WD-40 is not the firearm Cure-All

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I always kept WD-40 in our school programs and had to maintain MSDS sheets on it. WD-40 is almost entirely Mineral Spirits or "Stoddard Solvent". There is a tiny amount of lubricant and some fragrance added.

It makes a nice cleaner but a lousy lubricant. At home, I buy a gallon and place it in refillable, metal, pressure spray bottles. I don't have room for a solvent tank so I use a liberal spray of WD-40 to clean with, blow the parts dry with an air hose then lube with an appropriate product.

Flash
 
I have used it on the garage door. Seemed to work OK, but for anything finer or more complicated? No.

Jim
 
Years back when I got a customer that wanted a hot blue, instead of a rust blue, I used to send them out. The outfit I sent the parts to wanted them covered in WD40 for a day before you wrapped them up. Sure enough, in a day it was like the parts were coated in a waxey Elmers glue. But on the lighter side, someone mentioned using it to kill wasps. Have you tried the lighter and flame thrower affect yet?
 
Alright, I skimmed through the thread, and read a lot of interesting comments. I keep away from bluing since it does dissolve rust, and it will eventually dissolve the bluing as well since it is a form of iron oxide. As far as gumming up the action, I have never had this happen.
 
It has its place,;) it will hide (for a short time), major problems.It is not a lubricant. My previous job (had to leave, company was down sizing) I was maintenance supervisor (salary paid mill wright). We did most everything in house, I banned WD from the shop, it attracts dust, dirt, and makes sludge. Some of the guys swore by it, told em, use it all you want, just not in my shop.
None of my guns will ever have WD on them.
 
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I buy it by the gallon and use it liberally when I am shooting. Keep my gun wet with it and it keeps shooting no matter how dirty it gets. My sleeves are black and the hand and wrist get pretty dirty but when the day is done the guns get torn down and dumped in my can of cleaner, (mostly fuel oil, motor oil and ATF), Reassembled after I have had time to clean and blow them dry or wipe the parts down and then I use regular by golly genuine authorized greases and oils where greases and oils are supposed to go.

If I have to use WD-40 to keep them going in between regular cleaning I will, been doing it for 50 some years and I am still shooting the same 22 rifle I bought in 64 and the same 22 and 45 pistol I bought in 72.

Hunting in cold and/or inclement weather I clean my guns with a solvent like carburetor cleaner and reassemble clean and dry, no problems since a deer or squirrel hunt isn't going to be a 75 shot affair.

Douse it with WD-40 and store it no way but feel guilty about using it when other more expensive products are available nope? The old Bohunk in me says go with what works at the best price and WD-40 fits that niche quite nicely thank you. My traveling kit has basic cleaning gear, minimal tools and a can of WD-40 so sue me. I'd rather carry more ammo than a shoe box full of magic solvents, wondrous greases, healing salves, and fairy dust fortified potions.
 
WD40 is okay for its purpose, but not for lubricating firearms. It is used to take moisture out of metal, not lubricate the metal.
 
I love WD40.

1. It's inexpensive.

2. It works better and is cheaper than kerosene for cleaning cosmoline from machine tools.

3. If you can't get a diesel truck to start you soak a piece of paper towel with it and put in in the motor's air intake. As the carrier flashes off it acts as a starting fluid that is much less volatile and easier on the motor than starting ether.

I always have a can around for general cleaning of greasy / dirty wrenches and other hand tools, saw blades, etc.

Guns....no....there are far better products for cleaning and lubricating guns.
 
sprayed it in my air intake on my big truck makes it start right up.:)

as far as gumming up locks for a locksmith i think i would suggest WD-40 to all my customers:D and say business is gooooood.

helps start fires in a pinch:eek:

cant think of the time i used it on a gun unless to un-stick some thing i was going to clean properly afterwords.

oh it cleans tar and rubber of the paint on my car when i over exhilarate:D
 
Marlin recommends cleaning the 66 with break cleaner. Remove the wood. Spray the receiver liberally with the cleaner and blow it out. then coat with a good gun oil.

WD-40 is an extremely light weight Aliphatic Hydrocarbon. It is very close to mineral spirits. It is volatile and evaporates very quickly. The gunk build up is the heavier petroleum distillates which do not evaporate. These residues combine with the residue from propellants and form the lacquer finish which is found on the action.

I do not use the material on my firearms.
 
WD-40 is good in a pinch for some things. For example, I was out hunting in the woods with a Savage 30-06 while it was snowing. The first thing I did when getting back to the cabin was wipe it down and spray everything with WD-40 to prevent rust. I sprayed inside the bore, the action, trigger, barrel, everything. It did exactly what I wanted it to do - prevent rust.
 
Summary: Like any product, when used with rational thought and common sense, WD40 is good stuff.

Unfortunately, common sense ain't real common.
 
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