I didnt know any of this
https://www.foxbusiness.com/retail/...ity-to-move-its-secret-formula-after-65-years
https://www.foxbusiness.com/retail/...ity-to-move-its-secret-formula-after-65-years
Interesting WD40 article
- Thread starter Chaznsc
- Start date
MikeF2316
Well-known member
Call me a cynic, but my bet is that any chemical company that wants the WD40 formula bought a can and analyzed the contents, and now know everything there is to know about it. So this is just a publicity stunt.
Stuart in MN
Well-known member
This I didn't know: "Some of their other products include 3-In-One Oil, 2000 Flushes and Lava, a heavy-duty hand cleaner."
Richard Cranium
Well-known member
I didn't know what else that they made either.
finn
Well-known member
Typical “in depth” Faux news propaganda story.
mdog892001
Banned
It’s fish oil in a spray can
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
cptn_zippy
Well-known member
A gas chromatograph would likely reveal the secret formula in short order.
Don’t get me wrong, I make frequent use of the stuff because it’s cheap, readily available and versatile, but it always has been about the marketing, not the miracles.
J
Don’t get me wrong, I make frequent use of the stuff because it’s cheap, readily available and versatile, but it always has been about the marketing, not the miracles.
J
Last edited:
ddawg16
Well-known member
with a solvent.....the solvent evap's leaving the fish oil.
doublearon98
Well-known member
I'd be willing to bet WD-40 is mineral oil and some type of thinner to drastically lower its lubrisity plus some other additives. I have a feeling that some companies have performed test on it to find the makeup, but it would be illegal to release their findings and non-beneficial to either party.
3n1 is thinned mineral oil with additives and color. Didnt know wd40 bought 3n1.
I have used wd40 in years but I use a **** load of 3n1
Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
3n1 is thinned mineral oil with additives and color. Didnt know wd40 bought 3n1.
I have used wd40 in years but I use a **** load of 3n1
Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
Last edited:
RVDan
Well-known member
Looks more like three paragraphs, far from an article.
EVOLVO
Well-known member
When I worked as a Service Engineer in the marine propulsion industry I grew to hate WD40. I worked with very close tolerance SKF shaft couplings. Here's an explanation of how they worked:
http://www.skf.com/binary/81-168801/OK_1_1410_Eng.pdf
Anyway, whenever I came across a coupling that resisted being removed from a shaft it almost always turned out that the last installer had used WD40 as a lubricant to slide the coupling into position. It's not the WD40's fault, it's not really meant to be used that way, but lots of folks treat it as an oil when it's actually a water displacement. When it's used as a lubricant on tight tolerance machined surfaces it attracts water which eventually turns to rust and makes it very difficult to break the rust seal.
I do own several cans though
http://www.skf.com/binary/81-168801/OK_1_1410_Eng.pdf
Anyway, whenever I came across a coupling that resisted being removed from a shaft it almost always turned out that the last installer had used WD40 as a lubricant to slide the coupling into position. It's not the WD40's fault, it's not really meant to be used that way, but lots of folks treat it as an oil when it's actually a water displacement. When it's used as a lubricant on tight tolerance machined surfaces it attracts water which eventually turns to rust and makes it very difficult to break the rust seal.
I do own several cans though
My question is why do people buy it? What's it good for?
There are far better penetrents, far better lubricants and far better rust inhibitors.
The times I've needed to displace water are far and few between.
So what do you do with this stuff that makes it a good choice??
There are far better penetrents, far better lubricants and far better rust inhibitors.
The times I've needed to displace water are far and few between.
So what do you do with this stuff that makes it a good choice??
Last edited:
johnnyradiant
Well-known member
It's a good cleaner of glue residue from stickers/lables. There are many uses for it just as there are many not-uses for it. The problem with it is that it does not discriminate the education level of the user in terms of how it is used.
MikeF2316
Well-known member
The WD-40 company didn't actually develop any of those other products, they just bought the companies that did.
Old Man Roger
Well-known member
I drill with it, clean certain things with it, use It for removing rusty bolts, removing permanent marker, it's a good gentle solvent, ect ect.
428PI
Well-known member
I've been wary of using WD-40 as strickly a lubricant on finely machined levers, etc. I know on some IH tractors the levers on the right side of dash can get stuck. We used soemthing like WD-40 to get them freed up but made sure they got some oil as permanent lubrication. Personally I use it at home. At work I prefer something like PB blast for rust and for more lubricant CRC power lube ( the stuff in the red can!). I've known machinists use WD-40 on their tables on grinders etc. to keep rust from forming.
wssix99
Well-known member
I'll bet they are going to move it in to the Coke Vault for super-high security...
Yea, I'd hate to be working as one of the security guards and then get pulled into this PR stunt.
Yea, I'd hate to be working as one of the security guards and then get pulled into this PR stunt.
dkroth
Well-known member
If I had bought WDFC instead of WD-40, well, I'd have more money.
.
.
GaryM909
Well-known member
I like using it on my outdoor tools like pipe stands and chain vise grips. It lubricates enough to make them work and then kind of dries up so the tools don't stay oily and collect dirt.
Ole Slewfoot
Well-known member
The real secret they are guarding is how to consistently get the nozzle to stop working at half a can. Rust-oleum would pay millions.
Always worked great on my old Vw bug distributor cap to get rid of moisture. When I was younger and worked as a machinist we had drums of it and we would coat cast iron and steel machinery with it to keep from rusting when we were done machining them as we would pressure test our products under water to check for cracks and warpage and it worked great for that. As a Locksmith now, I use it generically on some door components to clean and expel moisture etc, but you should never use it to lubricate a lock or its internal components. A spray mixture with light ptfe w/ acetone that will clean flush and then evaporate works best for that.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
Last edited:
Falcon67
Well-known member
Makes a passable shut down spray when running methanol, though I prefer Sta-Bil or Klotz. Minor cuts, spraying down a motor that's going to sit a but, cleaning cylinder bores, some machining operations, plenty of other things. I have maybe 4~5 cans around at any one time, plus more in the race trailer.
dkroth
Well-known member
Wait, Rust-oleum already does that. The switched nozzle systems several years ago ensuring the failure at 0.5 can and or 18 months of age. Maybe they had input from the Russians.
.
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
Go for those jobs. Not a good general purpose light lubricant !
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
Short term rust inhibitor.
"Down under" they sell this version
Lanolin oil/grease is supposed to be one of the BEST corrosion inhibitors, especially on electrical contacts. Marine mechanics swear by the stuff.
I am pretty sure the funky smell from Fluid Filn is lanolin !
Seagoon
Well-known member
The one thing it was always good at was restoring the spark on a British Leyland Mini. That distributor just behind the grille collected any rain and shorted out. A good spray with WD-40 kept it going for a good few miles. Otherwise it's useless.
"WD" stand for "water displacement"
Not a lubricant, or rust penetrant, glue remover, or whatever.
But I have used it for those reasons and more.
(It does work very well on damp electrical stuff.)
I agree with seagoon's use on the orginal MINIs
I had two and dreaded a rainy rush hour.
Not a lubricant, or rust penetrant, glue remover, or whatever.
But I have used it for those reasons and more.
(It does work very well on damp electrical stuff.)
I agree with seagoon's use on the orginal MINIs
I had two and dreaded a rainy rush hour.
Last edited:
428PI
Well-known member
Oh, I almost forgot. WD40 works great for lubing up the angle iron on a Craftsman table saw so the fence slides easily.
Legion Prime
Well-known member
I have never found a use for the stuff. Its mediocre at best at everything. I tried using it to displace water on my MG distributor cap and it seemed to make matters worse. I always kept some napkins or paper towels in the glovebox because that was the only place that stayed dry in that car.
Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk
Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk
77Birdman
Well-known member
I always have a can around. I have found better products more suited for the task at hand though. When pop was alive he swore by the stuff. It didn't matter what needed fixed, wd-40 would do the trick! I think he would put it on a broken bone if he had a chance to.
oldtractors
Well-known member
We go through it by the gallon to clean my steam engine. I squirt it on ratchet chain binders and pipe wrenches, but for the most part, it is used as a cleaner.
Exactly...call any emergency room with a MD ID # and poison control will have you "what and in what amounts" in less than 2 minutes
Exactly...call any emergency room with a MD ID # and poison control will have you "what and in what amounts" in less than 2 minutes
Fueler
Well-known member
All I ever found it to do was gum things up.
freudianfloyd
Well-known member
I use it all the time, but rarely for lubrication. Just yesterday I used it to clean up the surface rust on my lathe. A little oil, and then some Scotch Brite, and it was as good as new. I can always seem to find a use for it. I also just used it to clean my toolboxes and to clean the dirt off of one of my chainsaws.