WD-40: Historical perspective as a Cleaner

[Brad Johnson]

WD-40 is kerosene based, thus the wonderful solvent properties. Light oils in solution give it what little lubricating and protectant qualities it possesses.

You can brew up a reasonable facsimile by adding a cup of Marvel Mystery Oil or ATF to a quart of kerosene.

Brad

 

[Seven High]

I know a locksmith that uses WD 40 instead of liquid graphite to lubricate lock mechanisms. He said that graphite is too messy and damages clothing, etc.

 

[Rinspeed]

WD-40 works good for spraying down the dirt bikes after they are washed. Other than thay I don't have a lot of uses for it.

 

[Rinspeed]

Double post sorry.

 

[Bob41081]

The active solvent in WD-40 is DMSO-dimethylsulfoxide. I used to have a boss who helped write the standards of the NACE. One of the building engineers(sp?) in our building was using WD-40 on the arthritis in his hand as it brought him some relief. My boss had me buy some pure DMSO for him.This was in the late 70's in a large oilcompany.

Bob

 

[dimmak]

Try PB Blaster, it smells bad, but works great......

 

[Rinspeed]

PB Blaster is awesome.

 

[dairycreek]

WD-40 is for the express purpose of displacing water. As someone has mentioned in a previous post it has hydrophobic properties but also has some hydrophilic properties as well. It both combines with and displaces water, particularly from metal. Its original purpose was to spray the surfaces of metal to protect if one were to get the metal wet or to displace water if the metal was already wet. Regardless of how it was employed it was always the intent of the manufacturer that the metal be wiped down, dried, and then lightly lubricated. WD-40 was never meant to be a permanent lubricant and should not be used expressly for that purpose.

 

[Zerstoerer]

Great for Blackpowder Guns

I don't use it for my modern guns but-
what works really well and is cheap is this:

After shooting a blackpowder gun with Goex or Pyrodex spray it with Windex - the blue window stuff. The black stuff will just come runnig out of the gun like water. Wipe off with paper towels then spray it with WD-40. Use plenty.

Back at home, dismantle the weapon, clean again with WIndex/WD-40 and wipe dry. Then apply some gun oil (Outers is good) for storage.

 

[shu]

yep, yep, and yep.
used to be in the office machine repair business. way back when, every now and then someone would bring in a typewriter (you remember those things?). "I cleaned it last month with WD-40" he'd say "because it was getting dirty inside. Now it's really sticking."

we'd sell him a new typewriter.

 

[Old Crow]

One thing I havent seen mentioned in this thread is the ability of WD40 to kill a primer pretty quickly....if they have re formulated it it might not be the penetrant it once was but 30 years ago if you wanted a wheel gun full of dead loads all you had to do was spray the gun down with WD and let it dry and load it.....I did it once with a M1955 Model 25 and all six bullets were duds the next time I went to fire it:banghead:

Havent made that mistake again-

 

[rick_reno]

I've used it. It's develops a sticky film if left on the gun for a long time. I don't like it as a gun cleaner/lubricant. It's good on bicycle chains.

 

[shecky]

I don't like it as a gun cleaner/lubricant. It's good on bicycle chains.

Hehe! Don't tell that to a bike enthusiast unless you want to get a earful. Those guys can get quite passionate about their chain lube!

I use it occasionally. Even on my bike chain!

 

[cliffstanc]

I've read that the best way to remove that sticky film of old WD-40 is to spray it with...more WD-40!

And then wipe it off, I guess, or you've got a whole vicious (or viscous ) cycle going there.

- Cliff

 

[EddieCoyle]

I've read that the best way to remove that sticky film of old WD-40 is to spray it with...more WD-40!

- Cliff

Exactly! Further up I posted a link to an older thread where I got a free M1 Carbine that had been liberally sprayed with WD-40 and put away for about 10 years. When I got it, the gun was locked up solid (as if it were dipped in varnish). I called the WD-40 Customer service line and they told me to buy a gallon of WD-40 (yeah, I know - big surprise) and soak it. I followed their advice and it worked.

The only reason I'll ever use WD-40 on a gun would be if a non-stainless steel gun got wet. Then I'd spray it down with WD-40 but then clean it at my earliest possible opportunity.

 

[Carl N. Brown]

Think of WD40 as leaving a thin film of wax when it dries.

Yes, the solvent in WD40 can kill primers. especially if
you spray the cylinder while loaded.

 

[George Hill]

prevents rust and corrosion, lubricates, and is an excellent bore cleaner.

They talking about Breakfree?

 

[aufevermike]

Great for using as a Halibut lure too. But don't tell anyone.

 

[Rinspeed]

Great for using as a Halibut lure too. But don't tell anyone.

I forgot all about that. I've sprayed it on my lures years ago and it does work.

 

[TimboKhan]

I don't think its worth a drink of pee as a lubricant or a cleaner for guns, but as a protectant, particularly if your gonna be leaving your guns cased for extended periods of time, I think its superior.

 

[EddieCoyle]

I don't think its worth a drink of pee as a lubricant or a cleaner for guns, but as a protectant, particularly if your gonna be leaving your guns cased for extended periods of time, I think its superior.

No it's not. Unless of course you define superior as "turning into an almost impossible to remove varnish that won't prevent rust."

 

[notennis]

Atlas Rocket

As an aside, WD-40 was developed to protect the skin of the Atlas ICBM. Tested at Vandenberg Air Force Base, which is routinely covered by the marine layer (fog), it turns out that the 41st water displacement formula provided the required protection. The skin of an Atlas is only about as thick of a dime. Any corrosion could result in a flight anomaly. The old timers told me (but unverified by documentation) that when the company decided to market it, that the name was changed from WD-41 to WD-40. Easier for consumers to remember.