Does wd-40/pb blaster do as much bad as good?
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swami2806
Active member
Yeah if it's a tight spot and it's hard keeping the socket square on the head I can see that. Though, I do wipe all fasteners down just so my sockets, especially the smaller ones, don't get dirty so cleaning them afterwords is easier.
Sockets turn bolts with pressure, not friction, so a socket and bolt slathered in the slipperiest of oil should still turn just fine. In situations, like a screw with a blade drive, friction is an issue and a bit of grit (like used to seat valves) can be used to give the bit some bite.
OTOH WD40 as a lubricant is a mixed bag since its a dust magnet that over time becomes more grime than slide.
OTOH WD40 as a lubricant is a mixed bag since its a dust magnet that over time becomes more grime than slide.
Pressure and and friction I think go hand in hand to an extent, if you have a stuburn bolt that wants to strip, onces you get to a certain point it will ether want to bite in or will have a lack of friction and will be lubricated to spin and round.
znowaczyk
Banned
:shakes head:
if you use the proper sized socket/wrench for the fastener, friction has nothing to do with it. The socket applies pressure to the sides or corners of the fastener. The penetrating oil has no ill effeects on it.
shampoop
Well-known member
Definitely does more good. Try to loosen any exhaust bolt without it.
moronmountain
Well-known member
PB Blaster is what I use. WD iirc has a fairly high water content.
Water Displacement, formula 40.
usdemt
Well-known member
WD-40 is the 40th attempt at a water dispersing agent IIRC. Thats where the name come from, but I have actually never confirmed this just heard it from the old timers.
moronmountain
Well-known member
usdemt
Well-known member
Well I guess you learn something every day.I still prefer PB Blaster.
For a penetrating agent I agree, for a quick fix all around lube WD-40 is a must have. To me it is kind of like duct tape, there may be a better thing out there but its going to get you by in a pinch.
WD40 turns up so cheap from time to time, I buy it and use to clean tools, take off label goo, all sorts of things, just not to lubricate or preserve.
Seriously stuck bolts etc I use Kroil, but I also use Marvel Mystery Oil, PB Blaster, handful of special sprays.
Seriously stuck bolts etc I use Kroil, but I also use Marvel Mystery Oil, PB Blaster, handful of special sprays.
mrholeshot
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Spray the **** out of the bolt, use a good socket, no worries
mrholeshot
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Thats 100% correct.
Zrexxer
Well-known member
W650Mike
Well-known member
I've never really found a good use for WD-40 and quit buying it years ago. Just too many other penetrating oils, light oils, etc that are better.
littletoes
Well-known member
100% SPOT ON.
WD-40 is ****. Does NOT work. As said above, it was Designed to "displace Water", and sure, it does that, but it was NOT developed to free rusted bolts, hell it doesn't do anything to rust!
Go with something from CRC, like their 3-36, or anything else, it will work at least 10 times better than wd-40. And if you can get it, go with Kroil. In tests, Kroil beat All Comers hands down. Only one thing beat Kroil, and that was some home-made concoction that had the recipe on the net.
The #1 reason NOT to use wd-40?
IT IS A CLASS V CHEMICAL. That means it will absorb directly through your skin, and STAY in your organs, causing Cancer either later, or Earlier depending on your genetics. And it says it right on the label. On a scale of 1 to 5, 5 being the "worse", which means it causes cancer the "most times", are you sure you want to take a chance???
Use something that "Works" guys....sell the wd-40 to somebody you don't like, hell give it away....
mrholeshot
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While PB blaster is a better penatrant if I only could have one penatrant it would be WD40. Not only will it disapate moisture it will protect from rust and despite some gossip is will help free rusted bolt because it is a penatrant. As far as causing cancer I would suggest you don't drink it, bath in it or use it as aftershave. It also does a lot more than displace moisture. I spray down my lawn equiptment for winter storage with WD40 as well as my generators and other equiptment and power tools. It's good ****.
littletoes
Well-known member
Its hype....
Try it against anything else, dare 'ya. Use a torque wrench even.
Try it against anything else, dare 'ya. Use a torque wrench even.
TheGrooveking
Well-known member
Where did you get this info from? CLASS V Chemical? Here is the MSDS for it
http://www.wd40.com/files/pdf/msds-wd482671453.pdf
In section 2 it lists it as NOT being a cancer causing agent. So are you telling us they are lieing to us?
TheGrooveking
littletoes
Well-known member
Working as an AHERA inspector, the Industrial Hygienist I was working with, talked about chemical awareness with a couple of us, that there were some very dangerous chemicals that we come into contact with, day-to-day.
The saying-Familiarity Breeds Contempt, shows that we do not properly respect the chemicals that we are exposed to in a day to day working environment.
The two he listed first are Household Bleach, and WD-40.
I've seen guys wash grease from their hands using WD-40, and brag how good it would work.
Tell me this, do you guys think WD-40 actually works better than any of the water less soaps for removing grease???
Well, it doesn't work any better at removing rusted or frozen bolts than any of the other penetrants that were actually ORIGINALLY made to remove frozen bolts, and not displace water.
There was an extensive test done in a very good Machinists magazine on rusted/frozen bolts soaked in salt water for different amounts of time, and of all the penetrant/chemicals used, WD-40 took last place, hands down, with Kroil coming up second to some home-made concoction that I don't remember the name or make-up.
Wish I had kept the article! It was a quite good write up.
But, as I was saying above, Cancer is one thing I don't like to take too many chances with, especially as I grow older. We don't use WD-40 in our shop anymore, and we haven't missed it. Rusted bolts is an almost daily event for us too.
The saying-Familiarity Breeds Contempt, shows that we do not properly respect the chemicals that we are exposed to in a day to day working environment.
The two he listed first are Household Bleach, and WD-40.
I've seen guys wash grease from their hands using WD-40, and brag how good it would work.
Tell me this, do you guys think WD-40 actually works better than any of the water less soaps for removing grease???
Well, it doesn't work any better at removing rusted or frozen bolts than any of the other penetrants that were actually ORIGINALLY made to remove frozen bolts, and not displace water.
There was an extensive test done in a very good Machinists magazine on rusted/frozen bolts soaked in salt water for different amounts of time, and of all the penetrant/chemicals used, WD-40 took last place, hands down, with Kroil coming up second to some home-made concoction that I don't remember the name or make-up.
Wish I had kept the article! It was a quite good write up.
But, as I was saying above, Cancer is one thing I don't like to take too many chances with, especially as I grow older. We don't use WD-40 in our shop anymore, and we haven't missed it. Rusted bolts is an almost daily event for us too.
mrholeshot
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WD40 may not be the best penatrant on the planet but it does so many things so good that if I only had to use one can of anything WD40 would be it. Every chemical has it's bad points. It's still a good penatrant and rust inhibitor as well as water displacer. I buy it 4 gallons at the time
TheGrooveking
Well-known member
I agree WD40 is worthless when it comes to loosening rust/stuck bolts. I unfortunately had a boss in the early 80's when I was starting out that soak all of the maintenance/machining department stones in WD40. We used these to polish tracks that credit cards were fed thru in the various processes they go thru. So my hands were all over WD40 or should I say WD40 was all over my hands for many hours.
But you do need to ask yourself this, if rust is caused by moisture, then the probability of moisture being in a rusted connection (bolt/nut, fastener/hole) then does WD40's wicking action pull it into the joint? You know the ol' capillary action?
TheGrooveking
But you do need to ask yourself this, if rust is caused by moisture, then the probability of moisture being in a rusted connection (bolt/nut, fastener/hole) then does WD40's wicking action pull it into the joint? You know the ol' capillary action?
TheGrooveking
TheGrooveking
Well-known member
I could not find the original article, but I found some reference to it:
Machinist's Workshop magazine actually tested penetrants for break out torque on rusted nuts.
Significant results! They are below, as forwarded by an ex-student and professional machinist, Bud Baker.
*Don't forget the April 2007 "Machinist's Workshop" magazine comparison test.*
**
*They arranged a subjective test of all the popular penetrants with the control being the torque required to remove the nut from a "scientifically rusted" environment. *
**
* Penetrating oil ..... Average load*
None ...................... 516 pounds
WD-40 ................... 238 pounds
PB Blaster .............. 214 pounds
Liquid Wrench ........ 127 pounds
Kano Kroil .............. 106 pounds
ATF-Acetone mix.......53 pounds
*The ATF-Acetone mix was a "home brew" mix of 50 - 50 automatic transmission fluid and acetone.*
*Note the "home brew" was better than any commercial product in this one particular test.
Our local machinist group mixed up a batch and we all now use it with equally good results.
Note also that "Liquid Wrench" is about as good as "Kroil" for about 20% of the price. *
**
*Your experience may vary, etc., etc.*
TheGrooveking
Machinist's Workshop magazine actually tested penetrants for break out torque on rusted nuts.
Significant results! They are below, as forwarded by an ex-student and professional machinist, Bud Baker.
*Don't forget the April 2007 "Machinist's Workshop" magazine comparison test.*
**
*They arranged a subjective test of all the popular penetrants with the control being the torque required to remove the nut from a "scientifically rusted" environment. *
**
* Penetrating oil ..... Average load*
None ...................... 516 pounds
WD-40 ................... 238 pounds
PB Blaster .............. 214 pounds
Liquid Wrench ........ 127 pounds
Kano Kroil .............. 106 pounds
ATF-Acetone mix.......53 pounds
*The ATF-Acetone mix was a "home brew" mix of 50 - 50 automatic transmission fluid and acetone.*
*Note the "home brew" was better than any commercial product in this one particular test.
Our local machinist group mixed up a batch and we all now use it with equally good results.
Note also that "Liquid Wrench" is about as good as "Kroil" for about 20% of the price. *
**
*Your experience may vary, etc., etc.*
TheGrooveking
premierplayer
Well-known member
“You only need two tools in life, Duct Tape® and WD-40. If it’s not stuck and it’s supposed to be, Duct Tape it. If it’s stuck and it’s not supposed to be, WD-40 it.”
Facts and myths about WD40
http://www.wd40.com/about-us/myths-legends-fun-facts/
Facts and myths about WD40
http://www.wd40.com/about-us/myths-legends-fun-facts/
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
+100 !
They used to advertise WD40 as a way to start a car with a damp distributor cap. I may have worked, but the grime it picked up between storms was almost guaranteed to cause the no start next time it rained.
mikeemon
Member
WD-40 is a jack of all trades and master of none. It is relatively cheap and available everywhere. Whether I mean to or not, I always end up with more bottles of it.
If you think Kroil is the healthier substitute you're delusional
. The MSDS information for WD-40 clearly has the Cancer option checked no. Its also been used in households across america for decades. Everyone may not have a combo wrench but i bet you'll find some WD-40 in their shed or basement. I'd think there would of been many dead people and a whole lot of lawsuits as well if it was anything near as potent as you make it out to be. But you enjoy whatever it is you have around. Honestly pretty much all of the substances mechanics subject themselves to on a daily basis could be deemed cancer causing so any lubricant would be the last thing i'd worry about. One garage in particular i was in reeked of brake cleaner 24 hours a day 7 days a week. I'd swear the guys there were drinking it and spraying it on their food to become that attuned to it.Dont agree entirely. It use to be highly flammable due to the propellant but they changed over to CO2 some years back so its no longer good for checking intake leaks and the like.
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bobemmerich
Well-known member
I use PB Blaster. Good stuff. The best thing I ever saw work was a can of stuff that came in a "car care kit" from Chrysler. It came in the kit when my father bought his Plymouth Reliant back in the late 80's. That stuff was the best I ever used. I believe it was called "Mopar Rust Penetrate and Lubricant" or something like that. We just used to call it "The Mopar ****"
Too bad I used it all up years ago, that WAS good stuff!.
Too bad I used it all up years ago, that WAS good stuff!.mikeemon
Member
I didn't realize that. Than it can no longer help the green army men be victorious over tan.
So sad.trbomax
Well-known member
The only thing I have found wd 40 to be good for is getting tangles out of the horses tails and manes.We use the non aresol and spray them down the day before,then brush/spray some more the next day. Used to have to cut the tail tangles out,not with wd!
BQuicksilver
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You got some bad info. As a physician and someone who can read an MSDS I'm confident this is misinformation.
Maybe the industrial hygienist (whatever that is) got aliphatic hydrocarbon confused with aromatic hydrocarbon...even that is a stretch.
WD40 is safe, and definitely not a carcinogen.
I use it as a catch-all "I wonder if WD40 would work here" compound.
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WD-40 is an incredible multi purpose invention!
Today I bought a craftsman 1 11/16 socket and it has a really stuck on barcode sticker and when I got home the first thing I did was spray some on the sticker for removal.
I am going to try the acetone-atf mix because I have heard that it is incredible.
Today I bought a craftsman 1 11/16 socket and it has a really stuck on barcode sticker and when I got home the first thing I did was spray some on the sticker for removal.
I am going to try the acetone-atf mix because I have heard that it is incredible.