WD-40 who knew?

[omowasu]

Years ago when I worked as a machinist operating W&S Lathes, Bullards, and Bridgeports, WD40 was absolutely forbidden in the shop area. I guess that WD40 also displaces other lubricants and then eventually washes away due to the thin structure of the compound. Before you know it, the ways and cross-slides of the machines would start to lock up and/or corrode. And these were monster machines that took 480v 300a tri-phase power, machining parts that weighed in excess of 1000lbs. If WD40 can do that to a machine of that stature, I dont know that I would use it in my motorcycle engine?

[Diesel Kinevel]

Originally Posted by Trumpet

NO. [SIZE="4"]Do NOT use WD40 on firearms![/SIZE] WD40 can harm some wood finishes (grips etc). WD40 can also mildew if applied to a firearm and then put in a moist place (not that you would intentionally do that).

WD40 will eventually form a very had shellac-like film that is a bitch to remove. It will also eventually gum up actions.

For firearms WD40 is a shitty lubricant (I mean if it's such a great lubricant, put it in your car) and loses its lubricating effects after about 20 minutes. You would be better served with Hoppes gun oil than WD40. If you're going to use it for a firearm, keep it on the outside. Spraying the internals is an invitation for disaster.

Also, if anywhere near ammo it will get in there and effectively neutralize the primer (remember it is a penetrant as well). Not good.

Remember that lawsuit originating in Texas where this old feller, while seated in his pick up truck, shot himself in the foot when he jarred his rifle? Well, turns out that for years our unfortunate cohort had been spraying his gun down with WD40 and had never bothered to have it disassembled and cleaned. Like Bjordan740 says, it gums up and sure enough, the surface area between the sear and the safety became like a flat plane. This was the cause of the Remington discharging. Had the unplucky shooter bothered to take it to the gunsmith for regular inspection and cleaning, this could have been prevented.

It took two employees at the factory to separate the action from the stock - and this was after the gun was placed in the vise. Well, Remington lost even though it wasn't their fault. Sadly, the law firm and the negligent owner are both millons richer.

WD40 should ONLY be used on a firearm if there's nothing else and it's an emergency (dropped in salt water, etc). Be sure to thoroughly strip the firearm and clean properly ASAP. Heck, you're better off using kerosene in a pinch.

WD40 is great for door hinges and getting shoe polish off of counters, but NOT for firearms. There are much better lubricants out there specifically for guns. When it comes to firearms WD is like a "jack of all trades, master of none"


Rant over

Rich

point taken but I only use it to clean parts. It doesnt stay on the weapon and I do not use it on any of my firearms with nice wood stocks. I use the WD to clean off powder residue grime etc... then spray it w/ brake clean then a thin coat of hoppes

[Hammerhead]

Originally Posted by Trumpet

NO. [SIZE="4"]Do NOT use WD40 on firearms![/SIZE]

Heh... Hoppes and Militec for me.

[decesaro]

Originally Posted by omowasu

Years ago when I worked as a machinist operating W&S Lathes, Bullards, and Bridgeports, WD40 was absolutely forbidden in the shop area. I guess that WD40 also displaces other lubricants and then eventually washes away due to the thin structure of the compound. Before you know it, the ways and cross-slides of the machines would start to lock up and/or corrode. And these were monster machines that took 480v 300a tri-phase power, machining parts that weighed in excess of 1000lbs. If WD40 can do that to a machine of that stature, I dont know that I would use it in my motorcycle engine?

mmm where would it harm applying a thin coat to the outside of the engine to protect it for the winter hibernation ? It isnt like Im using it as a lube for say the chain or any moving parst ... "wd40 for cleaning the chain works great ,but sucks as a lube for it"

I do agree with you on not using it for a lubricant for moving fiction parts but as a cleaner, degreaser,and corrosion rust preventer nothing beats it in my eyes ....

[bhudson57]

Interesting post. I'm not a big fan of it, but I've only used it as penetrating oil. I've found others that work much better IMHO.

Bill

[Trumpet]

Originally Posted by decesaro

but as a cleaner, degreaser,and corrosion rust preventer nothing beats it in my eyes ....

Then you need your eyes checked

[punch]

Originally Posted by bhudson57

Interesting post. I'm not a big fan of it, but I've only used it as penetrating oil. I've found others that work much better IMHO.

Bill

PB Blaster, Kroil. These are both good penetrating oils. I use WD-40 as a solvent for all kind of cleaning (including firearms AFTER disassembly), but I nearly always wipe the part dry afterward and then lubricate with something actually designed to lubricate. And by all means, keep this stuff away from ammunition. As to cleaning firearms, most of the problems caused by WD-40 really have nothing to do with the WD-40 but rather poor cleaning and maintenance practices. When we used to clean semi-auto pistols after practice, we would remove the stocks (grips) from the pistol, remove the magazine and field strip the pistol, and then soak the parts (minus the stocks and magazine) in WD-40. We would then remove the parts and clean the pistol in the conventional way using Hoppes or whatever was in favor at the current time, and then lubricate the parts with gun oil before reassembly. Several times a year the more experienced people in the club would totally disassemble their weapons and inspect them, replace worn parts and do a complete cleaning. I followed roughly the same procedure for my revolvers, being carefull to remove all traces of any kind of solvent from the cylinder bores, particularly if the revolver was to remain loaded after cleaning. The problem comes from those cretins who think that a pistol can be shot for months and all you have to do is spray it with WD-40 and run a patch down the barrel. I've seen a lot of these jam in competition, and have little respect for the owners. When you abuse a 1911 Colt or a S&W N Frame to the point that it malfunctions, you had to work at it.

[decesaro]

Originally Posted by Trumpet

Then you need your eyes checked

What you mean ....

I just bought a '90 ducati paso from a barn last fall , after removing the fairings it was caked with grease and grime thru out the frame engine swing arm etc that was left there for many years. I started the project by covering all exposed electric and went crazy spraying it down with good old cheap wd-40 , waited sometime and used parts brushes to scrub it clean ... I wish I would of took a before and after cause it was unbelievable the difference...

Thank god they stored it all caked up cause if they wouldnt of it would of for sure been a rust bucket from sitting up north here ....

Another thing I do every late winter is coat all my snappy tools with it , it helps prevent that light surface rust that forms on them from sitting in the garage ...

To each its own I guess

[fpkjr]

Originally Posted by dyj48

Yeppers, 30 years ago, I used to use it on my bait to catch stripers in the bay...dunno if it works or not, but I usually caught em anyway....lot's of folks swear by em for fishing..

The reason it works for fishing is its petroleum base. Have you ever noticed when bait fish are in the area there looks to be a oil slick on the water? WD-40 is a fish attractant.. Personally, I don't use it, I think the harm to the environment far out weighs the fish catching capabilities IMHO. I fish mainly in Water Co. Reservoirs, no boats allowed, no live bait other than worms. Its our drinking water supply. All the good lakes in the area are Bridgeport Hydraulic Water Shed property, by permit only.

I've never felt the need to use in salt water, fishing for Blues and Weak and the occasional sea run brown trout.
Frank

[Trumpet]

Originally Posted by decesaro

What you mean ....

I just bought a '90 ducati paso from a barn last fall , after removing the fairings it was caked with grease and grime thru out the frame engine swing arm etc that was left there for many years. I started the project by covering all exposed electric and went crazy spraying it down with good old cheap wd-40 , waited sometime and used parts brushes to scrub it clean ... I wish I would of took a before and after cause it was unbelievable the difference...

Thank god they stored it all caked up cause if they wouldnt of it would of for sure been a rust bucket from sitting up north here ....

Another thing I do every late winter is coat all my snappy tools with it , it helps prevent that light surface rust that forms on them from sitting in the garage ...

To each its own I guess

I'm not saying WD doesn't do it, there are just other products designed to do those specific things and do it much better.

WD is fine for a fine coat on tools. Just not on firearms.

[Sandman]

Damn fine thread. Awesome, thanks!

[WTucker999]

Originally Posted by Diesel Kinevel

point taken but I only use it to clean parts. It doesnt stay on the weapon and I do not use it on any of my firearms with nice wood stocks. I use the WD to clean off powder residue grime etc... then spray it w/ brake clean then a thin coat of hoppes

Try electric motor cleaner (from an auto parts store) or "Gun Scrubber" from Wallie World....neither leave a residue, don't stink like brake cleaner, and they wash off powder residue and old lube. I'm still a fan of good old-fashioned Hoppe's gun oil...WD does gum up, and most of the guns I messed with were military derivatives (AR-15, HK's, Uzi, etc..) and seemed to work great with it.