From: towle@vssteg.enet.dec.com (Clark Towle Gunsmith)
Newsgroups: rec.guns
Subject: Re: Rust control
Date: 14 Aug 92 13:31:59 GMT
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation


In article <viking.713689158@vincent1.iastate.edu>, viking@iastate.edu (Dan Sorenson) writes...
# 
# towle@vssteg.enet.dec.com (Clark Towle Gunsmith) writes:
# 
## googs@gilligan.webo.dg.com (Joe Gugliemino) writes...
# 
#	The real reason I posted!  I use WD-40 on my Remington model 48
#12ga autoloader as both a lubricant and as an anti-moisture measure, and
#it seems to work fairly well at both functions.  The main reason I
#started using it was that even gun oil became too viscous at -20F to
#allow the action to cycle reliably, and WD-40 was a cheap and easy
#solution.  I'm not saying Dry-Slide won't work better, but none of the
#bluing has been removed from my guns due to WD-40, and I figure an
#opposing view is in order.  After over 20K shells, it still works fine.
#It also makes a good aternative to Hoppe's #9 solvent when you can't
#get it.  For that matter, so does diesel fiel or kerosene.  All give me
#a shiny barrel and clean action, but no harm to my blueing.
# 
#[MODERATOR:  Well, a couple people have written to testify on behalf of
#WD-40.  I could swear I have seen the effects on bluing in the past, but
#I don't have a specific example in mind now to support this.  So for what
#its worth, and being curious about this, I started a simple experiment in
#the basement last night, and will report if I find anything interesting:
#I am restoring a couple old bayonets, and, since I need to take the old
#blue off with some of the crud before rebluing, I dipped half of the them
#in WD-40 and am letting them sit out for a while. At regular intervals,
#up until I get bored on the effort at least, I will clean a little of it
#off and see if there is any obvious effect.  My hope is that the advice
#I gave before is true, since I always prefer the lazy man's way out, and
#I'd love to avoid dusting up the house with rouge as inevitably happens
#when I polish a piece down with the bench grinder.]


 In my experience the reasons for WD40 being responsible for damaging blueing 
on guns in storage is it seems that WD40 does not provide the impenetrable 
moisture barrier silicone does so moisture gets under it and thats how the 
rusting/blueing removal happens.

  Recently a S&W model 27 came into the shop that had been cleaned then 
sprayed down with WD40, then stored in one of those zip up pistol rugs. The 
side of the gun that was on the bottom of the rug was completely orange from 
front to rear and severe pitting had occurred on the cylinder, the barrel and 
under the grips. Once the rust had been removed, little blueing was left on 
that side. Admittedly, pistol rugs act more like sponges than protectors so 
guns should not be stored long term in them anyhow, but had the owner used a 
silicone product he more than likely would not have destroyed the guns 
finish.

 I have had similar experiences with rifles and shotguns also so the above is 
not a fluke.

 WD40 is a good lube when used as a lubricant during firing and is an 
excellent aid in cleaning and would more than likely be ok on a gun not being 
stored *inside* a case, rug, etc. but I wouldn't bet any of my guns finishes 
on it. :-)

 It'll be interesting to read the Moderators findings.

[MODERATOR:  So far nothing, though it would be surprizing to find
anything so quickly.  I predict I'll run out of patience and want to
get on with my refurbishing ..... but stay tuned....]