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Posted: 12/24/2007 5:02:57 PM EDT
| How is WD-40 spray used to remove rust from a bore or cleaning a firearm in general? |
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WD-40 really isn't that good as a general cleaner, but it works. For general cleaning just liberally spray the parts, allow to soak for 10 minutes or so, then brush off with a clean toothbrush. Since WD-40 isn't a very good lubricant, re-lube with a good gun lube. To remove rust, again, spray liberally with WD-40 and allow to soak 24 hours to soften and loosen the rust. Then apply more to the brush and brush out the bore. After the brushing has removed the heavy rust, buy a jar of JB Bore Paste from Brownell's. Follow the directions on the jar. This is a fine, non-embedding abrasive that will remove the rest of the rust, clean the bore, and polish it as much as is possible. Note that there will be pitting under the rust and the bore may have a dark and "frosty" look. There is nothing that can help or "fix" this, which is one reason not to allow a bore to rust. DO NOT use steel wool, other types of abrasives or harsh methods of cleaning since many of these will actually damage the bore. |
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WD-40 is evil incarnate when used on firearms ! Back in the mid 1990's I did most of the gunsmithing work for a friend that owned a gun shop for 3-4 years. Most of the guns that were brought in that wouldn't fire or function were ones that had WD-40 used on them. WD-40 + time = problems As WD-40 dries out within a month or two it is the cosistancy of maple syurp and just as sticky. Which attracts dust,dirt,weed seeds.grass particles,and becomes a abrasive compound. By 3-4 months it has dried enough to become the thickness of grease and still sticky. After 6 months or so it dries out completley turning into a very hard substance just like the finish on the stock of your rifle. Once it reaches this stage you have to soak the parts for a day or two in solvent or chisel it off. WD-40 is really good for what it was designed for WD = Water Displacement. It will work great to remove the water from the inside of you rifle if you have been out in the rain and will be fine for a couple weeks as a lubricant/protectant. But it should be completly cleaned off of all parts and a good gun oil used. The WD-40 guns were the 2nd most profitable repairs with the customers that walked in with what we called "bag-o-gun" being the most profitable. That is a paper sack with a gun in pieces that they couldn't put back togeather and most of the time they had lost a couple pieces. |
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+1 JA545 WD-40 is nearly worthless for anything other than Water Displacement formula 40 uses.... It was made to displace water, not a lubricant! Meaning, it doesn't lubricate shit (unless you spray some up yer butt) It's main ingredient is FISH OIL and is truely limited as a lubricant. Spray it on your garden tools in the Fall before you put them away for the Winter, that's about it. I'm in the automotive repair business and when some one hands me that stuff I use it for what it's best for in my shop, to throw in the trash can. It can fix a squeak... for about three minutes! Seriously, the stuff has legitiment uses, I just can't think of any. If you want a good all around spray lubricant, get some JB-80. Good stuff but I'm not sure if it's even the right stuff for gun lube. Buy gun oil for guns... |
| I find it handy for hosing off degreasers and other cleaners. It wipes off easily enough. I do also use it to coat some parts for storage. I do not use it as a lube or on internal parts where it cannot be wiped off. I use it on weapons or tools that have ogtten wet. Again, wiping it off after and relubing moving parts. I keep a gallon can and a spray bottle as I find it more useful than the aerosol cans. When cleaning magazines, after washing the stripped mag in hot water and simple green, I give a couple sprays and then wipe with a rag and then reassemble. faster than air or oven drying. |
 WD-40 is some good stuff when used within it's capabilities, I've used it for years. Brownell's and our very own OldPainless have done some great tests to dispel the myths of WD-40. I've found it to be great to "de-crud" nasty firearms, remove surface films such as found on some new magazines, displace water on/in guns that have been out in the elements, coating parts that are going into storage, lightly lubricate single action ejector rod housings, etc. 
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after a day of shooting i break my gun down completley and spray most of the internal parts(piston,bolt,bolt carrier,trigger group and the inside of the reciever....than i scrub with a toothbrush...wipe everything down until dry and THAN apply a coat of high quality gun oil to lubricate and protect. It works great to clean off all of the grime and shit that accumlates... I've seen no evidence of anything amiss for years..but i do wipe the WD40 off after cleaning 
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| LOL, the Internet strikes again, WD 40 is a water displacer and when the carrier evaporates a film is left. That film is a silicon type lube that will attract dust but it doesn't harden or get gummy. Over time it will completely evaporate. The gum and hardened residue you were finding on all those guns came from light weight machine oil.I've also found the same gum and hardened shellac like deposit on old guns that never were in the same room with WD-40. There are much better things to use on your guns for long term storage but nothing is better to use on a wet gun or to flush out corrosive salts if you need to delay cleaning or before cleaning normally. oh, and before it comes up, You can use WD-40 and it won't deaden your primers as long as you don't spray down your gun AND your ammo. give the carrier/penetrate time to evaporate and you'll have no problem. |
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For a rusty bore, I'd try Kano Kroil and several bronze brushes. Depending on the bore and it's condition, I'd even consider plugging the barrel and soaking the bore with Ed's Red.
Follow-up with Breakfree Bore Cleaning Foam to remove anything else and give it a final coat of CLP. Upon further scrutiny, it appears we have a Blue Wonder schill in our midst. |
| I keep a small can in my hunting pack. Works great for wet hunts with blued guns. Keeps the guns from rusting when they have been soaked and can't really be cleaned up properly. (water displacer). I don't use it for lubrication on guns. I've had the same tiny can for a few years now. |
| I find that WD 40 does a great job of cutting through lead and powder residur like you get on .22's and my 38/357 revolvers. I do not use it as a lube, but as a cleaner and it is cheap and works good. I lube with proper grease/ firearms oil. It cleans my bores as good as anything else as long as they are not copper fouled. Mostly handguns. |
| One of our Firearms Examiners used to spray his loaded blued Service Revolver with it whenever it got dry (as oppossed to using a Rig Rag) One day he had some jokers try to rob him and he drew down on them and proceeded to have 6 misfires. It was later determined that the WD 40 had penetrated the primers (This was before they were routinely sealed) and deactivated them. He got shot (and thankfully survived) but God help you if a can of that stuff was ever found in a radio car, cleaning kit or a station house afterwards. If you think I'm making this up PM me for details |
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Quoted:
WD40 did an outstanding job on my rusty AK mags last year. I just had to make sure to totally remove ALL of the WD40 after it did the job. Why remove it? Just curious - don't really care. I use it for a lot of stuff. It makes a great 'technical fluid' for detailing a car - wheel wells, door jambs, weather seals, unpainted plastic, etc. |
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To those saying that WD40 does not turn into a waxy coating............have you ever serviced weapons professionally?
Do you have real world experience servicing/repairing weapons? I can state with absoulte certainty that it DOES accumilate into a hard coating if not wiped off and blown out of a gun. I have cleaned and serviced tens of thousands of guns and I know what causes problems. The biggest issues are not cleaning/maintaining your weapon, inproper cleaning/reassembly, and WD40. WD40 WILL render your weapon inoperable eventually if you dont blow it out. I have seen it first hand, time and time again. Just because people who like WD say its fine, great, whatever DOEN NOT make it true. Those using Old Painlesses endorsements are misunderstanding him. Old Painless blows out the WD40, so if you follow his directions all should be well. There are MUCH better alternatives but some people simply wont accept that. |
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As to whether WD-40 can be used as a lubricant, the most frightening thing I ever read about gun maintenance is in the book "Good To Go" by Harry Constance.
Constance is a famed and highly respected multiple Vietnam SEAL. He's one the OTHER SEALs refer to as a "hunter and killer". Constance wrote that during his multiple tours he would return to base in the morning and remove the plastic off his Stoner Light Machine gun. He'd drop the gun AND THE LINKED 5.56 AMMO into a cut off 55 gallon drum of gasoline, and let it all soak while he cleaned up and had breakfast. After breakfast, he'd remove the gun and ammo, disassemble the Stoner and clean it, then reassemble it. He'd then lubricate the gun with WD-40, AND SPRAY THE LINKED AMMO WITH WD-40, and he was ready to go out again. Constance says he never had a stoppage or misfire in his tours. |
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