Wd40!!!!!!!
 

I had no idea of all the uses for WD-40. I don't know if all the uses listed below really work, but I'm headed to the store to buy some; it's worth a try.

WD-40 !!!

The product began from a search for a rust preventative solvent and
de-greaser to protect missile parts. WD-40 was created in 1953 by three
technicians at the San Diego Rocket Chemical Company. It's name comes from
the project that was to find a "water displacement" compound. They were
successful with the fortieth formulation, thus WD-40.

The Convair Company bought it in bulk to protect their Atlas missile
parts.The workers were so pleased with the product, they began smuggling (also known
as "shrinkage" or "stealing") it out to use at home. The executives decided
there might be a consumer market for it and put it in aerosol cans. The rest, as
they say, is history.

It is a carefully guarded recipe known only to four people. Only one of
them is the "brew master." There are about 2.5 million gallons of the stuff
manufactured each year. It gets it's distinctive smell from a fragrance that is
added to the brew. Ken East says there is nothing in WD-40 that would hurt
you.

Here are some of the uses:
Protects silver from tarnishing
Cleans and lubricates guitar strings
Gets oil spots off concrete driveways
Gives floors that 'just-waxed' sheen without making it slippery
Keeps flies off cows
Restores and cleans chalkboards
Removes lipstick stains
Loosensstubborn zippers
Untangles jewelry chains
Removes stains from stainless steel sinks
Removes dirt and grime from the barbecue grill
Keeps ceramic/terra cotta garden pots from oxidizing
Removes tomato stains from clothing
Keeps glass shower doors free of water spots
Camouflages scratches in ceramic and marble floors
Keeps scissors working smoothly
Lubricates noisy door hinges on vehicles and doors in homes
Gives a children's play gym slide a shine for a super fast slide
Lubricates gear shift and mower deck lever for ease of handling on riding
mowers
Rids rocking chairs and swings of squeaky noises
Lubricates tracks in sticking home windows and
makes them easier to open

Spraying an umbrella stem makes it easier to open and close
Restores and cleans padded leather dashboards in vehicles,
as well as vinyl bumpers
Restores and cleans roof racks on vehicles
Lubricates and stops squeaks in electric fans
Lubricates wheel sprockets on tricycles, wagons and bicycles
for easy handling
Lubricates fan belts on washers and dryers and keeps them
running smoothly
Keeps rust from forming on saws and saw blades, and other
tools

We're not through. Here's more;
Removes splattered grease on stove
Keeps bathroom mirror from fogging
Lubricates prosthetic limbs
Keeps pigeons off the balcony (they hate the smell)
Removes all traces of duct tape
I have even heard of folks spraying
it on their arms, hands, knees, etc., to relieve arthritis pain.
One fellow claims spraying it on fishing lures attracts fish.

WD-40 has been designated the "official multi-purpose problem-solver of
NASCAR," a ringing endorsement if there ever was one. I told my NASCAR
loving sons about this and they said they couldn't imagine how WD-40 can
solve the Jeff Gordon problem.

In celebration of their 50th year, the company conducted a contest to learn
the favorite uses of it's customers and fan club members, (Yes, there is a
WD-40 Fan Club). They compiled the information to identify the favorite use in
each of the 50 states. Naturally I was curious about Georgia and Alabama and
found the favorite use in both states was that it "penetrates stuck bolts, lug
nuts, and hose ends." Florida's favorite use was "cleans and removes lovebugs
from grills and bumpers." California's favorite use was penetrating the bolts
on the Golden Gate Bridge.

Let me close with one final, wonderful use--the favorite use in the State
of New York--WD-40 protects the Statue of Liberty from the elements.

No wonder they have had 50 successful years.

That's great! Wow!

We are part of those million of users and have one in every vehicle, AS included.
The Home depot sells a mini can which is incredibly handy. It even fits in a small purse!

If it's really that harmless - not that I really trust corporate claims - could it be used to improve old teflon surfaces??

WD 40
 

---you can also use it in your blacksmith shop to turn the metal into a deeper black finish color.
Best,

Be careful where you spray that stuff ...
 

WD40 is a great lube ... but it does attract dirt ... so you may have to clean whatever it is you have lubed and then reapply after a certain period of time.

I also use a silicon spray that does an excellent job ... and I don't seem to have the dirt buildup

One additional use:
Starting recalcitrant 6.9 & 7.3 diesel engines in cold weather.
It works very well, I used it for a winter when the glow plugs failed. Not explosive like ether-based starting fluids.
Terry

WD 40 has its uses but for long term lubrication requirments it should not be used.
WD40 will in time tend to get very sticky and lose it lubrication properties. I have seen this happen in as little as 3 months.
Use one of the newer silicone based sprays for that purpose.

shup Gary back in your box :D


Yes it does get sticky over time but works great in a pinch!

Oily residue...
 

Olive oil works in a pinch - and you can put it on salad (other things too...)

Seriously, Tri-flo is a great choice and doesn't polymerize over time. Keeps the hinges on squeaky box lids silent as well. ;)

Be careful with WD40. It is very toxic, can destroy your liver, and is readily absorbed by your skin.

janet

not a big fan of tri flo, tried it in my .45 and caused it to jam, same with my .30-06.

LPS #2 is a much better lubricant and anti rust spray.

the only thing i like about wd-40 is the "drying of ignitions" it does work as advertised. other than that, i'll stick with hoppes #9 and good old 10w/30 in a squirt can oiler!

john

"I kid you not"
I was camped at a southern Louisianna camp ground a few years ago and an elderly couple camped next to us were spaying their elbows an shoulders with WD-40. Our curiosity was, of course, peaked and we had to ask the obvious. They clamied it was the only thing to help their arthritis! We've been worried about them ever since!!:(

Edie... are you sure you're not talking about beer here?:D

Roger

Seriously, I spray my fishing lures for its fish attractaction properties.
Dick

This is not uncommon, and leads to liver failure in a lot of people. It does actually work to lubricate joints. That's a perfect example of how readily it's absorbed through the skin.

The label on the can doesn't say to avoid contact with skin for no reason.

You got a wet car lock frozen in the winter? WD-40 doesn't help cuz it doesn't mix with water. LPS is water soluble and helps effect an unfreeze (affect an unthaw?). It also stays around and prevents the next freezup.

A spray of WD-40 on standing water will kill the mosquitoes. I forget the name of It, but a horse liniment maybe it's was DMSO found at animal feed stores is good for arthritis, joint pain. My old uncle, a vet used it and you could smell it on his breath. Think I could use some about now. The booze isn't working anymore.

wd40
 

I used to take it with me to the .25$ car wash,to use on the distributor cap when got wet. (doesn't help now, no points) PJ:)

When I was a teenager I remember my dad using it to start a wet engine, kept some in the car always after that!
-Jason

I know there are lots of people that use WD-40 on their fishing lures. Although this is a relatively small dosage, WD-40 does contain a petrolium base, and I'm not in favor of putting any pollutants in our lakes or rivers.

John

Wonder sprays
 

Another one for your toolbox is Boeshield T9. It is a lubricant that dries to a thin wax film. Works great on the cast iron tops of woodworking stationary tools and bicycle chains. Originally developed for Boeing aircraft.

I eat a lot of beef jerky & beer nuts. Unfortunately, that stuff can bind you up perty bad. I find that if I spray the jerky with WD40 prior to ingesting, I don't have that problem.

Didn't See On The List
 

Spray it on gum stuck in the carpet. Gum will come right off with scrapping knife.

My wife said if she had known of wd 40 before we were hitched, she wouldn't have needed me!:(

John, have you ever tried Howe's oil? It seems to be real good stuff. While not as reportedly universal as WD 40, it is very good as a penetrating oil, and doesn't dry.
Terry

I want my cut fer all this biz im bringin em :D

All of these uses for WD-40 and no one mentioned removing big red numbers, shame on you.

I tried it to remove the stickum left after my big red numbers came off. Unfortunately all it did was drip on my nameplate and take off the blue paint! Lesson learned, but I'm still trying to get the number gunk off.

Personally, when it comes to stuck nuts & bolts, I prefer Kroil. And when it comes to my guitar strings, I wouldn't let either of those products near 'em! ;)

wd-40
 

Do not use it on/in pneumatic
tools, the stuff eats the "0" rings.

mark

VERY interesting thread.
I have heard for years that the WD in WD-40 stands for 'Water Displacement.'
[Does anyone know what the '40' stands for?]
Guess that is why it works so well on wet wiring, distributer caps, etc.

One thing NOT to use it for is locks!
As posted earlier, it's petroleum base, does attract dust, dirt, etc., and might eventually gum up the pins, tumblers, etc.
EVERY master locksmith I have talked to recommends graphite powder for locks.
Be sure to 'work it in,' inserting and removing the key several times - and REMEMBER that there will probably be graphite residue on your key, so wipe it off before putting it back in your pocket.

I have heard it was the 40th formulation that they tried. It worked so the name was assigned.

Thanks for the info!

Reminds me about the 'lore' of the 10-15 onion.
Seems as though they plant them on the 15th of Octrober every year.
Then again, it might have something to do with the Texas A & M University Agricultural Research facility, where the onion was developed, in South Texas, being located on Texas Farm Road 1015!

That is correct, Brett. Water Displacement Formula Number 40 wouldn't fit on the can... :rolleyes:
Terry

Didn't know that!! I've used Wire-Dri (yellow can?) & WD-40 back in the 60's & 70's when dist. caps & ign. coils failed so often when wet!! I thought WD-40 was mainly designed as a penetraitng fluid for rusted fasteners & the wet ignition use was a bonus.

WD-40 is good for one thing in Texas. That is starting a diesel engine when it is cold out.
Use it two or three times a year in January.
It will lock up any moving parts in a day or two. It is not a lubricat in dusty conditions but starts diesel real well.

Andrew Selking
WBCCI # 6062 VAC

The product began from a search for a rust preventative solvent and de-greaser to protect missile parts. WD-40 was created in 1953 by three technicians at the San Diego Rocket Chemical Company. It's name comes from the project that was to find a "water displacement" compound. They were
successful with the fortieth formulation, thus WD-40.

what about WD-40 running down the skin?
 

The rock guard on my front window is frozen so tightly that it feels like it's welded. I was gonna spray WD-40 but thought I would read in here first, because I don't want to do any MORE damage to my Trade Wind's skin.

After reading this thread, I THINK I can safely spray it on the latches, of course I will mop up what runs down the front!

Any input? OK to spray it on the latches of the rock guard?

Thanks,

Connie

Having never tasted WD-40 I wasn't aware of its tract qualities but should I use it on the door latch of my trailer? It doesn't stick all that well so I was thinking of using white grease--just a little. My door latch sticks.

You don't say...
 

This begs a response~!!
I'm not gonna~ :eek:
ciao
53FC :D

never heard of it terry!

john

https://www.howeslube.com/products/index.php/category/40
Try this link.
Terry

Another use for WD-40
 

My wife and I purchased an Argosy Minuet 6.0 wich had peeling decal striping around the entire periphery! The WD-40 removed all the glue residue without harmimg the painted surface! It worked better than anything else I tried, and made a big job a lot smaller!

John,

be sure to search the forums for the dangers of WD 40. Being a machinist (I read your profile!) you probably already know about material safety, so 'nuf said!.

Since you're in Windsor, you ought to come to the Mackinaw City rally next month. We're new to Airstream ownership and the forum, too, so you know that there will be other newbies there too!.


John

It is also what Briggs & Stratton recommends using to start their gas engines in their training courses.

John

My favorite use...killing wasps in the 30 amp electrical box at the campground...knocks them out cold.

Mac city rally
 

Love to but we'll be in Branson Missouri. at that time.

Lets keep these silver toasters rolling