Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

WD-40: Strange Facts and Myths
livescience ^

Posted on 07/24/2009 9:27:58 PM PDT by JoeProBono

John S. Barry, the man "who masterminded the spread of WD-40," as The New York Times puts it, has died at age 84. The product he promoted is more popular than an iPod. WD-40 can be found in 4 out of 5 American households, the company claims. Its ingredients are a secret, and it has generated its share of myths and strange applications over the years.....

(Excerpt) Read more at livescience.com ...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: wd40
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-72 next last
To: NVDave
For penetrating lube, PB or Kroil actually work.

While they're both very good, I've found nothing that's in the same league as CorrosionX. The stuff is absolutely amazing.

At the beginning of each boating season I spray everything inside my outboard motor housing with the general purpose/marine formula, and my outdrive and trailer with the Heavy duty formula once . At the end of the season everything still has a protective film on it, and nothing ever rusts or seizes. At $20 per can it's a bargain.
41 posted on 07/24/2009 10:40:59 PM PDT by WackySam (The fact that there are 24 hours in a day, and 24 beers in a case, is not a coincidence.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 38 | View Replies]

To: Trod Upon

Please invite me to the show........signed goat granny


42 posted on 07/24/2009 10:42:07 PM PDT by goat granny
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]

To: JoeProBono

It’s great stuff.
My introduction to it was exactly 32 years ago.
I had just been hired as the ONE Carpenter to take care
of 1800 apartments on Marine Drive in Chicago. 2 towers,
29 stories high. The guy who’d been doing the job figured it was the right time to retire, having been in the window
mfg. business for many years and then this job to keep himself busy in his mid-to-late 60s. He was filling me in on the kinds of things I would inevitably get “work orders” on, and one of them was sticky locks on the entry doors to all these apartments. Lots of old ladies had the idea they needed new locksets, but the real problem with the sticky latch mechanisms was that they’d just get dirty and gunky from no maintenance,would get stuck halfway to the strikeplate, and all they really needed was a couple sprays of WD-40 followed by a careful rubbing with fine steel wool, followed by wiping with a cloth, and finally another few sprays of WD 40 directly into the latch mechanism. Worked every time.


43 posted on 07/24/2009 10:51:32 PM PDT by supremedoctrine (I think we have seen what tomorrow looks like, and should start acting on it today/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NVDave

PB Blast Rocks! WD-40 has it’s uses but will rust your fingerprints into raw metal excellent for removing cosmoline


44 posted on 07/24/2009 11:08:51 PM PDT by Rev. Lou Chenary (Live Free or Die for Death is not the Greatest of Evils)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 38 | View Replies]

To: Nik Naym

What happens if you put duct tape on WD-40?

What happens if you put WD-40 on duct tape?


45 posted on 07/25/2009 12:35:40 AM PDT by Arthur McGowan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: packrat35

A diesel mechanic I knew used it to torch black widow spiders in the truck garage.


46 posted on 07/25/2009 12:36:34 AM PDT by Jeff Chandler (The University of Notre Dame's motto: "Kill our unborn children? YES WE CAN!")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: JoeProBono

It works as a starter fluid if you don’t have any ether.


47 posted on 07/25/2009 12:38:12 AM PDT by Jeff Chandler (The University of Notre Dame's motto: "Kill our unborn children? YES WE CAN!")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: JoeProBono

I haven’t used it since I accidentally sprayed it in my face. I use PAM for loosening gunk.


48 posted on 07/25/2009 1:16:54 AM PDT by machogirl (If Obama's handing out Pie, I like Lemon Meringue.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Nik Naym
"It is said that one can repair anything if one has two things: A roll of Duct Tape and a can of WD-40."

Don't forget the vice grip pliers.

49 posted on 07/25/2009 1:18:59 AM PDT by skimask (When dealing with people who value death over life, normal means of negotiation will not work)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: dalereed

I wouldn’d worry about that...he’s dead...


50 posted on 07/25/2009 1:31:11 AM PDT by tophat9000 (Obama plans to fix America like he fixed his dog)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: Sundog

I used it yesterday to loosen the rollers on my sliding glass door.


51 posted on 07/25/2009 1:38:12 AM PDT by smellmygunpowder
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: KoRn
I have a funny WD40 story. I am a rural mail carrier and spend my days getting in and out of my car. Some cars have been worse than others but many have given me fits with static electricity. I think many times I have given my heart a jumpstart with some strong shocks. So I took to carrying Static Guard around with me and spraying myself everyday. Didn't eliminate the shocks but cut down on the severity.
One day while ‘spraying myself down’, a coworker said what are ya doin’?’ I looked down to show them the can only to discover I had grabbed my can of WD40 instead of the Static Guard. We laughed so hard and tried to consider whether or not it would help the static or worsen it.

But I did use WD last night on my squeaky storm door.

52 posted on 07/25/2009 2:36:35 AM PDT by grame (To God be the Glory!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: grame

You’ve heard “If it’s not Boeing, I ain’t going!” This is good stuff also:

http://www.boeshield.com/why/why_t9.php


53 posted on 07/25/2009 2:40:00 AM PDT by Drago
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 52 | View Replies]

To: Drago
I'll have to remember that. I change a lot of flat tires, and I have never thought wd did much to loosen rusty lug nuts. Best thing is a pudgy old grandma jumping up and down on the crossbar tire iron. I've only broken one off in 22 years.

thanks

54 posted on 07/25/2009 2:44:14 AM PDT by grame (To God be the Glory!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 53 | View Replies]

To: grame

It may not be the best penetrant for rusty stuff (see posts above for others suggestuions), but it does protect/lube very well!


55 posted on 07/25/2009 2:47:16 AM PDT by Drago
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 54 | View Replies]

To: KoRn

Wd-40 is a joke.PB Blaster and ZEP Penetrating Oil are far superior products.Take that from someone that’s been working on tractor/trailers[and especially cement mixers for 25 years.


56 posted on 07/25/2009 2:47:32 AM PDT by Uncle Meat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: WackySam
While they're both very good, I've found nothing that's in the same league as CorrosionX. The stuff is absolutely amazing.

Anything with Moly is great,but like you said it's expensive.You can stick a rusty bolt with a nut rusted midway in the can's cap and it will climb up the threads and seep up through the rusted nut and keep going up towards the head of the bolt.

57 posted on 07/25/2009 2:56:08 AM PDT by Uncle Meat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 41 | View Replies]

To: Uncle Meat

I first became aware of PB Blaster in a shipyard in Fairhaven, MA. Mechanics there were using it to loosen up salt water corroded bolts on a propeller shaft. WD-40 has its uses, but when it comes to frozen nuts and bolts, PB is the way to go. jmho


58 posted on 07/25/2009 5:30:56 AM PDT by Roccus (The Capitol, the White House, the Court House...........America's Axis of Evil)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 56 | View Replies]

To: Arthur McGowan
Be very careful...

What happens if you put duct tape on WD-40?

A time-travel wormhole. Adjust destination timeframe by vaying lengths of duct tape.

What happens if you put WD-40 on duct tape?

Galactic Black Hole. Vey Dangerous.

59 posted on 07/25/2009 6:38:51 AM PDT by ExGeeEye (Keep your powder dry, and your iron hidden.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 45 | View Replies]

To: smellmygunpowder

In addition to its use as a lubricant, WD-40 is a great insect killer. It is nearly instant death for even the largest cockroaches.


60 posted on 07/25/2009 9:22:24 AM PDT by VRWCRick
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 51 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-72 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson