Thread: Cleaning pivots without unpinning

Originally Posted by Str8Shooter

The reason WD-40 is not recommended to clean firearms is that it will promote rust. May want to rethink that idea...

I've used WD-40 in the "Process" of cleaning my firearms, since age 18 or so. I buy it in the gallon can at Home Depot and pour it into a pump spray bottle, much cheaper, lasts longer. I use it as a "flush" to rid residue, grime. Much like the OP did on his razor. I "always" finish with a quality oil/lubricant. I have 12 AR magazines that my little brother gave me, used in various deployments and in rough condition. I will flush and scrub them with WD-40 first.

For me Wd-40 has been a wonder fluid with many uses. You just have to be aware of it's properties/limitations.

Yeah, you want to reoil after using WD 40.

You may need to peen down the pins. If there was rust in that area that was cleaned out they wont be tight again till you do. The rust expands and pushes the scales apart (I think), then there is missing metal when the rust is removed.

Try some "Clippercide" spray. Barbers use it and so do I.....

Jerry

so we're saying WD40 is fine as long as we follow up with something else? Pete, good point on the pins, will do that.

I know there's the dental floss, qtips etc, but what i found with this method was that is quick, effective with no fiddling around which is why i like it.

Don't know about celluloid, but I would be carefull using WD40 or any oil based product on scales made from natural materials (Bone,Horn,Ivory) Know for a fact it will discolor Ivory scales.JMO

noted, fortunately i don't have any bone or ivory, seems to be ok with wood though, blasted the pivot clean a few months back an no adverse effects.

Well, i do have one set of bone scales, unfortunately they didn't survive the unpinning..

Does anyone have any thoughts about using Ballistol instead if WD40?? I know that it's widely used in Europe.

Just wondering!

Hey Guys,
I use a nylon bristle brush that is used for cleaning out pipe stems. They are really small, like a pipe cleaner but you can clean it and there is no cotton to leave behind. You can pick them up at any pipe shop. they work really well for me.

Keith

You could try Kroil. It does come in a compressed can. Breaks nearly and thing frozen or rusty loose.

Water displacers will, over time, absorb enough moisture to dump it all on to the steel. Like too much heet in a car gas tank. I have read that LPS has lithium grease in it which protects the metal longer. Worked well on machine tools where we used water bases spray coolants.