Don't use WD40 as a gun cleaner.
Don't put expensive Wilson Combat or Chip McCormick's in a wet tumbler to clean.
Don't put your expensive magazines in a food dehydrator.

 

Is this April 1st?

 

Yes, it cleans... like most of solvents, lube, oils, penetrating oils, kerosene, benzine, paint thinners, transmission oil, rubbing alcohol and pure water. If you want, you can use dish soap and it will work as well. But, do you really want to use them?
If you want your tools stay in good shape for a long time, use the proper cleaning solvents.

 

I use wd40 as a cleaner but lube with something more substantial afterwards.

 

This is the correct answer. WD40 contains mineral spirits (a mild solvent) and mineral oil (a mild lubricant) - the latter of which is the same thing in Johnson's Baby Oil. WD40 works just fine to clean firearms. The mineral spirits are highly volatile and evaporate almost immediately. The lube component - mineral oil - may be great for a baby's rumpus, but is a pretty poor lubricant for guns.

Bottom line (<< baby oil pun): while an all in one product like CLP may be easier, its perfectly fine to clean your gun with WD40. And then lube with something else.

 

I don’t use WD-40 but if it works that well as a cleaner and all of it is eliminated from the arm before lubricant is applied…why not?
I know of the discrepencies of using WD-40. It is difficult to argue with that kind of cleaning efficiency.

 

WD 40 is a water displacing solvent. THAT is ALL it's good for. It is NOT a lubricant and will turn to sticky gummy varnish over time in a gun. Flush it out and throw it away unless you still drive a car with a distributor in it.

 

Lol!

 

I am using as a cleaner. Still lube critical points. Didn’t realize the post was going to be so. upsetting to people.


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I am using as a cleaner. Still lube critical points. Didn’t realize the post was going to be so. upsetting to people.


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People are sensitive about their choice of chemicals. If you aren't using what they think you should be, they will let you know about it. 😆

 

Nothing to be upset about.
Each of us uses whatever works the best.
If WD40 makes somebody happy, let it stay this way.

Discussing firearm cleaners is like discussing which car is the best. Neverending story where everybody is right but most are wrong. 😂

Last year I was working on my 1911, polishing and smoothing it. Because the paste was everywhere I did it a good bath with Dawn dish soap. I cleaned it perfectly, dried and lubed... it had been working fine after that procedure. Am I going use it for cleaning? Nope, definitely no, but it didn't harm my pistol.

 

Last year I was working on my 1911, polishing and smoothing it. Because the paste was everywhere I did it a good bath with Dawn dish soap. I cleaned it perfectly, dried and lubed... it had been working fine after that procedure. Am I going use it for cleaning? Nope, definitely no, but it didn't harm my pistol.

Dawn is a great degreaser! I have used to clean some very grimy guns, whose finish had caked on filth.

 

WD40 will penetrate and kill primers. Don’t get it around your ammo. Rangemasters at my former agency would put misfires and damaged rounds into a pail of WD40 to neutralize them before disposal.

 

The assertion that WD-40 "kills" primers is an urban legend----no truth to it:

Box 'O Truth

 

No ****. Someone who has actually used WD-40 has something nice to say about it. Huh.

It's a great last ditch water displacer if you get your gun wet, and it's a handy solvent to blow out crud during cleaning. Just don't let it be the last thing you apply to your weapon, and don't rely on it as a long-term lube. It's not that hard folks.

And anyone that says it'll just dry out and gunk up your firearm is full of internet ****. Period.

 

A friend who worked as a missile technician at Robins AFB was also the program coordinator with the Navy. He said that the US Navy stopped using WD40 for anything. They had previously used it to clean, lube and preserve and it did none of those tasks well. They had a bad problem with corrosion when WD40 was used as a preservative and it's lubrication properties are almost non-existent. This was almost 30 years ago. A number of studies have demonstrated that other than displace water, it's not good for much else.

 

WD-40 is part of my cleaning regimen after shooting blackpowder firearms. First I use hot soap and water to dissolve the corrosive fouling, then WD-40 to displace the water and residue, then brake cleaner to flush out the WD-40. I finish with a thorough oiling. I never use WD-40 on my cartridge firearms.

 

That's a good regimen but you could simplify it by using Ballistol. It emulsifies with water and this mixture is a 'base' which neutralizes and washes away the corrosive salts. Then, you don't have to remove anything - the emulsion went everywhere water could go and when it dries, only the Ballistol is left behind. Then you can use straight Ballistol as your CLP, but if for some reason you delay this step, the gun is still protected for an indefinite period. This is for black powder as well as corrosive ammo. I find that Ballistol is the best thing to use on the AK and is good for wood, plastic and all finishes.

WD-40 has it's uses; I bought a used 'Regulator'-style 31-day wall clock a few years ago and it was reluctant to keep running. I took it outside and blasted the works with WD-40 and it perked up and ran fine for several years. it eventually gummed up and slowed down, so this time i hit it with some industrial-strength silicone spray - you should have seen the brown gunk that came out of it. So no more WD-40 in the clock, which after that treatment has been running fine for years and still looks new in the movement and springs. I guess I've had the clock for 20 years now and it was most likely made in the late 1960s. I don't think I would use either WD-40 or the silicone on a gun because most any spray lube is water-displacing.
A great WD-40 substitute that has none of it's drawbacks is Amsoil MP (metal protectant).

 

My cleaning dunk tank used WD40 and some mineral spirits for 15 years at my biz. It stunk. But it cleaned the heavy build up ok and was cheap. We would follow up with air to blow out the remnants and a field strip clean with #9, then lube with CLP for most guns. Not one complaint, ever.

 

I've been using WD40 for over 40 years, I've used it as a mechanic, machine shop or]perator, heavy equipment maintenance. When used as INTENDED, it works just fine. Yes, I've been shooting since I was about 8 years old, still have the first 22 my dad bought me, it still shoots and has been exposed to WD40 many times. It's a great cleaner, leaves a good rust protectant film. I understand why some like to use other products, why bash someone who uses something different...seems to be an increasingly popular 'sport' these days.

 

Oil and lube threads are like opinions and assholes. Everyone has at least two, and sometimes they stink.

 

agreed. These get meaner than caliber debates.

 

WD-40 is the WORST thing you can use in a firearm!

 

It's not a lubricant...at least not a good one. And it shouldn't be mistaken for such.

But it's a pretty darn good cleaner and rust inhibitor until you apply your choice of oil/lubricant afterwards.

I'm not saying it's the best option, but it's probably one of the cheapest and most readily available general shop potions out there.

It certainly isn't the worst thing you could spray on your firearm. I've used it all my life (accompanied by other potions), and I've never had a problem with corrosion. Ever.

I make it a point to keep it away from wood and primers, but it'll never harm your metal or finish. Quite the opposite.

Everyone has their own cleaning and maintenance regimen that (hopefully) works for them. But to claim that WD-40 isn't a viable cleaning solution is infuriatingly ludicrous, and I'm sick of hearing it.

 

I have a 357 that I used WD40 on for years. It started with a matte black finish. Now it has a nice brown tint.

It's rust for sure....but I like the look. Hopefully you will too.

 

I understand completely the issues with WD40 as a lubricant and perhaps as a cleaner, but is anyone using WD40 Specialist Corrosion Inhibitor? I have been told it is good for cleaning and protecting the outside of a firearm. The owner of Alchemy mentioned it in a YouTube vid. He states that it can be tough to find, but Amazon has it. He also recommends using it under the grips. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00631GWS4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

 

It’s in the automotive section of Walmart.
Not bad stuff. Better than the original for sure.

 

To my surprise, the literature that came with my Guncrafters .45 recommended using WD-40.

 

Ballistol does not displace moisture - it combines with it, which can be useful as posted above. Otherwise, I don't get the meaning of the post.

 

Just a little humor.

You said "most any spray lube is water displacing". I gave you a link to spray lube Ballistol, which of course is not water displacing.

 

Each his own. I have Liquid Wrench and Kroil for penetrating and loosening rusted fasteners and several gun oils for rust prevention. I haven't bought or used WD-40 in many years, too many rusted tools that I thought were protected by WD-40.

 

I'd say if tools (or guns) are rusting, they're being neglected. Hard to blame that on a single potion 🙅‍♀️

Different potions have different uses. I'd never rely on a single one for everything. I'm sorry if you thought WD-40 would prevent your tools from rusting. It likely won't if you neglect them long enough.

 

Worked for Coke for 21 years.
The old changers in side drink boxes worked great after spraying wd 40 on moving parts.
But yes but the wd40 would break down the plastic parts making them trash after a year or two.
I wouldn't use on any plastic parts, some grips other!
Knowing this no wd40 for me, with any plastic parts but still use it for others have 10 cans on my shelf.
The plastic parts would crack around the holes and fall off!

 

I've used it for 40 plus years, as intended, a Water Displacement Spray. Not a Lube, Not a Protectant... Other Products for that. If I am stoning a part a Quick Spritz and the Surface is clean. Kroll fo bad fouling, and Rem-Oil after the clean for lube. It's NOT a Lube, in fact, it attracts dust and crud if you leave it on the weapon... Just my 0.02 worth

 

I agree. It's a cleaner/solvent/water/crud-washer-outer first and a corrosion inhibitor second. Still not a lube. Water will lube a firearm better than dirt for a few seconds, and WD-40 is probably about the same.

At least WD-40 can help wash both of them out until you can CLEAN it.

I think most of the angst and misunderstanding about my viewpoint comes from the fact that I use compressed air to clean my guns. 99% of the WD-40 that I use ends up on the shop floor...along with whatever crud and moisture it washes out.

I'd hate to have to rely on a single solution, but if I had to live between the desert and the jungle, I'd probably want access to CLP and a dry lube like graphite. I think most of us (including me) are spoiled in that we've never really had to worry about it.

 

Marvel Mystery Oil, Sea Foam and WD-40 had their day in the sun.
Let the old icons rest in peace and take advantage of better products.

 

What is better than Sea Foam? I’m still using that and didn’t know something new came out. I’m asking honestly.

 

I keep a can of WD40 around for removing adhesive left from various stickers.