WD40 or Silicone Oil?

Post by October

i dont know if you should use WD40.... it could damage something. i know on airsoft guns you're only supposed to use silicone.
oils can damage rubber, and some plastics. you dont want to ruin o-rings etc. mark do you know if WD40 is detrimental to these guns and their components?

Post by Mark

I don't think that WD40 should be used as when the carrier evaporates the oil that it leaves behind becomes sticky and no longer lubricates as well as it did when it first is sprayed on.

WD40 should be avoided at all costs use silicone preferably the airsoft recomended brands ( the carrier insome silicone sprays can attack ABS and painted surfaces)

My first Marushin MP40 was attacked by WD40 use and the inside of the receiver lost it's shiny gloss finish which helps reduce friction.

Always use a small bit of any chosen oil/grease/silicone on a small hidden area of the modelgun so, if it attacks the plastic it won't be so noticable.

Post by Claymore

Silicone is ideal for model guns, just as in airsoft.

As far as WD40 is concerned, well i use it for breaking down the gunge in the barrel at times and then wash it off with soapy hot water if i get a bit of surface rust on the metal parts then i use WD then clean it off well and spray with silicone.

I would not leave WD on but it has ot harmed any of my models on the occasions i have used it.

Post by Mark

The carrier in the WD is really what removes the crud that the caps leave behind it's the best part of WD40!

I haven't used any on my modelguns for a long time..I use a cheap spray silicone.

Post by Garyforce

so would you say that silicone is the trouble free solution for keeping your gun well clean / greased then?
_________________
- Gary

Post by Mark

Yes, I highly recomend silicone especially the made for airsoft silicone blends.

These are made for the ABS,nylon and rubber that most AEGs have internally.

MGC used to include a small bottle of silicone to use on their modelguns.

Post by francky1958

Hi cerwyn,

What is the WD40? i've saw the word"WD40" somewhere on this forum ,
Is that a grease or some kind of spray for mechanical stuff.

Post by Madmike

Hello Francky!

I am not sure but I think it does not erode the plastic or rubber parts.

I use "Ballistol" spray oil which is a well known weapons lubricant in Germany. This spray does not damage rubber or plastic but can even be used to maintain rubber and plastic.

Post by francky1958

I think good oil for modelguns is easy to wash by using detergent.
it should be no smell, no signs of oil after wash.

Machinery oil is sometimes too strong smell, i think it's one of the signs.
something like lubricant for real gun, it is good for real gun 'cause they are made of steel, but modelguns.
when i was kid, nobody didn't mention about the lubricant for modelguns,
Modelguns makers are recomended the oil and spray for real guns.
They even didn't knew what will happen if we use it for.
After 10 years later, zinc metal, plastic and rubber, i will see many chapped in and out.
that's why i'm just worry about that.

Post by ChenKenichi

I use 100% silicon spray for my model guns and airsoft guns. The stuff in WD40 and other lubricants will eat away the rubber on orings as well as ABS plastic (This happened on an airsoft pistol of mine before I knew any better). Airsoft/Model gun brand silicon spray is usually expensive, but if you go to a hardware store you can get a bottle of it about 5 times as big for a fraction of the price.
I am not sure about zinc though, but I wouldn't try it.

It's a real problem this isn't it?
I bought some Silicone Grease from Francky to lubricate 'O'Rings, and also give the cartridges a light spraying of Silicone Lubricant, the type used to lube car window seals etc as sold by motor accessory shops. (Halfords in the UK)
If running the Luger's barrel and firing pin under a hot water tap, then drying with a hair dryer cleans it, getting rid of all moisture to prevent rust and corrosion is the next problem. WD40's the recognised stuff for most applications but not, it seems, best suited to modelguns.
Is there a silicone spray available in the UK that'll disperse moisture, prevent corrosion of rubber/ plastic/ metal ?
Doc mentioned SAS (what's that please?)
Do the Airsoft silicone oils disperse moisture too?
WD40 lightly sprayed inside Marushin MP40 cartridges gives good smoke effect and can give a little muzzle flash too. These cartridges don't use rubber 'O'Rings though
Cerwyn
_________________
Hobby collector of mainly WW2 era uniforms, headgear, field equipment and replica weapons.

Post by francky1958

It' s not a point that oring or rubber, point is receiver , flame made of zinc,
abs plastic, hw materials. It looks like nobody not for sure what kinds of oil usually use, except chenkenichi.

hi Madmike,
i think you better stop to use "Ballistol" spray oil right away if it's not a silcone. and re-check the ingredients.
machineary oil is usually going into the inside of the structure of the zinc or plastic very slowly. and it will break from inside.

Post by Mark

The main problem with "WD40" and many other oils is mainly the solvents and the carriers used to break down the oil's viscosity and to propel the oil from the spray can. Many solvents can attack plastic surfaces and leave a sticky deformed finish and still others might not affect the surface but, they might attack the structure of the plastic and make it brittle over time. Zinc, when exposed to phosphorus or other corrosive agents will start to corrode with a white powder residue being formed on the surface ("bloom") this is an oxide much like aluminum has when it corrodes..So, make sure to protect and clean the zinc parts carefully.

Some silicones have solvents/carriers that can and will attack certain resins/plastics so, it's always best to experiment on small hidden parts of your modelguns before using any given oil or silicone on it.
_________________
Wanted to buy: MGC Sten MK3....trades?(still)

MGC MP40 Marushin MP40 Nakata MP40 TRC MP40

Modelgun manufacturers, past and present:CMC,CAW,Hudson,HWS,LS,MGC(R.I.P. 1960's~2007) Marushin,Marui,Kokusai,Shoei,Tanaka and Western Arms

Post by francky1958

This is what i'm talking about, thanks mark!!

Post by Mark

Yes Francky, i have seen corroded zinc modelgun parts as well as broken plastic parts due in some cases to improper lubrication/maintenance. Most of the damaged parts are very rare and expensive to replace and a little care would have prevented the breakage.
_________________
Wanted to buy: MGC Sten MK3....trades?(still)

MGC MP40 Marushin MP40 Nakata MP40 TRC MP40

Modelgun manufacturers, past and present:CMC,CAW,Hudson,HWS,LS,MGC(R.I.P. 1960's~2007) Marushin,Marui,Kokusai,Shoei,Tanaka and Western Arms

Post by Madmike

Thank you very much for your information!
I tried silicon oil from HFC I used to use on my Airsoft guns, but I was not too impressed by the result.
Here is a link to an English page about Ballistol:

http://www.ballistol.com/

Greetings

MadMike

Post by Mark

When using silicone spray just make sure that you don't breathe very much of the stuff as it is poison..Be sure to spray it in a well ventilated space. That is why i prefer the grease over the silicone sprays as we all tend to shoot and load our cartridges inside.
_________________
Wanted to buy: MGC Sten MK3....trades?(still)

MGC MP40 Marushin MP40 Nakata MP40 TRC MP40

Modelgun manufacturers, past and present:CMC,CAW,Hudson,HWS,LS,MGC(R.I.P. 1960's~2007) Marushin,Marui,Kokusai,Shoei,Tanaka and Western Arms

garyforce wrote:

just a little note there cerwyn
you shouldn't be using WD40 on anything modelgun wise as it can damage the carts / modelguns / o rings / or anything ! :?
ideally you should be using a silicone based gun oil !

Hello,
Thanks for your note. WD40 is recommended by www.modelguns.com for lightly spraying the cartridges inside and out after washing. This disperses water and lubricates and also smokes well when firing.
The silicone oil or grease is recommended for lubing the o-rings that are fitted to some cartridges as a lubricant.
What sort of damage have you experienced using WF40 please?
I obviously don't want to damage anything!
Regards
Cerwyn

Post by metradio

WD40 should have no effect on brass, not sure about rubber. It reacts with some plastics, and surprisingly, encourages rust on steel surfaces
_________________
Mike

Post by Mark

Mike,

I think that the "problem" with WD40 is the carrier for the oil, when it evaporates, it leaves behind a slightly sticky oil residue that attracts dust like a magnet..The carrier is (or was) sometimes corrosive and could possibly melt certain thermoplastics like styrene etc. They have changed the carrier in the WD40 cans over the years as well as the oil itself so, i am not quite sure just what WD40 is like anymore.

I would still recomend silicone over WD40 until better studies are made as to the affects on ABS and the O-rings...
_________________
Wanted to buy: MGC Sten MK3....trades?(still)

MGC MP40 Marushin MP40 Nakata MP40 TRC MP40

Modelgun manufacturers, past and present:CMC,CAW,Hudson,HWS,LS,MGC(R.I.P. 1960's~2007) Marushin,Marui,Kokusai,Shoei,Tanaka and Western Arms

Post by Dartec

May be a siily question but I have some Autosheen Silicone Spray that I was given when I bought my first Airsioft (TM Desert Eagle .50 AE). On the can it says ' for rubber, plastics vinyls' etc.

Not used as it has a nice smell obviously used as polish on car interias but would it do?
_________________
Regards
Ray
Gun ethusiast and collector of modern model guns. Beretta 93r & M9, Derringer, Colt .25, Scorpion v61, V10, R31, USP

Post by Mark

Well, the carrier that is used to spray the silicone is the "problem" as the carrier can attack the O-rings as well as the ABS surface. That is why it should be tested on a small area (like under the grips)to see if it attacks the ABS. Also, i don't think that the O-rings are pure rubber they are probably synthetic like silicone-rubber, Buna or? We really should experiment on various available silicone sprays and greases to see just what effect (if any)that they have on plastic and the O-rings...
_________________
Wanted to buy: MGC Sten MK3....trades?(still)

MGC MP40 Marushin MP40 Nakata MP40 TRC MP40

Modelgun manufacturers, past and present:CMC,CAW,Hudson,HWS,LS,MGC(R.I.P. 1960's~2007) Marushin,Marui,Kokusai,Shoei,Tanaka and Western Arms

Post by Garyforce

i must confess i cant recall who i was talking to on this subject earlier this year ..... but who ever it was told me that WD40 was pretty much responisible for the deathof their 1911.

it knackered their o rings ..... jammed up and began to corrode the barrel and was generally nasty stuff.

so..i figured the smart move was to avoid it !

hey dartec !

maybe thats the solution to your o-ring issue !
_________________
- Gary

Post by Mark

Well, i have used WD40 and other oils like WD40 over the years on other plastics and i have noticed the polished surfaces on some plastics have become "soft" and gooey when they are covered with the oil's like WD40 etc.

So, it's best to avoid the use of oils that aren't approved for airsoft/modelguns...The best oils are sourced from Japan for the modelguns..
_________________
Wanted to buy: MGC Sten MK3....trades?(still)

MGC MP40 Marushin MP40 Nakata MP40 TRC MP40

Modelgun manufacturers, past and present:CMC,CAW,Hudson,HWS,LS,MGC(R.I.P. 1960's~2007) Marushin,Marui,Kokusai,Shoei,Tanaka and Western Arms

Thanks for your responses!
Sounds like WD40 has limited uses, producing smoke effect is one, apparently it can create some muzzle flash too if the barrel's open but the general opinion is that it causes long term damage.
I'll be trying the Silicone oils you've all recommended next.

Thanks to all,

Cerwyn
_________________
Hobby collector of mainly WW2 era uniforms, headgear, field equipment and replica weapons.