WD 40 "Long Term Corrosion Inhibitor"

[Molly]

I never realized that there are various types of WD40 for various applications.  A friend recently found a "study" done about the ability of various solutions to prevent rust and corrosion.  It seems that WD40 SPECIAL "Long Term Corrosion Inhibitor" was the best of all tested.   Being a sucker for the "best" such solution and with a desire to add to the 34 other brands and formulas already in my store of such products, I immediately ran out to get some.  Costly stuff at $16.99 a spray can of 6.5 oz.  Weird smelling as well.  Foams when sprayed and has an agitator ball inside like a paint can.

Anyone have any experience with this?  OK for down the bore??

[oldtravler61]

  Molly it could be good stuff. But I have never been a fan of WD. Started using it when I first started shooting an restoring firearms. Mostly modern. Just wasn't satisfied.
  Then I started using Balistol an never looked back. But everyone likes different thing's. Oldtravler

[nosrettap1958]

Never used that but always use WD40 after cleaning in soapy water. Have to use something to get underneath all that water and WD40 does just that.

I guess there is so much cheaper stuff to use for corrosive protection I'll probably won't use this new stuff.

[Molly]

Here is the link to the company and product:

https://www.wd40specialist.com/products/corrosion-inhibitor/

I did not know "WD40" had such a line of various products but I did recognize they package the original in various containers but yet it still seems to be the same, at least smells the same.

This product not only smells different but it looks different and it seems not to evaporate.  I have wiped light surface rust off other metal items and then wiped them with old WD as well as this product.  After several days the metal feel suggests the old product has evaporated while this new stuff is still present.  Not much of a "test" and I'm not yet "sold"on it being a better product but it does seem to be new.

BTW, the specialty products come with a money back guarantee.  $17.00 is a lot for 6.5 ounces!

[Lee44shootercnb]

Did you read the reviews?

[Majorjoel]

Just too pricey when you can just use RIG grease for what has been proven to work well for a hundred years at pennies an application!

[Bob Roller]

A friend and collector of old military rifles said WD40 will ruin the finish
on a stock and I saw a streak caused by it years ago on a Civil War
Springfield, a fine one he owned.
This was from the original type of WD40 and it may have been a different
brew from what we now have.

Bob Roller

[Natureboy]

  I don't know if this is apropos the discussion of WD40 for gun barrels, but I heard something negative about it at the museum of the Steamer Arabia in Kansas City--well worth visiting, because it has all the merchandise carried by the ill-fated steamer on display.  It was saved from degradation because as soon as the steamer sank in the Missouri, the river changed its banks and the ship was entirely covered with mud, which created an anaerobic environment.  The speaker at the museum's theater said that they had a whole 55-gallon drum of WD40, because they were told that if they used it to preserve their metallic artifacts, it would create an impenetrable surface, and if some newer compound was invented, they wouldn't be able to use it.  So this would suggest that anything under the WD40's surface film would be entrapped there, to do whatever mischief it wanted.  I'm also wondering if his information was correct.

[Scota4570]

 "I'm also wondering if his information was correct."

Sounds like nonesense to me.  It always amazes me the silly ideas people come up with. 

[Natureboy]

  He said that the makers of WD40 told him that.  I use it on my gun, and I'm not worried--WD40 and RIG pretty much keep it pristine.

[PPatch]

3-in1 oil.

dp

[nosrettap1958]

I don't keep the WD40 on it as I wipe it off but since you're using all that water to clean you have to get something in between all that water and the metal.

[Molly]

I'm concluding from most comments that members are offering their views on the use of what I'll call "generic WD40".  My real question is about the "special use" product mention.

Use whatever you please but please share your views on the specific product in question.  For what it's worth, I do not like regular WD40 for my rifles and do not use it but that's not were I wanted to go.

I will do a small very unscientific study on some scrap barrel material and show photos and commentary after I'm done.

 

[nosrettap1958]

Nothing can do what regular WD40 can do and that is displace water. But there are many products that can do what this product can do, correct? So, for what it does don't you think it a little expensive?

[WadePatton]

Plain Jane Water Displacement #40 yet does all the water displacing I need.  For longer term, I've always used something else and have not studied all the various permutations of WD-branded stuff.

Personally I've begun using Boeshield T9 but don't have any long-term results.

Oil, applied with regularity is the safest bet. I also smear wax, or pure tallow, sometimes lanolin onto metal for protection. 

But I'm not the "ultra consumer". 

[Molly]

C'dad:

If it does what it say's it does, then no, I do not consider it expensive.  A mere "spurt" on a patch will coat the bore and 6.5 ounces will probably last the rest of my life.  And when one factors in the cost of the rifle you would be protecting it further seems like a reasonable deal. 

[nosrettap1958]

Alright Molly, I'll buy some and report back. 

[JCKelly]

RIG used to be good stuff, so far as I know

But a few years ago they stopped making it, and sold the trademark

We can now buy stuff marked "RIG". I wonder if it has been tested, as the old stuff had been, and how well it actually works?

Have some, seems different to me (totally biased & non-technical opinion)

Whatever you put on to counteract soapy water, please be aware that "soapy" includes a dilute salt solution.
"Salt" being sodium chloride, a.k.a. table salt.

[Sharpsman]

WD40 was designed to displace moisture in the Atlas missile system!

[Smokey Plainsman]

It's really good for long term corrosion protection, as the tests have shown it does a GREAT job. I have used in when storing guns in an unconditioned warehouse for several months during the humid summer. No rust. I use it to put on parts of guns that don't get much exposure, like under handguards and whatnot, to protect against the surface rust that often crops up in those areas. I am not talking about normal WD-40, but the "Corrosion Inhibitor" stuff.

[thecapgunkid]

Crawdad called it...WD40 will displace water and is so good at that as to allow me to stay away from spending a lot of money on lubricants and magic potions.

Hot water poured over my lock, followed by a long shot from keyboard airblast and a WD40 bath has kept them functioning well.  I've never had the legendary negative affect on the browning, either, but I guess that's because I don't rub it on a surface.

WD after a clean patch or two goes a long way to keep the corrosion and rust out of the barrel and I don't have to worry about  gunk down there next time I shoot because its other attribute is that it doesn't hang around.

I also learned that it is the only hand safe  substance that will clean the hand wax and glues from my shoemaking endeavor and will wash off your hands quickly with something like GOJO Orange.

[Molly]

C'dad:

The factory rep says I get a commission on every can sold for the next three weeks!!!  Many thanks.

Actually, the hardware store I got it from said they had only sold one other can of the stuff since JAN 2017 so it's not flying off the shelf . 

Smokey:  Exactly the sort of useful info I was seeking...I'll be doing my test too.

[Carl Young]

Just FYI another corrosion inhibitor is Boeshield T-9 https://boeshield.com/why-boeshield/. I've used it in restoring antique airplanes, and because I had it on hand its used on other metals around my shop.

Hoping you are rust-free and well lubricated
Carl

[Marcruger]

I am getting a chuckle out of all of the regular WD-40 talk.  An in-law of mine from Houston worked for Pennzoil.  Pennzoil supplies the raw products to WD-40, or at least did at the time.  They also made the exact same formula labeled "PZ-1" Pennzoil. 

He told me that WD-40 is 95% Kerosene.  Yep, plain old Kerosene.  Smell WD-40 and go smell some Kerosene.  Smell familiar? 

That said, oil products and water don't mix, so water displacing it does well.  That said, there is no "magic" in there. 

I tend to keep that in mind when I apply it somewhere.  Ask yourself, "If I am using WD-40 to protect my bore from rust, would I use Kerosene in the same spot?"  I have even seen people recommend that "magic" WD-40 can be used to wipe down kids' high-chair trays.  YIKES!

BTW, of course it will ruin a stock finish.  Why would someone wipe it on there?  It is not a wood protectant, and I don't think it claims to be.  Would you wipe Kerosene on a stock finish??

Hope this keep things in perspective.  Best wishes, and God Bless,   Marc

[WadePatton]

...

He told me that WD-40 is 95% Kerosene.  Yep, plain old Kerosene.  Smell WD-40 and go smell some Kerosene.  Smell familiar? 

...

I don't buy this at all.  I've used a LOT of kerosene and my truck runs on fuel that is only one-step removed from kerosene. And I keep a jar of kerosene or diesel handy for use out in the metal shop. I see/smell much more than any 5% difference.  Here's the MSDS: https://www.wd40company.com/files/pdf/sds/mup/wd-40-multi-use-product-aerosol-sds-us-ghs-7-20-14.pdf

Furthermore, I don't doubt that Kerosene will do most of what wd40 does, that's why I use kerosene just as much. 

Sorry this is further plain-jane WD discussion.