MuttCat
.223 Rem
I use WD-40 to clean the rubber weather stripping around the truck doors and windows. Gets all the oxidized gunk off and makes that stuff look like new.
Internet propaganda. Let's talk about actual use.
WD-40 is not a penetrating solution or an oil at all. It is a water dispersant. Like any liquid, even water, it will lubricate till it dries. I clean M/L barrels with plain old water, when I'm done I use WD-40 to pick up any trace of water left behind, stand the gun up muzzle down till the WD is dry, no rust problems.
Robin
All "penetrating" oil means is super thin viscosity so it seeps through pores and cracks easily.
There just seems to so much argument over what WD-40 is.Okay?
WD-40 is not the best stuff to use though. It's good as a solvent but it's too thin to be a good lubricant. I think Ballistol does everything WD-40 can and also the things it can't.Who cares what WD-40 does or what it was intended for. I could care less if it was made as a sexual lubricant originally. It cleans guns and has been cleaning guns and keeping them in working order for years. It didn't all of a sudden stop working because Rem Oil came out.
I used to use breakfree followed by Mobil One after reading about it working better and being cheaper. What I found was when forced to use WD-40 one day, cleaning was easier with it. It also lubricates enough. There is no need for this excessive lubrication at all on modern firearms anyway.WD-40 is not the best stuff to use though. It's good as a solvent but it's too thin to be a good lubricant. I think Ballistol does everything WD-40 can and also the things it can't.
I find it odd you poo-poo Breakfree while espousing a product that isn't really intended as a gun oil.
I just think that the extreme thinness of WD-40 won't allow it to form enough of a film to prevent wear. I'd be concerned about premature parts wear. But maybe not I dunno.I used to use breakfree followed by Mobil One after reading about it working better and being cheaper. What I found was when forced to use WD-40 one day, cleaning was easier with it. It also lubricates enough. There is no need for this excessive lubrication at all on modern firearms anyway.
Oversees we ran our AR's dry after finding out quickly what oil and sand mixed together do and they worked fine. Dry Glocks run fine as well. There are guys that hardly ever clean their Glocks. They've been running dry with carbon in them and functioning like a top.
So if these firearms work well dry, a little WD-40 lubrication isn't going to all of a sudden make them cease.
Oversees we ran our AR's dry after finding out quickly what oil and sand mixed together do and they worked fine. Dry Glocks run fine as well. There are guys that hardly ever clean their Glocks. They've been running dry with carbon in them and functioning like a top.
One question. How can a substance be both water displacing and hydroscopic at the same time?https://lifehacker.com/when-should-i-not-use-wd-40-5891936
When Should I Not Use WD-40?
Adam Pash
3/09/12 4:00pm
Filed to: CROWDHACKER
529.5K
1664
WD-40 was first used by the military in the '50s to clean up Atlas missile parts. Today, it's used by people everywhere to clean up virtually everything in need of a gleam. But don't go spraying the stuff just anywhere. WD-40 can cause more harm than good to certain household items. The DIY enthusiasts at Stack Exchange chime in.
Photo by Jorge Barrios.
Question:
It seems like WD-40 can be used to lubricate just about any moving metal part. But is this true? Are there instances when WD-40 can be harmful?
— sharptooth (originally asked here)
Answer: Hold Up...
WD-40 isn't actually a true lubricant. WD stands for "water displacing" and its main use is as a solvent or rust dissolver.
The lubricant-like properties of WD-40 come not from the substance itself, but from dissolving components. And the effect doesn't last.
WD-40 can be a good substance to start with — it can help clean up rust or other grime. But depending on what you're working with, you should probably follow up WD-40 with use of a true lubricant such as one based on silicone, grease, Teflon, or graphite.
— Answered by Cody C
Accepted Answer: Firearms, Drive Chains & Gears
View attachment 45108
Firearms - You should never use WD-40 to clean or maintain firearms. WD-40 is hygroscopic and will attract moisture to the firearm which will result in rust.
View attachment 45109
Drive chains of any type - Because WD-40 isn't a lubricant, it really will not work well on drive chains of any type.
One question. How can a substance be both water displacing and hydroscopic at the same time?
So the WD-40 is absorbing as opposed to repelling the moisture? The term displacing is rather misleading in that case.
That's just an opinion blog written by someone. If you go to the WD40 website itself, it says right on there in plain English that it's safe and effective for firearms.https://lifehacker.com/when-should-i-not-use-wd-40-5891936
When Should I Not Use WD-40?
Adam Pash
3/09/12 4:00pm
Filed to: CROWDHACKER
529.5K
1664
WD-40 was first used by the military in the '50s to clean up Atlas missile parts. Today, it's used by people everywhere to clean up virtually everything in need of a gleam. But don't go spraying the stuff just anywhere. WD-40 can cause more harm than good to certain household items. The DIY enthusiasts at Stack Exchange chime in.
Photo by Jorge Barrios.
Question:
It seems like WD-40 can be used to lubricate just about any moving metal part. But is this true? Are there instances when WD-40 can be harmful?
— sharptooth (originally asked here)
Answer: Hold Up...
WD-40 isn't actually a true lubricant. WD stands for "water displacing" and its main use is as a solvent or rust dissolver.
The lubricant-like properties of WD-40 come not from the substance itself, but from dissolving components. And the effect doesn't last.
WD-40 can be a good substance to start with — it can help clean up rust or other grime. But depending on what you're working with, you should probably follow up WD-40 with use of a true lubricant such as one based on silicone, grease, Teflon, or graphite.
— Answered by Cody C
Accepted Answer: Firearms, Drive Chains & Gears
View attachment 45108
Firearms - You should never use WD-40 to clean or maintain firearms. WD-40 is hygroscopic and will attract moisture to the firearm which will result in rust.
View attachment 45109
Drive chains of any type - Because WD-40 isn't a lubricant, it really will not work well on drive chains of any type.
So you are just gonna take the company adcopy at face value? Of course it's safe, its gonna cause the thing to blow up but it's not the best thing to use for this application. Spray a little in your hand, then dab a little Ballistol in your hand, you will feel a difference in viscosity. Even more so with Breakfree. For lubrication you want a heavier weight oil, the more viscosity the better it protects. Also the more drag it causes so all things in balance but given that only a thin film is need in the first place drag isn't really a factor.That's just an opinion blog written by someone. If you go to the WD40 website itself, it says right on there in plain English that it's safe and effective for firearms.
No. I'm taking value at actual usage. My point was that anyone in the internet can say whatever they want.So you are just gonna take the company adcopy at face value? Of course it's safe, its gonna cause the thing to blow up but it's not the best thing to use for this application. Spray a little in your hand, then dab a little Ballistol in your hand, you will feel a difference in viscosity. Even more so with Breakfree. For lubrication you want a heavier weight oil, the more viscosity the better it protects. Also the more drag it causes so all things in balance but given that only a thin film is need in the first place drag isn't really a factor.
For all the things you like WD-40 for I think you would be better served by Ballistol. It's pretty decent at dealing with carbon fouling and it lubes well. Since its water soluble though of the gun gets wet it's best to wipe down and reapply.
No. I'm taking value at actual usage. My point was that anyone in the internet can say whatever they want.
Millions of people use WD-40 for their firearms. I have seen no ill effects firsthand with my father's guns and my own.
Yes I'm on the internet. I guess I can video myself cleaning with them and video myself shooting them for next 10 years and post it but those posts will be on the internet.Case in point