 is terrible at proper firearm lubrication and corrosion protection, it's a great cleaner that's harmless to most finishes, but should be wiped off and then apply a CLP type product. Look at the link I posted above and you will see that WD-40 is far superior to CLP type products as a rust preventative. I have been using it for 50 years, and I bet my guns look as good or better than anyone else on this forum. 
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The problem with WD 40 is that it will ruin your ammo, not the gun. It is a "Penetrant" and It will cause Primer failure and can contaminate the powder too. No primer spark, no powder bang... You know the rest. Yeah, I know the rest. But you don't.
Look here: http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot39.htm |
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IIRC, WD-40 is made from a fish oil base and is excellent at displacing moisture but not a real good lube. You do not remember correctly. It contains no "fish oil". Look at the MSDS sheet. It is petroleum distillate. Some of you folks need to actually know what you are talking about before posting.
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It displaces water and prevents rust. It's also a pretty darn good solvent, although there are much better out there, just not as convienent as WD-40 is. There are also far better gun cleaning solvents available as well. WD-40 is conveinent and easy and as long as you clean it all off your gun when you're done, AND lubricate properly. it's OK to use. What it is NOT, is a good lubricant. It will gum up with repeated uses without cleaning in between. Personally, other than in a pinch, I see no reason to use WD-40 on any of my guns. |
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WD-40 was first designed as a corrosion inhibitor for the all-aluminum skin of the Atlas missile.
The problem is that it leaves a thin film of oil behind. I've seen that film turn into a varnish over time, and eventually it will gum up the works of a firearm if not used then cleaned correctly. |
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I have found thru experience that WD-40 is terrible at proper firearm lubrication and corrosion protection, it's a great cleaner that's harmless to most finishes, but should be wiped off and then apply a CLP type product. Look at the link I posted above and you will see that WD-40 is far superior to CLP type products as a rust preventative. I have been using it for 50 years, and I bet my guns look as good or better than anyone else on this forum.
I checked it out "Old Painless" and I must say, I'm surprised by the results, I have used it mostly as a cleaner, didn't care for the corrosion protection ability, but according to that test it beats all the others. |
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I checked it out "Old Painless" and I must say, I'm surprised by the results, I have used it mostly as a cleaner, didn't care for the corrosion protection ability, but according to that test it beats all the others. I was surprised too. And the guys conducting the test too! No one expected it to do so well. But "opinions" don't mean as much as actual "tests". And, when tested, it works great.
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IIRC, WD-40 is made from a fish oil base and is excellent at displacing moisture but not a real good lube. You do not remember correctly. It contains no "fish oil". Look at the MSDS sheet. It is petroleum distillate. Some of you folks need to actually know what you are talking about before posting.
Thats why I said "If". 
I don't even own a can of WD-40. |
I cleaned an AR-15, Beretta PX4, and a Walther P22 last night with WD-40 and coleman fuel,-then I ran them under hot water. Let dry overnight, then lubed with CLP. Nice and clean.
I ran out of solvent so went with the WD-40. I used to carry a small can of WD-40 in an ammo pouch in the field. It was great for an emergency lube/carbon busting job. Also good on the gas system of an M-60, you know, the parts you're not supposed to lube .
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So I'm talking to my buddy at the range yesterday, and he says his father in law has a gunsmith who said "Never use WD-40 on a gun, that stuff is water based and can cause major damage!" Here's the problem! A lot of gunsmiths are ego tripping assholes who think that everything that comes out of their mouths is gospel cause they said it so it must be true. |
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The problem with WD 40 is that it will ruin your ammo, not the gun. It is a "Penetrant" and It will cause Primer failure and can contaminate the powder too. No primer spark, no powder bang... You know the rest. I don't think he submersing the weapon or ammo in it where that would be problematic. |
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I would not call WD-40 a "terrible" lubricant. There are better ones out there. I do not use it for long term storage lubrication.
It is a pretty good cleaner. This in my opinion is where WD-40 shines. If you are shooting a lot and do not have time to properly clean the pistol, rifle or shotgun. Spray a bunch down the barrel and in the action. Wipe it off and run a couple patches through the barrel and you are ready to shoot some more. It will clean some gunk out. It will lubricate some. A quick clean and an OK lube for right now!. When you are finished clean properly with a better cleaner and lube properly with a better lubricant. |
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This is personal experience with WD-40, my grandfather always had a can around, now I do as well. WD-40 works well enough, however when the temp drops below freezing, it will lock up your semi. WD-40 will not freeze under normal temperatures. Read the MSDS sheet. I hunted ducks in the 10s and 20s in my youth that were sprayed with WD-40 and they never gave me the slightest problem. |
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"Turns to a gummy varnish over time."
Umm! Yeah about that......................SO DOES ANY OTHER OIL BASED PRESERVATIVE IF ALLOWED TO DRY OUT!! "Rem Oil" was the worst i ever had do it that crap truns to outright tar,I quit using "Break -Free" after i had it on a .30-06 one deer season and the PTFE in it turned to flakes and the bolt froze shut and would not "break free", I had to take the rifle home and set it on the radiator for a half hour so it would turn to liquid again to get the bolt open to unload it. I have has extremly good luck and corrosion protection with "G96 Gun Spray" I have had guns sit for 8 months at atime in high humidity summers and not show any sign of corrosion. |
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Quoted: . WD-40 is a great solvent and rust preventative. right but what people fail to understand is that it is not a lubricant. it disolves lubricants and prevents rust, thats it. ive seen many cases where someone put wd-40 in motor bearings, then couldnt figure out why they burned up. |
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BTW, what old painless says is true it will not hurt your gun in the least(Just do not let it soak into your wood stocks, it will stain and soften the wood.
I used it for two diffrent guns hunting my first couple years out as it was supposed to rain and i forgot my gun oil both times but we had a can of WD-40 at camp and it worked. The guns were a Model 94 winchester and a sporterized .303 british. no problems whatsover. Also it is thin enough, you do not want it sloppy enough to get on and subsequently in to your ammos primer or bullet seat area it will sneak into the casing and keep you from going boom when you need to. |
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This is personal experience with WD-40, my grandfather always had a can around, now I do as well. WD-40 works well enough, however when the temp drops below freezing, it will lock up your semi. WD-40 will not freeze under normal temperatures. Read the MSDS sheet. I hunted ducks in the 10s and 20s in my youth that were sprayed with WD-40 and they never gave me the slightest problem. I and others have done the same, with nothing but trouble. |
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IIRC, WD-40 is made from a fish oil base and is excellent at displacing moisture but not a real good lube. You do not remember correctly. It contains no "fish oil". Look at the MSDS sheet. It is petroleum distillate. Some of you folks need to actually know what you are talking about before posting.
If that were the criteria for posting on here this place would be a ghost town. |
| I am not the kind to use just one product for cleaning,preventing rust and lubing. I like using a solvent, then a good lube/rust preventive. i do use wd-40 when I wash my guns in hot soapy water after corrisve ammo and let dry. Then I use wd-40 as the only time I am being liberal. Wipe down then clean/lube as normal. I carry wd-40 to the range just in case I have problems. |
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Also one thing to keep in mind is that with WD-40 and anything rubber over time will start to breakdown. Used to coat my jetski motor with WD after riding it in salt water and after a while I could cut the rubber hose lines with my finger nails.
What about using PB-Blaster ? It won't harm rubber seals or O-rings. |
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The problem with WD 40 is that it will ruin your ammo, not the gun. It is a "Penetrant" and It will cause Primer failure and can contaminate the powder too. No primer spark, no powder bang... You know the rest. Yeah, I know the rest. But you don't.
Look here: http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot39.htm Well OP, I do stand corrected. Thank you. I guess sometimes, no matter how many times you have been told something, It aint always so. 
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