WD40 case lube

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You do realize that WD-40 is not a lubricant? WD stands for Water Displacer. It does indeed creep everywhere and is difficult to remove. Try smelling something you have sprayed with WD-40 after you have cleaned it. It soaks into the pores of brass.
It does contain about 10-20% oils, which makes it a very poor lubricant.

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why .... because I use WD40 for cleaning my firearms and it's always on the bench. Every specialized case lube I have ever used has gummed up the cases, WD40 does not.
 
Mick Boon said:
why .... because I use WD40 for cleaning my firearms and it's always on the bench. Every specialized case lube I have ever used has gummed up the cases, WD40 does not.
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You have obviously never used proper products like Hornady One Shot Case Lube. It isn’t gummy, has zero effect on powder or primers, and works great. WD40 may be useful for some things but it has no use around a reloading bench or for use on firearms. It’s cheap and comes in a blue can, that’s about all there is to say about it.
 
WD40 lubricates well enough to size cases, it's perfect for that. Many years ago I worked for the USAF, the one and only cleaner we used was WD40. That was 50 years ago and I have been using it ever since without a single problem. If you want to waste your money on other things then go ahead, it's no skin off my nose.
 
Mick Boon said:
It's perfect for resizing, try it and see for yourself.
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There are so many better, in so many ways, choices, that I would never try it for that, and WD-40. or other similar items, are not guaranteed to kill primers.

Two controversial subjects in one short sentence............is that what you were trying for?
 
This is obviously an intentional and unimaginative provocation thread including each subsequent post. But I’ll play along.

Be careful with WD-40 it’s label now cautions against using as a firearm lubricant.

Note—intentional misdirection. Can specifically says can use on firearms.
 
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We have enough threads on it's use as a firearm lubricant that I don't want to think about someone using it for case lube. Although I suppose it would work. Everyone has their favorite and I've never stuck a case with the RCBS stuff. But to each their own. After the 2037th discussion about WD40 as a firearm lube or how it dries and gets gunky, I got some glass slides and sprayed them with WD40, remoil, EEZox, CLP and something else I had sitting around. Left them in open air on the bench in a really dry basement with a dust cover about 6 inches above them to keep them from getting grime mixed in. After 6 months I got tired of them sitting there....none of the above dried out or became gummy in that time.
 
1-cavediver said:
You have obviously never used proper products like Hornady One Shot Case Lube. It isn’t gummy, has zero effect on powder or primers, and works great. WD40 may be useful for some things but it has no use around a reloading bench or for use on firearms. It’s cheap and comes in a blue can, that’s about all there is to say about it.
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This pretty wells sums it up.
 
I have seen what WD40 does to padlocks on customer's self storage doors. Nothing a grinder can't fix.......but they they have to buy a new lock. I can always tell where it is being used. There's a black streak anywhere they sprayed it......being it's a great attractor for dust & dirt......which I have to clean up after they move out. That constant experience for me keeps me from buying the stuff for anything I don't want gummed up especially my guns and reloading equipment. Not trying to enflame any one....am trying to warn.....may work at first....but you will soon regret it.

There is one other thought......they could have changed the formula.....secretly, sorta like Glock did with their Glock Perfect design.....and suddenly no more problems......;)
 
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We have to cut the OP some slack, he comes from a country that thinks a 110 yard field and 3 downs is football. Did I mention they celebrate Boxing Day?
 
GW Staar said:
I have seen what WD40 does to padlocks on customer's self storage doors. Nothing a grinder can't fix.......but they they have to buy a new lock. I can always tell where it is being used. There's a black streak anywhere they sprayed it......being it's a great attractor for dust & dirt......which I have to clean up after they move out. That constant experience for me keeps me from buying the stuff for anything I don't want gummed up especially my guns and reloading equipment. Not trying to enflame any one....am trying to warn.....may work at first....but you will soon regret it.
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Speaking of “enflaming,” decades ago I sprayed WD40 into the dwell window of a Delco distributor on a running GM car. Trying to get rid of rough idle I presumed was due to moisture.

You should’ve seen the flames shoot out but car kept running.
 
Mick Boon said:
WD40 lubricates well enough to size cases, it's perfect for that. Many years ago I worked for the USAF, the one and only cleaner we used was WD40. That was 50 years ago and I have been using it ever since without a single problem. If you want to waste your money on other things then go ahead, it's no skin off my nose.
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I like to hear this. Guys like you keep me busy at the gun bench. WD-40 is not a lubricant, cleaner, nor preservative. It's sole usefulness in connection with firearms is to help remove Cosmoline. Gun Scrubber or brake cleaner must then be used to remove the WD-40.

Recently, I worked on a Remington 760 pump that was so gummed up with WD-40 the slide could not be worked. The firing pin would not protrude when the trigger was pulled, and the hammer was slowed down considerably. The owner was a farmer, and like you, "...uses it on everything."

But, you do you, boo.
 
entropy said:
I like to hear this. Guys like you keep me busy at the gun bench. WD-40 is not a lubricant, cleaner, nor preservative. It's sole usefulness in connection with firearms is to help remove Cosmoline. Gun Scrubber or brake cleaner must then be used to remove the WD-40.

Recently, I worked on a Remington 760 pump that was so gummed up with WD-40 the slide could not be worked. The firing pin would not protrude when the trigger was pulled, and the hammer was slowed down considerably. The owner was a farmer, and like you, "...uses it on everything."

But, you do you, boo.
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Guess we don’t need a forum then, just an “ask entropy” column:)
 
Case lube has always been a hot button topic on THR. There is no doubt in my mind that a fellow could successfully use WD-40 as a case lube. Tumble it off afterwards and you will be GTG.

The other shortcomings of WD-40 have been pointed out and are generally valid, but do not apply to the OP's use of the product.

As for me, I'll spend a couple dollars extra and buy One-Shot. Unless its hunting ammo that might be carried in your pocket, you don't need to clean it off afterwards.
 
I'll stick to using Hornady One Shot or similar products for lubing cases. Yes WD40 is working or the OP but I will stick with lube that does not effect primers or powder.

And I will echo what @entropy said. I have had to work on a lot of firearms over the years from people using WD40 and or the old chlorinated brake/carb cleaners. WD40 will gum up while chlorinated cleaners will eat plastic parts like no ones business. Most of the time that I had to replace a plastic buffer on Marlin rifles was due to the owners using chlorinated cleaners.

I have used WD40 to remove cosmoline and also to clean guns when they have gotten wet. I always clean the WD40 off and wipe the entire gun down with a good gun oil.

I use to use WD40 on distributers but I also made sure to clean it off before trying to start the engine.

To each their own.
 
Oh Boy! Another WD40 thread!
I've used WD40 for a lot of things, but not case lube or gun oil. When I was doing a lot of salt water fishing I'd spray my reels with WD40 when I got home, then later a strip and lube. When I was working on construction equipment electrical systems I cleaned wiring and contacts with WD40. On occasion I squirted some greasy parts before steam cleaning. Some of the mechanics used it for a diesel starting fluid. A can of WD40 sits on my bench, but has it own specific uses.

For quite a few years I have used Mink Oil Boot Dressing Cream as a case lube. Never a stick case and clean up is a breeze (good on my fingers too). I've used it as a light lube on occasion, I have a can near my "gun working bench" and have smeared a bit on my semi-auto innards. A lot of reloaders consider costs and a can of MOBD lasts maybe 10 times as long as a can of WD40 and is cheaper too...
 
Hi. My name is Alfred. <Hi, Alfred> I too, in years past was an abusive user of WD-40. I used it on everything. After a while my life was in shambles. Guns were gummy. Hinges had black gunk running down the door, locks were sticky and my family almost left me. BUT WORSE, I started experiencing numerous misfires, failures to extract, to eject and to feed. And my friends didn't want to handle my firearms. Just as I hit bottom, a close friend, Lucas, an angel, appeared out of seemingly no where and introduced me to... oil. Real oil. And to resizing lube and for hinges & locks, to silicone. My life turned around almost at once. My family still left me over a drinking problem, but almost immediately I quit getting misfires. My guns didn't feel gummy. Failures went to almost zero. Doors, hinges and locks looked pristine and operated easily, noiselessly. Life had meaning again. While I still keep a very small can of the stuff to spray on garden tools to displace water after I use them, I've earned my 10 year chit just recently, met a wonderful lady and have become a competitive shooter. Life now has meaning again. I only hope I can repay Lucas by helping some other poor lost sole see the light.
 
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