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WD40 cleaner
- Thread starter bigmike
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jamesthomas
70 Cal.
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I use WD-40 when I clean the lock of my flintlock( spray action gets into the nooks) then I pour a little Alcohol over the lock to get rid of the WD-40 then oil with either bear oil or 3-in-1. I have never used it to clean my barrel, H2o and some Dawn cleans it right up then it gets treated with B-C Barricade never had a spot of rust.
Could not have said it better. I have been using WD40 for decades, metal, electrical, distributors, you name it, I have used it on it. One of the great water displacing, electro conductive, universal lubricants of all time and a pretty good non-corrosive solvent too.
ebiggs said:
The Earth's rotation has reversed.
Fellows, I would like nothing better than to be in agreement with all of you but the weight of such an occurrence would probably shift the space time continuum! :shocked2: I use wd-40 and am completely happy with it, after wiping the bore, I use the same patch to wipe down the entire gun. At the next range session, after the first shot I can clearly see a varnishing, or dry hard film in the pan where the blow out has not removed all of it. I rarely take the same gun out two times in a row, so the WD has had time to set up, but it does set up to a varnish like residue. I would assume the bore has the same coating. Again, I'm not complaining about the stuff, I like it and have found no rust in my barrels even after a couple years of not being used. I do swab out my bores pretty good before using, But it does leave a surface after evaporating.
Robby
Robby
I have tryed it i sprayed a patch and ran that one down thebarrel few times
but in the end i gone back to murphys oil soap and warm water and them patch or two soakedin cooking oil and few more dry patches
never had any trouble with rust but then again i live in a dry desert
I figured WD40 was ok but was an extra exspense
but i do use a bore brush witch realy speeds up cleaning
learned a long time ago keep thins simple and one doesnt need much fancy items do the same thing
only item i buy besides what in my kitchen for my ML is gun oil
but in the end i gone back to murphys oil soap and warm water and them patch or two soakedin cooking oil and few more dry patches
never had any trouble with rust but then again i live in a dry desert
I figured WD40 was ok but was an extra exspense
but i do use a bore brush witch realy speeds up cleaning
learned a long time ago keep thins simple and one doesnt need much fancy items do the same thing
only item i buy besides what in my kitchen for my ML is gun oil
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will5a1 said:
How does it get the water out of the bore?? I'm not opposed to the use of WD-40, but would advise caution to anyone that the "D" stands for "Displacement", and not "Disappear". It should never be used in place of or before attempting to completely drying anything, especially a bore.
I've never used WD-40 as a cleaner but there have been occasions where I couldn't immediately give my rifle a good cleaning so I just swabbed the bore with a few spit patches, couple of dry patches, then sprayed WD-40 down the muzzle just to forestall rusting until I could get around to doing a proper clean. A can of WD-40 lasts a long, long time in my shop not because I have anything against it but I just don't find that much use for it.
Bear Rider
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One real problem with WD-40 is that it is murder on stocks. It will attack first the finish, and then the wood itself, particularly in the lock and breech area.
Grandpa Ron
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My two cents for both the lock and barrel.
Wash with hot soapy water, rinse with hot water, dry with cloth or dry patch.
Spray with WD 40, remove a bit more crud, dry with cloth or run dry patch.
Oil with good gun oil.
I leave my last patch and ram rod down the barrel. It will show if rust has accumulated the next time you go to shoot.
Wash with hot soapy water, rinse with hot water, dry with cloth or dry patch.
Spray with WD 40, remove a bit more crud, dry with cloth or run dry patch.
Oil with good gun oil.
I leave my last patch and ram rod down the barrel. It will show if rust has accumulated the next time you go to shoot.
I was wondering if we would hear about Ballistol.
I use soapy water to clean the bore. I run a couple patches with WD40 to displace the water, although alcohol will do almost the same chore. I finish with Ballistol for the final cleaning and lubrication. Ballistol is an effective BP cleaner that does not harm the finish or the wood.
Its good to remember that we all seem to have slightly different methods to clean our guns. Its even more important to consider that they all work.
I use soapy water to clean the bore. I run a couple patches with WD40 to displace the water, although alcohol will do almost the same chore. I finish with Ballistol for the final cleaning and lubrication. Ballistol is an effective BP cleaner that does not harm the finish or the wood.
Its good to remember that we all seem to have slightly different methods to clean our guns. Its even more important to consider that they all work.
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As a retired State Police range supervisor, I have personally seen issued 870 Remington shotguns completely "frozen" by the use of WD40. I don't doubt your testing, and it doesn't happen in all circumstances. Our shotguns were stored in cruisers that were subjected to wide temperature swings from 100+ degrees, when parked all day in the sun, to cool damp temps at night. Our armorers could take down a shotgun or issued sidearm and determine immediately if WD40 had been used on the weapon. It was banned from use.
I doubt that it would have the same harmful effects if used only in the barrel, but there are many cheaper, better alternatives.
WD40 might be a great product for certain applications, but eventually it will dry and turn into something
like "bullbutter".
I doubt that it would have the same harmful effects if used only in the barrel, but there are many cheaper, better alternatives.
WD40 might be a great product for certain applications, but eventually it will dry and turn into something
like "bullbutter".
Billnpatti
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I use WD-40 when cleaning my muzzleloaders but onoly as a water displacer before oiling them. I suppose what you experiendced was the WD-40 acting like a penetrating oil and lifting some iron oxides, ect. out of the metal of the bore. Actually, I have no idea what the stufff was that came out of your barrel but iron oxides, etc. is just a guess. WD-40 won't do damage to your gun but personally, I never leave it in or on my gun. I use it to displace thte water from cleaning my gun and then wipe it completely away before applying a gun oil.
I hate to doubt what a man believes he saw. But, there is nothing in, or about, WD-40 that can cause the condition you describe. I have lived in your area and my present home is not too different than yours. Except for the accents. :wink: I owned a gunshop when in southern Indiana and saw many guns come into my shop for repair or trade that had the condition you describe. But the cause was not from WD-40, it was from the use of other lubricants. I used to carry rifles in my truck when I had my farm. They were treated very disrespectfully but never gummed up like you describe. I would look for other causes.
BTW: Only Kentucky bulls produce butter. :2
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When a State Police Supervisor says, "what in the h*** did you put in this shotgun!" not many responded with a lie. The answer was - WD40. We Kentucky boys prefer bullbutter to bullsh** anyday!
Years ago (70s) I belonged to a Gun club located in Tidewater Virginia. The club owned a number of "Loaner" trap & skeet guns.The gun vault was not climate controlled, but the guns were oiled before leaving till the next weekend.
At some point one of those responsible started spraying them down with WD-40 before storage instead of plain old gun oil. When the guns were removed from the vault the following weekend they were covered in a light rust all over. A couple had minor pitting to a previously undamaged finish. This went on for a couple or three weeks until one of the members, an area gunsmith observed the occurance and when he found out that the club was using WD-40 admonished those responsible in no uncertain terms. He related as to how many guns he had to "fix" for people that were simply gummed up with the residue from WD-40.
He implied that the extreme volitility of WD-40 would gather moisture as it itself evaporated when used in an environment of high humidity...
The club returned to using plain gun oil and the problem with rusting ceased.
In later years another instructor and myself had a running debate concerning this subject. I called the company and talked with someone to whom I explained our quandry. They did indeed agree that it was NOT recommended for firearms and agreed to send a data sheet so saying.
The chemical data sheet, when it arrived did in fact clearly discourage the use of the product on firearms, fishing reels and other small intricate devices.
Since the data sheet that someone included here has no mention of firearms let a loan anything else, I am guessing that perhaps they may have upgraded their formula over the years as the result of many complaints.
For those of you that have not had problems... well thats fortunate. However calling BS on the rest of us does not change the fact that there is substantial evidence over many years that WD-40 did cause problems and was banned for use by many organizations nationwide.
At some point one of those responsible started spraying them down with WD-40 before storage instead of plain old gun oil. When the guns were removed from the vault the following weekend they were covered in a light rust all over. A couple had minor pitting to a previously undamaged finish. This went on for a couple or three weeks until one of the members, an area gunsmith observed the occurance and when he found out that the club was using WD-40 admonished those responsible in no uncertain terms. He related as to how many guns he had to "fix" for people that were simply gummed up with the residue from WD-40.
He implied that the extreme volitility of WD-40 would gather moisture as it itself evaporated when used in an environment of high humidity...
The club returned to using plain gun oil and the problem with rusting ceased.
In later years another instructor and myself had a running debate concerning this subject. I called the company and talked with someone to whom I explained our quandry. They did indeed agree that it was NOT recommended for firearms and agreed to send a data sheet so saying.
The chemical data sheet, when it arrived did in fact clearly discourage the use of the product on firearms, fishing reels and other small intricate devices.
Since the data sheet that someone included here has no mention of firearms let a loan anything else, I am guessing that perhaps they may have upgraded their formula over the years as the result of many complaints.
For those of you that have not had problems... well thats fortunate. However calling BS on the rest of us does not change the fact that there is substantial evidence over many years that WD-40 did cause problems and was banned for use by many organizations nationwide.
Sperit de bois
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"Preserving your Antique Arms Collection" by David Arnold
Good source.. www.conservation-us.org select "Find a Conservators". list of conservators near you.
"331+ Essential Tips and Tricks:A How-to Guide for the Gun Collector" by Stuart C. Mowbray
Good source.. www.conservation-us.org select "Find a Conservators". list of conservators near you.
"331+ Essential Tips and Tricks:A How-to Guide for the Gun Collector" by Stuart C. Mowbray
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There is no "formula". It is a single, pure petroleum product. It is made by molecular manipulation.
The "volitility" statement is a puzzlement. That would mean it boils or evaporates easily. Dunno if that is true or how it applies to anything.
Enneyhow, I'm bowing out of this discussion. Trying to talk about WD-40 gets more passionate and wild than arguing religion. Or is being anti-WD-40 a new religion? :rotf: :v
