Rust Prevention - WD 40

[Sgt 127]

For 20 years, I have used a gun soak that works on the cruddiest and oldest guns. In a 50 cal ammo can, half WD-40, half kerosene and about 2 cups of Marvel Mystery Oil. If you soak a gun, and then scrub it, all the grime, dried oil, everything comes out. Blow it out with compressed air or a blow drier and its done. You can go through with the lubricating oil of your choice later if you want, but, its servicable right out of the tank.

Some really old gunsmith gave me the recipe years ago. It works, and, it works well. If my guns get caught in a downpour, they get dunked and blown out. I have never had one rust.

 

[Stophel]

I will not let WD 40 anywhere near any of my guns.

Not because it will gum up (it will, though), but because it simply is too thin. It is NOT a good lubricant, NOR is it a good rust preventative. It is a penetrating oil, and that's about it. It is too thin and runny, and it will run off...taking any good oil or grease that was on the gun along with it. Because it will run off, it leaves the metal bare.

I used to work for a company that sold industrial sewing machines. We had several of different types set up as display models or for whatever other purposes, and they were over in the warehouse. They were perfectly fine as they were, but I was ordered to take some WD40, spray them down "so they wouldn't rust". Well, I did it, and within days...Rust City. Any good oil that was on them ran off with the WD 40.

It's just too blame thin. It does do fairly well as a quenching oil. Otherwise, I have no use for it.

 

[n4zov]

I blissfully used WD-40 on guns for years and thought it was great and never had the slightest hint of a problem. Suddenly I started reading all kinds of negative stuff from "gun experts" that it was better to use sulfuric acid on guns than WD-40! It was awful stuff that would destroy ammunition and gun finishes from fifty feet away and would not prevent rust in a desert. I just ignored all that advice and continued using it for all sorts of things, and twenty-five years later I still haven't had a problem. Still waiting for disaster to strike......

 

[DHENRY]

n4zov,
Like you, I'm (evidentally) an ignoramus when it comes to uses for WD-40.
Actually used it to DE-gum the third lock on a Triplelock years ago.
Son of a gun...the TL continues to work flawlessly, and I continue to bumble around my shop...
Don

 

[Sara Noh]

Trap shooters used to love it, they sprayed their guns down librally after a shoot. I worked in the gunsmithing department of Browning Arms and cleaned lots of WD-40 varnish out of the actions of BT99 trap guns. Most had been rendered inoperable by the sticky crud.

 

[SIG229fan]

I've found WD-40 helpful in removing the last traces of Cosmoline from a firearm.

Seems someone told me the primary base/carrier was kerosene-related.

Wouldn't dream of using it as an all-purpose lubricant on anything that isn't cleaned and re-lubed every week. It's absolutely deadly if sprayed into the 'innards' of a revolver...turns to sludge, then gum, then varnish. Complete lockup.

Don't much like that 3-in-1 oil, either...same sort of progression.

When such great products as Butch's and Break-Free CLP are available, why bother with the marginal stuff?

If you like mixing your own, try finding the Ed's Red recipe.