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Posts: 338
Location: Omaha | The product began from a search for a rust preventative solvent and degreaser 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 Corvair 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 (one of the original founders) 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
Loosens stubborn 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
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 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. Can WD-40 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've had 50 successful years."
;)
Any one want to add to the list? I'll bet it would keep those old Ovation bowls really shiny! (And they'd never stay on your lap...)
:confused: |
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September 2003
Posts: 782
Location: Waurika OK | There was a man here in town that swore by WD 40 for arthritic joints. He used regularly. He is now dead, I have no idea if there is any connection. I am not recommending anyone try this!
noel |
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Posts: 2503
Location: Fayetteville, NC | Too Late!! |
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Posts: 295
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada | A WD-40 fan club?? Kookiest thing I've heard in a long time...no...wait a minute - I've heard a bunch of nut-bars formed an Ovation fan club! ;) |
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December 2003
Posts: 13996
Location: Upper Left USA | A sharp knife, a roll of silver duct tape and two cans of WD-40 and I could take on the world! |
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December 2003
Posts: 1071
Location: Carle Place, NY | I always thought that WD40 was only available in a spray can, but I recently saw it at Lowe's in gallon size containers. I said to myself, "what on earth does anyone need a gallon of WD40 for?" Now I know!! |
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Posts: 648
Location: Florida | I've got some friends who are closet Klingons. They use WD40 to get the latex adhesive off thier faces when they're coming out of costume. |
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Posts: 127
Location: Corvallis, OR | About twentyfive years ago, I went on an informal tour of the factory, and if memory serves (and with passing each day, there is an increasing chance that it wont)I recall the following:
1) The basic ingredient is fish oil . People have known for centuries about the lubrcating (and cheap) nature of fish oil, but it was never popular, because it stinks.
2) Even after boiling in huge vats to purify the stuff, the inventors still needed something to make it less offensive. They found something (they wouldnt say much about it, naturally) that is slightly perfumey , and eliminates the fish smell.
In short, the inventor's claim to fame is finding out how to market something that was cheap and plentiful (the San Diego area has a large fishing fleet) and needed mainly a unique perfume that would make the product attrractive.
Felix
models 1624 and 6774 |
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December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | the lubrication is only temporary.
It works better as a rust cutter. |
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July 2004
Posts: 338
Location: Omaha | I've got some friends who are closet Klingons. They use WD40 to get the latex adhesive off thier faces when they're coming out of costume.
Oh boy...here comes Bailey (from somewhere in New Mexico...); you HAD to get him started...!
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December 2003
Posts: 13996
Location: Upper Left USA | I've used it to remove cling-ons before! |
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January 2004
Posts: 648
Location: Florida | Is Bailey a Trekkie?
All the Klingon friends are driving their ship up to Atlanta for DragonCon next week (the worlds biggest freakshow if you ask me). |
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Posts: 2246
Location: Yucaipa, California | ...perfect venue to sell a truckload of Trekker O's! |
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Posts: 2503
Location: Fayetteville, NC | That would be totally Logical! :cool: |
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January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | I'm not sure about using it but it seems like I'm always buying a can of it cause I can't find the one from before. |
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November 2002
Posts: 3651
Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire | Pine Pitch Removal. Some for the saw, some for your hands, etc., etc., etc.......
My gunsmith friend is pretty negative about it, on the innards, at least- leaves a real gummy residue that retards some of the fine tuning of the trigger and sear, especially. |
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December 2003
Posts: 77
Location: Texas | Main use is to free up rusted nuts/bolts that have fused themselves together.
Secondary use is for removing residue of "sticker glue" from glass. These are the times that Windex fails, but good old WD-40 gets the job done. Then I use Windex to clean the residue left by the WD-40 on the glass.
-Gary K |
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March 2002
Posts: 1380
Location: Central Oregon | The first time I saw & used WD40 was in early April 1964. A friend of mine's dad owned the hardware/lumber/sporting goods store in Kodiak. He had several dozen brand new Sako rifles that had been under salt water during the tsunami after the Alaska earthquake (March 27, 1964, Good Friday). As soon as he could get to them he put the guns in fresh water until we could start cleaning them. We used WD40 to get all the water out of them after we took 'em all apart. Then we dried 'em off & re-oiled 'em & put 'em back together. They were still like new. One thing though, If you use it to dry out guns that have gotten wet- don't get it on your scope, it will ruin the lens seals.
Spray it in a wet distributor cap & wet wires your engine will start. (*Not applicable on newer vehicles.) Works great on old Harley ignition systems & outboard motors.
Also works to remove burnt on oil from chrome exhaust pipes. It will even keep new chrome pipes from turning blue- squirt a whole buttload of it inside the pipes, bolt 'em on, start the bike & let it warm up. Shut it off, let it cool, pull the pipes & repeat, twice more. For some reason it will make a coating inside that will keep the pipes from turning blue. Don't know why, but it works.
Squirt it into still primed military cartridge cases to kill the primers before de-capping them for reloading. WD is instant death on primer compound. Get a primer in upside down? Shoot it with WD before you pop it out & it won't go bang. Guaranteed.
Great for cleaning burnt-on castor oil from model airplane engines.
It really does work on fishing lures. Besides attracting fish, it will keep you gear shiny bright & keep hooks sharp by not allowing them to rust. Great for wet fishing reels too, it even helps the line spool out better.
It will clean up crusty battery cables to get your car started. They'll be easier to remove for a proper cleaning as well.
I spray it on any tool I use that may get battery corrosion on it at the body shop. Especially my battery pliers & cable puller.
Last but not least-
Wait until after dark, then flick your BIC & squirt WD40 over it. It makes a really dandy flame thrower! Once it's lit you can keep spraying & it will keep burning. It'll shoot out 6 or 8 feet. Guaranteed to scare the crap out of everybody in the area! Not that I really suggest anyone actually do this, & DEFINITELY DON'T DO IT UNDER A TREE OR NEAR ANYTHING FLAMMABLE.....
/\/\/ |
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May 2002
Posts: 3005
Location: Las Cruces, NM | It appears on the bedstand in many Roswell bedrooms, especially those that appear to have a VERY satisfying sex life. |
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August 2002
Posts: 623
Location: Lake Hiawatha, New Jersey | Hmmmm.
Perhaps "coincindence"...I put some WD-40 on my week old guitar strings before rehearsal last night. Just lightly sprayed it on a paper towel, and lightly applied to the strings, being careful not to get any on the neck.
Within a half hour I had 4 strings break, three within 5 minutes of each other. I tend to break a lot of strings anyway, just seems odd that 4 broke so quickly within a short period after applying this stuff.
Johnny |
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April 2004
Posts: 265
Location: Warrenton, Virginia | Good for your feet and shoes and ball gloves.....and maybe what Baily said.....though I can't confirm that one. |
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March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | Johnny;
If it's any consolation, I got the same result with Dunlop65 STRING Cleaner.
Made the strings nice and clean before breaking . . . |
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What do you use WD-40 for? An anthology (of sorts...)