Uses for WD-40

bilbobaggins

bilbobaggins

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While responding to BigNix' plea for help ( well-Sikaflex'd hands will do nothing for his love life ), I remembered this WD-40 list and thought to remind peeps of just how useful this product is.

And if you dry-sail your racing yacht, a good smear of this wonder agent all over the wetted hull before launch will put at least a quarter-knot on. Provided you go straight to the start, and get on with it..... Can't remember whether it's street-legal, but it's better than silicone polish!

You *didn't* hear that here...... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
There are some real gems in that list. I haven't read it all but this is one of my favorites:

• Shines atlas missiles

I'm sure the recipient of the missile would appreciate that! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Quote:
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Oh, and look in here


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I was thinking that some of these were a little far fetched when I got down to
"Keeps asphalt from sticking to dump truck bed" and
"Lubricates emergency gear handle on Piper Aztec".

I realised that some of them really are a p!sstake when I got to
"Keeps prison doors from squeaking" and "Cleans rust off Santa's sleigh runners", but the absolute number one IMO is

"Helps remove stuck prosthetic leg"

I can just imagine some poor blighter sat on his bed at night, squirting WD40 into the gap.........
 
They missed one from the bedroom list :- spray on SWMBO to make her all nice and slippery - be like trying to grab a wet bar of soap /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
 
Nasty stuff – if you use it all the time wear protective gloves…

Surprised to see minor aircraft use in the list – the aviation engineers I know swear at the stuff rather than swear by it. It certainly goes nowhere near my little aircraft. The residue it leaves behind, which provides the corrosion protection, attracts dirt and doesn’t provide continued lubrication. Good for freeing rusty gate hinges before you can get some proper oil on. Oh, and as already mentioned for protecting the casings of Atlas Missile from corrosion. This was the original purpose when developed by the Rocket Oil Company in the 50s I seem to remember.
 
Most of the documented uses are very short term as it is usless for corrosion protection and real oil and or grease needs to be applied asap after WD 40 treatment. However the one thing that could have sold it more in the 60s was that it was the best thing to have in your car through winter if a Mini or 1100 and even other cars subject to condensation on the HT leads and distributor cap.

Engine would not start....no bother. Quick squirt of WD 40 and fire up no problem.

Even now this application is just described as Displaces water from spark plug leads in amongst a load of useless applications????????

There you have it....Gets you into the silver cup catagory if dinghy racing and gets your aintique mini going PDQ.

What ever you do dont apply it to polished steel as a corrosion protection...

/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
When I worked for British Airways (or BOAC as it was then), we used gallons of Rocket WD40 in liquid form, no spray cans! Very good at cleaning off corrosion. I seem to remember that we would wipe off as much of the stuff as possible afterwards in order not to leave too much of a film to collect dirt.
 
It doesn't list a somewhat surprising use that a gardening friend told me about this weekend.

Apparently slugs hate it, so if you spray it on the soil around a favourite plant it keeps the slimy b@@@ers away /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
For some years now the 'snow birds; ie Aging americans who drift south for the winter have used WD40 on their hands to get the joints working !!. . . . . I reckon it works too. . . have a try.
 
me in angola, head of maintenance, used to buy it by the bucketful from the states, used to use it for everything, suspect some of the sour grapes here is due to an inbuilt chip on shoulder about american gear!! i found out that it didnt harm rubber either so was useful for washing brake parts with, was also good for starting stubborn diesel donks that were past their best, think it was down to the propellant. also if it is such a prob for skin why is mine still in perfect nick?
stu
 
WD-40 is 50% Stoddard solvent a.k.a White Spirit. I know many of us are gung-ho when it comes to use of solvents - far more so than in industry - but there is some danger from repeated or concentrated exposure. Of course, if a life times use impairs your mental abilities, how would you know? /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif It also explains the odd behavour of the decorators I have had. The good news from a boaty perspective is that it doesn’t seem to harm aquatic life – much. So cheap go-faster antifouling then.

For those that won’t take my word for it; I quote below from the PCS INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMME ON CHEMICAL SAFETY
Health and Safety Guide No. 103 which can be found at:

http://www.inchem.org/documents/hsg/hsg/hsg103.htm


“White spirit has low acute toxicity by inhalation, dermal and
oral routes. However, acute exposure can lead to central nervous
system (CNS) depression resulting in lack of coordination and slowed
reactions. Exposure to very high concentrations in enclosed spaces
can lead to narcotic effects and loss of consciousness. Oral
ingestion presents a high aspiration hazard. Prolonged or repeated
skin exposure can result in severe irritant dermatitis.

Exposure to an average white spirit concentration of 240 mg/m3
(40 ppm) for more than 13 years could lead to chronic CNS effects.
White spirit is implicated in the development of "chronic toxic
encephalopathy" among house painters.

Owing to the volatility and low bioavailability of its
constituents, white spirit, although it is moderately toxic to aquatic
organisms, is unlikely to present significant hazards to the
environment.”
 
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