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Ballistol Vs WD40 Vs 3-in-1 Oil
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How We Compared Ballistol Vs WD40 Vs 3-in-1 Oil
Customer Reviews
Product Testing
Team Experience
 |  |  |
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|---|---|---|---|
| Ballistol Multi-Purpose Oil, Aerosol spray, 6 oz | WD-40 Original Forumla, Multi-Use Product, Industrial Size, 16 OZ | 3-IN-ONE - 10038 Multi-Purpose Oil, 8 OZ | |
| Best For Metal Surfaces | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Best For Wooden Surfaces | Yes | - | - |
| Best For Plastic Surfaces | Yes | - | - |
| Best For Rubber & Leather Surfaces | Yes | - | - |
| Price Range | $$ | $$-$ | $ |
| Health Hazards | Moderate to Low | Low | Low |
| Cleaning King's Choice | Yes | - | - |
| Read our Review | Read our Review | Read our Review |
|
| Buy on Amazon | Buy on Amazon | Buy on Amazon |
Have you ever come across a rusty and squeaky door hinge? We all know that cleaning and keeping it serviceable for a long time is not fun. It can be a tedious and lengthy process, but keeping our items clean, lubricated, and in working conditions is necessary. We don’t want to leave any sensitive surfaces or objects with small parts as it is just like that with the hope that they’d remain functional and rust-free forever.
Without proper cleaning, dust, rust, or other debris could cause your sensitive metal, leather, wood, or even plastic items with small parts to stop working or fail when you need them the most. Regular cleaning of such objects with solvents and lubricants can extend their functional lifespan. But finding the right product isn’t easy, and the aisles of your nearest supermarket would be lined up with them.
And that is precisely why, in this article, our team at Cleaning King will discuss the benefits of using three of the most popular solvents and lubricants as cleaners and inhibitors to keep your precious items clean and safe from rust, corrosion, moisture, and various other corrosive or degrading elements. Ballistol, WD40, and the 3-in-1 Multi-Purpose Oil are all industrial lubricants and solvents with similar use cases, so their assessment is crucial to help you choose the best among the lot.
Let’s get on with the detailed comparison of Ballistol Vs WD40 Vs 3-in-1 Oil so you’d know which one has the upper hand in lubricating and keeping your bicycle’s chain rust-free for a more extended period or can remove the grease and grime better.
Buyers Guide – Ballistol Vs WD40 Vs 3-in-1 Oil
Today, there are many lubricants and solvents available, with higher viscosity at lower temperatures, which provide more protection against corrosion or preserve your sensitive items better. This blog post aims to compare different types of such industrial lubricants, Ballistol Vs WD40 Vs 3-in-1 Oil, so you can make an informed decision when choosing which one is right for your needs.
Exact Use For Lubricant/Solvent
Your choice of lubricant may not seem like a big deal, but there are many differences in the way different types of lubricants work. Some lubricants/oils can be used to clean and degrease metal surfaces, while others are specifically designed for rubber parts.
So the first thing you should consider while opting to buy any industrial solvents or lubricants is the type of use you require them for.
For example, if you want to preserve leather and plastic, your best bet should be Ballistol instead of WD40 (which works best for loosening and protecting metal parts) or 3-in-1 Multi-Purpose Oil.
Level Of Protection
Next, you need to consider the corrosion and rust resistance and preservative properties of the industrial solvents/lubricants. Now that you know the product will protect from corrosion and rust and preserve the items, consider how well it prevents future occurrences or exactly how well it performs.
This means your part shouldn’t need a lubricant or preservatives if you want to use it in the future again! Ballistol, 3-in-1 oil, and WD40 all work fine for this purpose.
Price Comparison
Now that you have chosen a few lubricants based on your needs and level of protection, it’s time to take a look at the price tags. A few suitable oil-based lubricants can start from as low as $5, while others like Ballistol or WD40 are more expensive.
So you have to buy depending on your use. If you intend to use it in bulk, then the price may definitely play a key role in deciding which lubricant you should go for. On the other hand, if you use it in small quantities for simple household items, you can neglect the price difference.
Safety & Health Impacts
The use of these lubricants and rust removers should not pose any threats to general health and safety. Prioritize going for those products that are safe to use in any environment.
For instance, removing rust with WD40 is safe and easy! It does not require any special equipment so that you can work anywhere. Plus, it’s biodegradable – meaning there are no harsh acids or chemicals that could damage your skin if applied by mistake or accident. On the other hand, Ballistol, although non-toxic, can cause severe skin irritation on sensitive skin.
Our Reviews - Ballistol Vs WD40 Vs 3-in-1 Oil
Ballistol Review
From what our team at Cleaning King has come to know, Ballistol has an astonishing variety of uses, which makes it such a versatile product. Firearms, leather, knives, marine equipment, fishing gear, tools, locks, wood, metal, rubber, and so much more, you name it, and Ballistol has a use for it.
The company claims that it can be used to lubricate and penetrate just about anything; clean or protect from corrosion; preserve the appearance with protection – all while preserving the properties that make each material unique!
And it turns out that it’s not far from reality.
But what exactly made Ballistol so popular? Well, one of the facts is its 40-year long use by the German army as a lubricant and cleaner. The best use of Ballistol is to clean and protect firearms. Mind you, Ballistol is the undisputed firearm-cleaning champion. Ballistol cleans and removes all types of bore fouling. It will save you time, minimize the need for brushing, and form a protective film on your firearm that helps keep it clean longer too!
The best part? There’s no need to scratch or clean the items separately.
With Ballistol’s ability to never gum up or harden no matter how many times it’s used, the complete firearm stays lubed for more extended periods with consistent use! And what’s more, Ballistol leaves a thin film behind on the surface that acts as a water and rust-proof coating.
Another standout feature of Ballistol is its ability to protect and rejuvenate leather and wood. Other lubricants like the WD40 are not capable of high performance on those materials. Ballistol is the perfect solution for preserving and rejuvenating unpainted wooden surfaces.
In addition, it protects against damage caused by humidity or insects while also preserving the luster for long-lasting beauty!
That’s a truly multi-purpose cleaner/solvent right there.
If we compare the price range, Ballistol is a bit more expensive than other solvents and lubricants of its class. That’s a con our team would consider as a setback as it should have been at par with its competitors concerning price.
In addition to being a bit more expensive, Ballistol also poses a health hazard (although rare) to people with sensitive skin. Even though it is non-toxic, it is known to cause skin irritation in rare cases when it comes in contact with the bare skin.
Stand-out features include
- Works on a wide variety of surfaces
- Fast action
- Environmentally friendly and biodegradable
Ballistol Range
WD40 Reviews
Let’s start with a fun fact. The team that manufactured WD40 for the first time failed 39 times to get their ‘Water Displacement’ (WD) formula right. They only got it right on their 40th attempt. And hence the name.
The Cleaning King team found out that this lubricant-cum-solvent is derived from petroleum-based compounds. And this repels moisture and forms a thin, sticky layer over the surface to protect from dust and rust.
As per the company, WD40 is a perfect lubricant, degreaser, and rust remover for moving parts like chains, rollers, gears, and hinges. What makes WD40 so popular and trustworthy is its impeccable ability to penetrate and free the corroded and stuck parts of valves, nuts, bolts, and other similar stuff.
WD40 also can remove the rust and corroded layers altogether to clean up the surfaces. It’s effective in dissolving adhesives and paint as well.
In addition to that, our team also found out about another valuable feature of WD40. We already knew that it could push the moisture out. Surprisingly, it can ideally displace moisture to restore sensitive water-flooded equipment as well due to its water-repellent protective film.
If we look at the price of WD40, it’s certainly comparable to its competitors and has been kept moderate by the company. Given the features of this product, I’d say that the price is pretty fair.
If we look at the health hazards, WD40 is more or less harmless on the skin. Wash it off if it happens. But you are always advised to proceed with caution as high concentrations of WD40 in the lungs due to inhaling the fumes can cause respiratory irritation and CNS effects.
During the thorough testing, it has also been found out that nearly all surfaces can interact with WD40, meaning that there isn’t much that this lubricant can’t clean up for you. Overall, the performance of WD40 is more than just satisfactory, although I would still rate Ballistol higher than it for now.
Stand-out features include
- Quick penetration in crevices and holes
- Efficient cleaning and fast action
- Best for water-based surfaces
WD40 Range
![WD-40 Original Forumla, Multi-Use Product with SMART STRAW SPRAYS 2 WAYS, 14.4 OZ [2-Pack]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51zKbE6lzrL._SL160_.jpg)
![WD-40 Original Forumla, Multi-Use Product with Smart Straw Sprays 2 Ways,12 OZ [6-Pack]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51MfeewslSL._SL160_.jpg)
3-in-1 Multi-Purpose Oil Review
Guess what? This product is manufactured by the same legendary company that makes WD40.
As soon as our Cleaning King team saw the packaging of this multi-purpose oil, a glaring realization hit us right in the face. No spraying feature, meaning it would take a little more effort on our end to oil the hard-to-reach areas.
But given the rest of the features and benefits, we had to let go of that inconvenience.
The 3-in-1 oil has been around for centuries, not decades. We found out that it efficiently lubricates, cleans, and then protects the surfaces and parts against rust and corrosion. The drip oil bottle has the slight advantage of oil not being over-sprayed or splattered over unnecessary areas without a spray nozzle.
A drawback about this product is that it is mainly used on metal surfaces only. It’s perfect for degreasing and cleaning the debris and rust from metal surfaces and crevices of doors, chains, wheels, bolts, power tools, and countless other sensitive and moving metal parts.
We loved the bottle because the design offers some control over the amount of oil you want to use. This makes it ideal for use in areas where you want to avoid spilling the oil.
Regarding the pricing mode, the 3-in-1 oil has a lower price bracket. So if you are into a business that requires its use in bulk, you are in for a good amount of savings. For household use, a bottle can last for months or even years.
The health hazards of this oil also include skin irritation when the skin is exposed to it for long periods. However, you’ll be good to go if you wash it immediately with soap and water after the contact.
Stand-out features include
- Inexpensive as compared to other lubricants
- Safe for skin
- No wastage due to over-spraying or splattering
Conclusion – Ballistol Vs WD40 Vs 3-in-1 Oil
And this was all about the detailed comparison between the three top lubricants and solvents that could help you clean the tricky surfaces and moving parts in an instant. There are pros and cons to every single product that exists. The same was the case with these three lubricants. But still, every product came out roaring and kept amazing us with its benefits. However, there’s always one winner. And who do you think it is?
Our team at Cleaning King would hand over that crown to Ballistol for now due to several obvious reasons, even though its price is higher than the rest of the two. Ballistol’s ability to work on several surfaces in addition to metal and wood and its quick action formula pushed it ahead of the WD40 and the 3-in-1 Oil.
However, this does not mean that the other two products are any lesser. WD40 is still probably the best choice in more than 90% of the cases where metal surfaces are involved. And the 3-in-1 Oil is best suited to be used in crevices and parts where you can’t spray the Ballistol or WD40.
For now, the Cleaning King’s expertise is compelling us to point towards Ballistol.
