The Myth that WD40 is bad for guns

[castile]

Castile, are you a gunsmith? No, you are not. I am. And I will tell you that WD-40 is not a good gun lubricant. I made a lot of money over the the years from people who think it is. Every year they'd spray WD-40 over the CLP I put in their guns they brought in because they they'd used WD-40. They'd usually accompany the gun with a story of how they missed the buck of a lifetime because the gun didn't go off. Then I'd disassemble it and find the inside gooped up with WD-40. I'd detail clean it, relube correctly with BreakFree CLP and lithium grease where needed, and write clearly on the tag, "DO NOT LUBE WITH WD-40!!!" Then I'd see them come in again after hunting season with a WD-40 gooped up gun. This happened many times, over several years, so it is not merely anecdotal.So keep lubing your guns with WD-40, people; your gunsmith is counting on it.......

I will add that I do use WD-40 as a fish attractant for ice fishing. The crappies go wild over it.

You are just wrong. And you gave the answer or part of it in your own anecdotal comment. Lithium especially the type used on car hinges and locks will if used in concert with WD will harden up and cause the problems you stated. Its not the WD. I had a ARE topper on my truck and the installer unbeknownst to me used Lithium grease. I then used WD as I have in all my locks on cars and trucks over the years. Over time about two months the lithium reacted with the WD and turned into an almost clay like substance. I had to disassemble the lock and deep clean it to get it working again. So it was a lesson in not mixing different based lubes. It absolutely does not gum up on its own. You stating that I am not a gun smith which you don't know and that you are which I don't know means little. You are trying to use a bully appeal to authority false logic.

 

[Dog Soldier]

I fear the audience wants a display of public punishment for Mr. Castle. It seems we had many different experiences with WD 40. I followed the black powder shoots for years. The B/P firearms are subject to aggressive rust and corrosion. Many shooters with high end custom rifles used WD 40 to protect their target grade barrels. I must admit I have been a fan of Duct tape and WD 40 for years. I have never seen any of the WD 40 varnish that is so admonished.

 

[cfullgraf]

My first hand experience with WD-40 is that it "dries" over time leaving a varnish or gum like substance behind. It is great for a short term lubricant, cleaner, goo gone substitute, water displacement use, and in a pinch a poor substitute lubricant/coolant for drilling. I never expect it last for long term lubrication or rust preventative.

I never use WD-40 on firearms unless the firearm has been drowned in water. I then dry out the gun and follow up with a proper lubricant.

I have also found some greases, even those marketed a gun greases, will flash off their lubricant leaving the clay compounds. This leaves a paste behind that will gum up the mechanisms in firearms. I can see mixing in WD-40 with these greases before the grease's lubricants flash off will make the mixture more liquid allowing the grease/WD-40 mix to flow into the nooks and crannies inside a firearm action. When the liquids dry, then there is quite the mess as the paste has migrated into the small cavities of the action.

I have been having good luck with synthetic tractor grease of late. It seems to stay in "greasy" state for at least a year or two before it begins to dry out.

This is but one data point. I am sure there are other lubricants out there that are quite serviceable.

 

[RX-79G]

I don't know if any of my guns have ever been exposed to lithium lubricants. Therefore, I'm not going to ever start using WD40. Thanks to Castile for the warning against WD40.

 

[castile]

I fear the audience wants a display of public punishment for Mr. Castle. It seems we had many different experiences with WD 40. I followed the black powder shoots for years. The B/P firearms are subject to aggressive rust and corrosion. Many shooters with high end custom rifles used WD 40 to protect their target grade barrels. I must admit I have been a fan of Duct tape and WD 40 for years. I have never seen any of the WD 40 varnish that is so admonished.

I have no problem if anyone does not like WD. Its not my preferred lube but I keep it on hand for cleaning and penetrating for a rust inhibitor. I use 3in1 oil for a top coat of oil to store or Rigs grease for longer term storage. WD also makes the new rust release penetrating spray. I have used it also have gun butter, rem oil and marvel mystery oil. have break free also. They all work well but WD is not expensive at 19 dollars a gallon and does a good job.

 

[castile]

I don't know if any of my guns have ever been exposed to lithium lubricants. Therefore, I'm not going to ever start using WD40. Thanks to Castile for the warning against WD40.

Lithium grease is not a good gun lube. If you don't like WD40 use 3in1 oil. Its a time tested great lube. Its been keeping sewing machines going for 100 years. Another good grease oil is the teflon the Military used back in the 70s and 80s. I still have a bottle I use on my AR. Works well. I stll use WD on my ar for cleaning. It will break down the carbon on a BCG and the tube like nothing else but for carb cleaner. Carb cleaner is a bit hot tough.

 

[RX-79G]

Lithium grease is not a good gun lube. If you don't like WD40 use 3in1 oil. Its a time tested great lube. Its been keeping sewing machines going for 100 years. Another good grease oil is the teflon the Military used back in the 70s and 80s. I still have a bottle I use on my AR. Works well.

And if 3 in 1 isn't available, there's always bear fat or olive oil.

 

[gunhack]

I've used WD-40 for cleaning and exterior protection, and Rem Oil for final lubrication, successfully for decades on many and various firearms .. just my opinion .. your mileage may vary ..

 

[Rule3]

What is the point of your comment? If you think its not a subject that needs comment or posting why did you comment on it? Did you not participate in what you are implying does not need discussion?

All you are doing is parroting the information from the WD 40 website and it's nothing new. I have no issue with WD 40 it is a fine product.
So is this a revelation or an Epiphany?

Their Specialist version is even better.

Two different issues involved. Corrosion resistance and lubrication, If it works for you then fine. There are a million snake oils out there to choose from

All that matters is that a person use something, use it often enough. I live in humid saltwater environment and know what works for me.

Here is pretty good evaluation that a person did and spent a lot of time and money on

http://ronkulas.proboards.com/thread/274/review-comparison-gun-care-products

 

[castile]

If 3in 1 is not available you need to come back to the United States. You live in BFE. The other thing about lithium is it attracts and holds dirt and grit. Its just not a good gun oil. I use it only on door latches, hood latches and door hinges and the like. I will use PB penetrating oil on other things that have a threaded or fine working parts. Pad locks ect. It works well on guns also.

 

[texagun]

I agree with 1KPerDay:

Looks to me like you came here looking for a fight.

Looks like you got up this morning and just wanted to start an argument. Or you forgot to take your meds.
There's no reason to be argumentative. You've stated your position and you got your responses. Some have agreed with you, some have not, at which you have taken offense. For me, I don't care what you spray on your guns. Have at it, but lighten up. Do your research and make an intelligent choice. It's as easy as that.
This is the Highroad....enough of the stupid arguments.

 

[castile]

Also on black powder nothing solvent based works. The only thing that works well is to draw a tub of hot water with dawn or some grease solvent soap. Clean the gun is as hot of water as you can and as it heats the metal and you remove it from the water the metal evaporates the water. Then put your oil of choice on the metal. I had several black powder guns for many years I shot and they looked like the day I bought them.

 

[castile]

I agree with 1KPerDay:



Looks like you got up this morning and just wanted to start an argument. Or you forgot to take your meds.
There's no reason to be argumentative. You've stated your position and you got your responses. Some have agreed with you, some have not, at which you have taken offense. For me, I don't care what you spray on your guns. Have at it, but lighten up. Do your research and make an intelligent choice. It's as easy at that.
This is the Highroad....enough of the stupid arguments.

You use a derogatory statement to complain about derogatory statements. LOL Hmmmm. If anyone has a hair you know where it sounds like you do. If you had something relevant to say about your experience with lube I may be interested. But to just gripe not really interested and easily dismissed.

 

[RX-79G]

If 3in 1 is not available you need to come back to the United States. You live in BFE. The other thing about lithium is it attracts and holds dirt and grit. Its just not a good gun oil. I use it only on door latches, hood latches and door hinges and the like. I will use PB penetrating oil on other things that have a threaded or fine working parts. Pad locks ect. It works well on guns also.

I use extremely uncontroversial motor oil. It lubricates the same as 3in1 but doesn't break down or gum up.

 

[HetchHetchy]

I have heard all this clap trap over 38 years of using WD for my you guessed it guns. All this crap about WD leaving behind a residue is bunk...

You're right. The out-and-out paranoia expressed by some regarding WD40 is pretty silly. It has its places. Cleaning, water displacement (WD) and as a light lube. If a different type of lube is needed, there are tons on the market.

 

[HetchHetchy]

It's a spoof but it's still funny:

​

 

[HetchHetchy]

I think WD-40 got a bad name with guns beginning with one infamous incident. Someone (maybe a LEO?) had carried a revolver for years. He occasionally sprayed it down with WD-40 (wiping off the excess.) He did this for a prolonged period without ever actually shooting the revo. Well, when it came time to shoot, the WD-40 had penetrated the cartridge through the primer hole and wetted the gunpowder. It then didn't go bang when it was supposed to.

Forget the horrid level of maintenance on the revo. Forget the lack of practice. That incident led to a lot of the hysterics we read about today.

 

[castile]

Another thing I have done that works well is clean the gun use WD and do a vacuum bag to seal it in. as long as the seal holds its like storing metal in nitrogen gas. I have seen some military parts stored in Nit. gas and years later they look like they were just made.

 

[castile]

I think WD-40 got a bad name with guns beginning with one infamous incident. Someone (maybe a LEO?) had carried a revolver for years. He occasionally sprayed it down with WD-40 (wiping off the excess.) He did this for a prolonged period without ever actually shooting the revo. Well, when it came time to shoot, the WD-40 had penetrated and cartridge through the primer hole and wetted the gunpowder. It didn't go bang when it was supposed to.

Forget the horrid level of maintenance on the revo. Forget the lack of practice. That incident led to a lot of the hysterics we read about today.

I have had good factory cart. that gets a bit of WD on them from time to time due to me spraying the mag. I have never had one foul but I can see if the case is not laqured or tight that oil could foul the cartdg. I shoot my defense ammo every two years or less and replace it. Its always worked for me. That said I would not spray ammo down with any lube. I have had 22lr get oil fouled.

 

[HetchHetchy]

So here's the story.

"WD-40's formula is a trade secret. To avoid disclosing its composition, the product was not patented in 1953, and the window of opportunity for patenting it has long since closed.[4][7] WD-40's main ingredients as supplied in aerosol cans, according to U.S. Material Safety Data Sheet information, are:

• 50% "aliphatic hydrocarbons". The manufacturer's website claims this ratio in the current formulation cannot accurately be described as Stoddard solvent, a similar mixture of hydrocarbons.[8]
• <25% petroleum base oil. Presumably a mineral oil or light lubricating oil.
• 12–18% low vapor pressure aliphatic hydrocarbon. Reduces the liquid's viscosity so that it can be used in aerosols. The hydrocarbon evaporates during application.
• 2–3% carbon dioxide. A propellant which is now used instead of the original liquefied petroleum gas to reduce WD-40's flammability.
• <10% inert ingredients.

Very interesting... I don't see anything above that would create a varnish residue. I don't know for certain, but I would guess that Ballistol is almost identical to WD40 except that one (Ballistol) is alcohol-based and one is naphtha-based.

 

[HetchHetchy]

I have had good factory cart. that gets a bit of WD on them from time to time due to me spraying the mag. I have never had one foul but I can see if the case is not laqured or tight that oil could foul the cartdg. I shoot my defense ammo every two years or less and replace it. Its always worked for me. That said I would not spray ammo down with any lube. I have had 22lr get oil fouled.

You bring up a good point. Hickok45 soaked (submerged) some factory ammo in WD40 for weeks if I remember. They then shot just fine...

 

[GBExpat]

Nice sarcasm, duly noted and dismissed.

Nope, I was not being sarcastic, I was simply being decent, castile. Chill.

You took time to craft and share with us a rather detailed post on a subject about which you seem to feel strongly.

I, otoh, have never really thought much about pro or con comments that I have come across regarding WD40 and firearms, as I have never used it much on mine. <shrug>

 

[Walkalong]

or olive oil.

Hey, that will actually work.

On another note, y'all try to tone it down and be nice, voice your opinion without taking shots at other posters. WD-40 threads, gotta love them.

 

[HoosierQ]

I use a lot of Stanley utility knives...the 99. You know, the box cutter. I like to store a lot of blades in the handle and have had some rust. I remember this particular one because it was a really old one with the brass hardware and without the interlocking front...it's an old-school one from the 50s. One time, loading one up, I slathered on the WD-40 because a) it was all that was to hand and b) I figured "why not?". I actually sharpen utility knife blades that I'm using on a ceramic stick. Keeps them cutting for a long time so I generally replace the blade when the tip breaks. So after a year or so, I open this guy up and all the blades were glued together with a varnish colored substance. Glued. Had to use acetone to break them apart. I am sure I could have pried them but I didn't want to mess up the edges.

Now, I am genuinely intrigued by the OP's assertion that the WD-40 liberated some other gluey gunk and that was what glued my utility blades together...not the residue of the WD-40 itself.

But now we're back. Whether the WD-40 introduces a varnish gunk or whether it liberates it from the area...gunk is gunk...and the outcome is the same. I have yet to come upon another gun oil that had this effect. Motor oil has not had this effect. EEZOX does not do this. In point of fact, I use these knives as my testing ground for gunking up.

Fortunately, I have not used WD-40 on a gun. If the OP's assertion is correct, and it may be, well there is nothing carrying around more goo than an old gun and I don't want WD-40 liberating it for me.

 

[Rule3]

Did you know that the oh so wonderful FROG LUBE is Coconut oil??

Gun cleaning/lube threads and how to clean reloading brass seem to generate so much interest and debate