WD40 - any substitute?

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cmedsailor

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Everybody (including myself) seems to know and probably use WD40. Are there any other penetrating oils equally good or even better?
I used in the past a few times another penetrating oil ("contact 60" or "contact 72" was probably called; cannot remember the exact name number and cannot even google it) with very good results.

Edit: I have managed to remember it! It was KONTAKT 60.
 
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pvb said:
WD40 isn't a penetrating oil. PlusGas is a good penetrating oil, but there are others.
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There maybe other, but PlusGas has got to be one of the best.

As said, WD40 is a water displacer, and although it isn't bad for that, it's a lousy penetrating fluid and things like 3 in 1 oil are much better for lubricating and rust prevention.
 
One product that I've used for nearly 30 years for rust prevention is Boeshield T-9.

http://boeshield.com/

Tools coated with this, and even the inside working of my sewing machine, have never rusted on board despite all these years of salty damp air.

The big advantage is, it seems to dry, but remain effective. Even the fluff inside the sewing machine has not 'stuck' to it.

By contrast, my other favourite is Lanocote. Messy, but nothing works better. I coat all the electrical fittings with it (including bulb bases and fittings) and even the metal parts and bulbs in bow lights remain like new after 25 years of being plunged into waves. I also dip the ends of wires into it before crimping on terminals, so even without using tinned wired, water doesn't seem to migrate along the insulation and corrode the wire strands. When you're done you just rub the excess into your hands.
 
cmedsailor said:
Everybody (including myself) seems to know and probably use WD40. Are there any other penetrating oils equally good or even better?
I used in the past a few times another penetrating oil ("contact 60" or "contact 72" was probably called; cannot remember the exact name number and cannot even google it) with very good results.

Edit: I have managed to remember it! It was KONTAKT 60.
Click to expand...

Kerosene (paraffin) or even diesel.
They used to use kerosene for 'crack testing' metals - apply, rub off, then put a layer of chalk/white wash on. The crack would show, when the kerosene leaked out & was easy to spot on the white background.

Diesel, will get almost anywhere, but try not to get it on your hands/eyes.
 
Latest technology is definately ACF-50 or corrosion block. No question it works far better than anything else I've cme across, particularly good with Al and salt water corrosion. Reminds me I need to get a nother can. I don't think anything else can chemically disolve the products of corrosion as ACF does? but I stand to be corrected.
 
3 in 1 actually make a penetrating oil, but plus gas and duck oil are my penetrating oils of choice. I used to use an american product called "Free" but it's been years since I saw it for sale, even in the USA. That stuff really was "magic".
 
lenseman said:
WD40 is only White Spirit, if you want to use it then buy white spirit and a garden centre hand spray, it would be a lot cheaper.
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No its not. If you remember it used to be called 'Rocket WD40' and that was because it was developed for a the Atlas Rocket programme to displace water from the components in the rocket prior to launch. The formula is quite complicated in the military we used something similar call PX28.
 
HoratioHB said:
No its not. If you remember it used to be called 'Rocket WD40' and that was because it was developed for a the Atlas Rocket programme to displace water from the components in the rocket prior to launch. The formula is quite complicated in the military we used something similar call PX28.
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I suggest you do a little research, it is white spirit plus an SAE5 (sewing machine type oil) plus a perfume.

Not disputing its original use but it still is white spirit by any name you want to give it (Stoddard solvent).



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