Author Topic: WD-40? (Read 1785 times)

Kiehlroy · « **on:** September 14, 2005, 09:23:20 PM »

Hey guys, I'm bout to get my first BP pistol and I have an abundance of WD-40 lying around. Is WD-40 ok to clean and protect these pistols?

Lone Star · « **Reply #1 on:** September 15, 2005, 04:07:42 AM »

WD-40 is mostly Stoddard's Solvent (used in the dry cleaning industry, not too dissimilar to kerosene) with a little parafin, etc. thrown in. It is a good water displacer and penetrant, but poor as a protectant. I no longer shoot BP so my experience may be dated, but after washing the barrel and lockwork with hot soapy water and drying it, WD-40 can get rid of any remaining water. I do not use it as a protectant or a storage oil - because it isn't oil! Does smell nice though.......

kjeff50cal · « **Reply #2 on:** September 15, 2005, 07:13:38 AM »

I was told by a veteran BP shooter "USE NO OIL BASED PRODUCTS to clean and protect a BP gun". What's left? There are various animal/vegitable/water based cleaners on the market plus a few you can make yourself (Moose Milk anyone). Oil based cleaner/lubes + black powder residue = asphalt and is a bear to clean off and it retains its harmful effects on the weapon. Treat a Black Powder firearm as though it is your favorite iron skillet. Use nothing on it that you would not use to clean that skillet.

kjeff50cal

Lone Star · « **Reply #3 on:** September 15, 2005, 11:08:50 AM »

Quote

Treat a Black Powder firearm as though it is your favorite iron skillet. Use nothing on it that you would not use to clean that skillet.

A veteran New Orleans chef once told me under no circumstances use any soap products on any iron skillet! So under that advice my BP guns just wouldn't have gotten cleaned.

Obviously there are plenty of differing opinions on what to use - see below. Just because one "veteran" tells us something doesn't mean it is the last word on the subject.

http://hunting.about.com/od/blackpowder/l/aa010801.htm
http://www.building-tux.com/dsmjd/tech/cap_ball.htm
http://grigaliunas.org/gun/edsblack.sav

Flint · « **Reply #4 on:** September 15, 2005, 06:05:34 PM »

Try Ballistol, they have a website. Straight as a lube, mixed with water to make "Moose Milk" for cleaning, when the water evaporates, the oil is left.

It is non-petroleum. That being said, BreakFree has never given me a problem with bp guns.

I use WD-40 to wash engine parts, or as a cutting fluid for knife sharpening, even as tapping fluid, but if left on and in a firearmfor a length of time, it will dry to a sticky disgusting coating that has to be washed off with solvent. It is not a lubricant or a good preservative.

Kiehlroy · « **Reply #5 on:** September 15, 2005, 07:39:24 PM »

Thanks for the info guys, I'll let you know how things turn out when I get my new pistola :grin:

jeager106 · « **Reply #6 on:** September 15, 2005, 08:41:39 PM »

As stated WD40 is a lousy protectant.
However us any good gun oil to protect the metal both in and out.
That crapola 'bout not using oil on a black power arm is a wives tail.
One only need to run an alcohol patch downbore to clean out the oil then shoot the thing.
You do not want to fire black power down an oiled bore (oil, real petroleum) as the black reacts with petro and turns to a tarry mess.
I've drowned many a black powder gun with WD-40 after firing and left them UNLCLEANED for a week or more in the hot summer until I had time to clean them properly and never, ever had a hint of rust.
However it is NOT a long term storage item and it will varnish over time.

howdy doody · « **Reply #7 on:** September 18, 2005, 12:53:05 PM »

Here is a twist. I clean with windex with vinagar and lube and protect with breakfree.
I gave up on ballistol and olive oil, murphys soap with alcohol is too much trouble.
Just another method. There are probably a different story from each BP shooter. plain water will clean if you have the time and anything that will keep air off the bore will protect it. No petroleum near BP is what the old school taught. I found out different. Your mileage may vary.

Bigdog57 · « **Reply #8 on:** September 20, 2005, 08:48:49 AM »

I clean the C&B revolvers as per any gun, oil the outside and lockworks with good gun oil, then swab the barrel and cylinder bores with a light film of Bore Butter. Never have a problem with rust.

flamenblaster · « **Reply #9 on:** September 23, 2005, 08:59:12 PM »

i used to clean in sink with water and dry in oven..use only 'natural' lubes and etc....anymore i just treat like any other firearm..except i first use a lil of whatever household cleaner i have on hand to remove bulk of fouling..then hoppes #9 and a big dose..inside and out..of mil surp weapon oil. It comes clean every time. To minimize fouling when in field i just squirt some synthetic lithium grease (the white stuff) on the balls and blast away..havent found any of the 'hard' powder fouling i was warned about..it cleans up easy and none of the flash rust i had before

John Traveler1 · « **Reply #10 on:** September 23, 2005, 09:19:36 PM »

Breakfree CLP is the cleaner, lubricant, and protectant of choice for the US Military and NATO members. It is also used aboard navy ships for cleaning large bore cannon that fires (surprise!) black powder initiator charges, and by aviation and land forces for tank cannon, mortars, smoke grenade dischargers, blank firing devices, rocket and missile launchers, and all manner of pyrotechnic devices. I once had the pleasure of researching the military specifications established for the development of a one-step small arms/large arms cleaner/lubricant/protectant. The stuff is intended to remove black powder and corrosive primer firing residue!

I've used it for cleaning BP guns for several years now, and have experienced NO after rust or corrosion.

HTH
John

jeager106 · « **Reply #11 on:** September 26, 2005, 10:21:09 PM »

Breakfree CLP is good stuff, no doubt about that.
Just fer grins, as an experiement I tried something with
WD40.
After firing 18 shots from my brass framed .44 I took it apart, hosed it down with WD and let it set.
Been 3 weeks now with daily inspection and no trace of corrosion.
I'm not recommending this and I do check it every day.
Yesterday I wiped it down with a shot rag and the black powder residue wiped off clean. I hosed the parts down and again and let it set.
Now understand this isn't a short cut cleaning method just an experiment to see if the Wd would cut thru the crud and prohibit rusting.
It seems to work o.k. but isn't a substitute for a good water and soap cleaning and treatment with good preservative like Breakfree.
If one would get in a hurry and could not properly clean a revolver then a good saturation with WD or the like seems to be alright until one could get time to clean it right.

Bear Rider · « **Reply #12 on:** September 27, 2005, 07:48:04 PM »

I'll go along with Howdy. Windex in my STAINLESS '58 works like a champ. I've never tried it in a blued weapon so I have no opinion there.

tryit · « **Reply #13 on:** September 28, 2005, 11:50:49 AM »

Guys, to start this off with the moral of the story"do not lend any black powder gun to anyone". I loaned my blue ROA to my brother in law, at that time. He shot a couple of matches with it and moved to Iowa with my gun. This was in 1989. I finally got to Iowa and found the b*****d and he dug and dug in the garage until a doubled plastic bag was found in the bottom of a tool box. Yes my ROA was not cleaned but sprayed with liberal amounts of WD-40. I was near stuffing the thing into a space where the sun does not shine but left just plain mad. Except for being as sticky as hell it did not suffer any rust or pitting. I got the gun back in 1998. Tryit.

jeager106 · « **Reply #14 on:** September 28, 2005, 03:05:55 PM »

tryit:
At least the WD would have made the ROA slide in easier! :-D
Cheesh! That was grounds for at least choking someone! :evil: