Jump to content

Recommended Posts

I've used WD40 to clean my shot guns for years how ever some one recently warned me it will degrade the solder used to join the rib to the barrels.

Is there any one on here that can confirm this or is it just a load of old bull?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well , it's not the best cleaner, it's not a lubricant and it's not a rust inhibitor.

While it will clean, it's best used as a water displacer, hence the initials WD.

 

It will evaporate and leave a sticky residue.

I've no idea about dissolving solder, but it is apparently made from fish oil

 

You can use it, but there's better stuff out there

If you want to continue using something like that, try GT85. That is a lube and also has Teflon in it

What's more, it's cheaper

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I avoid WD40 on rifles at all costs, if you prefer a spray product the Browning Legia Spray works well and is plastic and wood safe as well as perfect;y safe to use on all metal parts.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Lots of crap said about WD40, it won't eat guns or pull in water etc. Of course it is a lubricant as it reduces friction but there are better lubricants available. As a metal cleaner for guns there might be better but WD40 works fine. Nothing wrong with it just many that are envious of it's success on the market. Is GT 85 not also a WD40 product? I use GT85 mostly because it is cheaper.

edi

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My dislike of WD40 is purely based on experience. Many years ago I put away a set of very old carbon steel wood carving chisels for the winter period, they were liberally sprayed in WD40 to protect them as was the cotton pouch they were stored in, the following March I pulled them out for a job and was horrified to see they were covered in rust. Obviously a draw in an out building was not he right place however I have never forgiven myself nor used WD40 for any serious application despite still having a 5 litre container near full sitting under a bench here in the workshop. These days I use a good quality oil for such applications and have a workshop that is always heated in the colder months.

 

WD40 undoubtedly has its place however it did not work for me when I most needed it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Lots of crap said about WD40, it won't eat guns or pull in water etc. Of course it is a lubricant as it reduces friction but there are better lubricants available. As a metal cleaner for guns there might be better but WD40 works fine. Nothing wrong with it just many that are envious of it's success on the market. Is GT 85 not also a WD40 product? I use GT85 mostly because it is cheaper.

edi

 

Water can be a lubricant too, if it reduces friction

Having spent 20+ years in plant maintenance and used WD40 and GT85, I have a pretty good view of both

WD doesn't stay on for long, the other stuff does

 

They are both a poor mans gun cleaner though, the only gun cleaners you should use are the ones called "Gun Cleaner" and "Specially Formulated" with Milspec this and XYZ Din that and the more expensive and fancier the label the better

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Monkey,

 

to answer your question ignoring ther 'gun' bit - 'yes' WD40 can be used as a cleaner to remove surface 'gunge' from parts as it has quite an effective spirit based solvent as the carrier for the other components.

 

It is not a good gun cleaner, there are specific products to do this, as pointed out the 'WD' is water dispersing.

 

The same spirits that are good for cleaning will 'mess up' big time certain plastic groups e.g. Eurethane, so i would not let it near anything of mine that is 'plastic' just in case.

 

Once these spirits evaporate you are left with a residue which I've never been a great fan of, certainly would not use it on any moving parts, and has caused problems in the past in the systems we use in my business.

 

As a firearm is both a tool you want to work and can cost quite a bit why 'bodge it' by buying a general purpose product when there are specific items available to do the job? But this is your call.

 

Brgds Terry

Link to comment
Share on other sites

For those who understand a bit of German.

http://www.christian-merten.de/DAF/Rostschutztest/Rostschutzmitteltest.htm

 

WD40 did quite well compared to "real" corrosion protection products. Interesting was that wax will crack and leave unprotected areas.

 

If someone thinks a layer of whatever oil will protect steel long term is just plain wrong. Short term and in good storage conditions oils will protect, certainly better than nothing.

edi

Link to comment
Share on other sites

WD40 is nothing more than white spirit mixed with a light mineral oil (not fish oil!). Whilst it is unlikely to do any harm to most firearms and will clean gunk out fairly well, it has no preservative capability; and as it evaporates quickly, any lubrication is quickly lost.

 

Keep it for rusty locks and such: there are much better products out there for guns.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

For those who understand a bit of German.

http://www.christian-merten.de/DAF/Rostschutztest/Rostschutzmitteltest.htm

 

WD40 did quite well compared to "real" corrosion protection products. Interesting was that wax will crack and leave unprotected areas.

 

If someone thinks a layer of whatever oil will protect steel long term is just plain wrong. Short term and in good storage conditions oils will protect, certainly better than nothing.

edi

 

Thanks for this decent bit of proper research,edi. Some of the oher opinions have had a somewhat 'fishy'

whiff....not that first gland experience to be completely sniffed at! :-)

 

It's clearly not so good as Ballistol,or Gunnox 2000,specialist products,ahead specially as time passes-gut genuch!

 

gbal

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I used the word

'apparently" which means that it may have, not did or does contain fish oil, which turns out to be a myth

 

But it is better to be proved wrong than always assume you're right, George?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I used the word

'apparently" which means that it may have, not did or does contain fish oil, which turns out to be a myth

 

But it is better to be proved wrong than always assume you're right, George?

I used the word

'apparently" which means that it may have, not did or does contain fish oil, which turns out to be a myth

 

But it is better to be proved wrong than always assume you're right, George?

Bradders,,I said ' some opinions have a somewhat 'fishy' whiff'-that really isn't much of an assertion ,right or wrong...isn't it better to make light of a somwhat implausible idea,in a mild joke? I didn't assume much: there is a fundamentsl differnece between "you" being wrong (which I didn't actually say) and me being right--which I didn't say either (since I asserted almost nothing other than a mild smile at the idea of fish. A myth,as you concede,ie a somewhat 'fishy' idea....No big deal.

 

I have to say I'd not be surprised if the fish oil suggestion turned out to be a load of codswallop...... :-)

 

Proper research beats myth. I was not responsible for either,but happy to assert this as a reasonable guidline.

 

g

 

ps How is the new chuck? I know nothing about those.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Spray wd40 onto lures to attract cod. It works.[/quo

 

Sometimes a fly fisherman becomes a sly fisherman.

Does the WD disperse the water,and the trout 'flounder'?....:-)

 

How about 'roe' deer,in the breeding season?

 

great stuff

 

g

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I wouldn't know what is in WD40 but why should fish oil not be in it? I have heard of the fish being attracted by WD40 on baits and my reels/lines are often drenched in wd40 without any negative effect. Fish oils were/are very important in some manufacturing steps including the ceramic manufacturing. A research doc from BASF once told me that they were not able to find out why fish oils were that special in certain applications and they could not make a synthetic alternative, this was in the mid nineties. WD40 is a lot older.

edi

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Many thanks one and all for your sound advise I will certainly be taking it on board and replacing the WD40 with a proper gun cleaning product in futer.

I'm going stop using as a wipe down on my rifles as well.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Monty,thanks-this has been a lulu in places-by all means 'take it on board' -and if you are big game fishing,who knows...?

 

Meanwhile rather than the 'dream reel' world,in the real world -it's 'Vorsprung durch technik"-and I repeat my thankd to edi for his post quoting the German research,showing rather well that WD40 isn't the best,but by no mens a poor rust preventive (not though tested on rifles).

and for his comment "lot's of crap said about WD40'-maybe adding to i _but not to carp,but who really knows-angling is a complex hobby with unpredictable results....

Shuggy seems about spot on ,though;WD 40 is a light petroleum based oil (petroleum distilates)...

Well,what does it say on the tin.....

 

hmmmm not much,but the here is the WD 40 Company's COD vice president (Chief Operatios Director):

 

"While WD40 can be used to help protect fishing equipment from rust and corrosion,the WD 40 Company does not recommend using WD 40 to attract fish"

Lot's of other 'uses' are likewise discredited.

 

And the US materials Safety Data reveall what shoud be on the tin:in +/- % composition:

 

51 Stoddart solvent (essentially hexane/kerosene related)

25 Liquified petroleum gas (as prolellant,now replaced by C02)

15+mineral oil

10- inert ingredients

 

Nothing like a good squirt of facts...and I've put that ambiguously so we can all do our own thing with the product.....:-) :-)

 

Tight lines!

 

Nearly time for Sunday roast-with one of the last bottles of classic Redex...

 

gbal

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

I've used WD40 to clean my shot guns for years how ever some one recently warned me it will degrade the solder used to join the rib to the barrels.

Is there any one on here that can confirm this or is it just a load of old bull?

Why not just use a recognised gun oil / cleaner? it costs about the same as WD40 :rolleyes: .

I mean why take a chance? , to save less than the price of a pint?, and risk having issues with your pride and joy? unbelievable :rolleyes:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Very simple. People use wd40 because it works. Better than some gun oils. Just have to learn how to use it, like anything.

edi

I learnt long ago not to use unsuitable chemicals on expensive firearms , as I said before , why would you ?

Theres hardly a world shortage of appropriate good quality gun cleaner and oil.

What next ? cleaning barrels with battery acid? just because you have some in the shed :wacko:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy