WD-40 muddies the waters

[Venture n Dixie]

In case you weren't aware the original WD-40 was never intended to be used as a "lubricant".

As I understand, it was formulated as a Water Displacement solvent.

It was formulated to rid moisture from distributor caps, electrical contacts, etc.

It has a secondary benefit as a "solvent", good for removing grease, gunk and funk from nasty stuff.

 

This fact was burned in my memory when I was behind an old man at the quick oil change place one day.

We were both outside our vehicles & he told the techs, "Don't lube my door hinges."

Several minutes later they were spraying his truck liberally with WD-40.

He went ballistic! Accused them of stealing the grease from his door hinges is about as mildly as I can put it.

That's when I learned about the properties & purposes of WD-40 & I've been forever grateful for the free education.

 

Move on a decade & yesterday the computer tech buys a can of "new high tech lube" for our linear bearing rails for our laser engravers, CNC's & spindle bearings. I saw the can (WD-40) & I thought, "Stupid geek"! Then I looked at the label. WD-40 SPECIALIST SPRAY & STAY LUBRICANT NO-DRIP FORMULA.

Says to myself, "Self, looks like everything else these days... the lines have been blurred."

Sure enough, go on the WD-40 website & they now have a plethora of products to address the multiple uses folks THOUGHT the original formula was the holy grail for.

 

Wanted to give a heads up.

Just thought ya might consider swinging the other way.

Not an endorsement.

[jakester]

water displacement formula # 40. first designed to repel water droplets off of rockets prior to launch. It was the 40th try, thus the name WD40.

That's what I remember about its design intentions.

Bill

[SilvrT]

a plethora of products to address the multiple uses folks THOUGHT the original formula was the holy grail for.

 

 

This not only applies to WD40 ... danged near every cleaner brand, soap brand, hair care brand, skin cream brand, etc, etc you name it brand starts off with one product that's a "do-it-all" ... and by and by they come out with products specific to application and do away with the "do-it-all" product. It's all a master scheme to get your money and sell more "crap" that in many cases, isn't even necessary. And the ones that really "irk" me are the "new and improved" ... or "2 times more powerful" ... or "6 times better" ... it's all a gimmick IMHO.

[cowpuc]

and here I always thought WD was invented to remove bubble gum from little girls hair and dispelling water from rocket ships, distributers and spark plug wires was an afterthought....

[Guest Jamsie]

Puc, best way to get chewing gum out of hair and/ or clothes is to freeze by placing it between 2 ice cubes, the gum becomes brittle and crumbles

[cowpuc]

Puc, best way to get chewing gum out of hair and/ or clothes is to freeze by placing it between 2 ice cubes, the gum becomes brittle and crumbles

:thumbsup: = ingenious Jamsie,, flat out INGENIOUS!!:thumbsup:

 

,,,, try finding ice cubes while crossing the Utah desert on a motorcycle adventure with an 8 year old who, just after getting the tent set up way back in the Utah mountains, announces her bubble gum is stuck in her hair :big-grin-emoticon::big-grin-emoticon::big-grin-emoticon:

[djh3]

Like a lot of companies, they have to diversify and present more products to do different things, or go bust. Shoot look at all the laundry soaps. When they came out with liquid stuff you had to use about a cup for a load. Now you can get away with less than a 1/8 cup.

[Marcarl]

Know what you mean, it used to be that it took a whole steak to satisfy me, now I can do 3 meals with one,,, go figure!

[Venture n Dixie]

and here I always thought WD was invented to remove bubble gum from little girls hair and dispelling water from rocket ships, distributers and spark plug wires was an afterthought....

I thought peanut butter was the correct gum displacement for girls hair but that was my wife's area of expertise.

[Venture n Dixie]

Like a lot of companies, they have to diversify and present more products to do different things, or go bust. Shoot look at all the laundry soaps. When they came out with liquid stuff you had to use about a cup for a load. Now you can get away with less than a 1/8 cup.

You actually measure it?

[Venture n Dixie]

Puc, best way to get chewing gum out of hair and/ or clothes is to freeze by placing it between 2 ice cubes, the gum becomes brittle and crumbles

Hmm. might test this on the cat today.

[Venture n Dixie]

This not only applies to WD40 ... danged near every cleaner brand, soap brand, hair care brand, skin cream brand, etc, etc you name it brand starts off with one product that's a "do-it-all" ... and by and by they come out with products specific to application and do away with the "do-it-all" product. It's all a master scheme to get your money and sell more "crap" that in many cases, isn't even necessary. And the ones that really "irk" me are the "new and improved" ... or "2 times more powerful" ... or "6 times better" ... it's all a gimmick IMHO.

True. Another way of saying we've been selling you an inferior product but hey you can depend on us now! What irks me is the watered down products priced like they're a bargain. Especially dollar store stuff.

[cowpuc]

Hmm. might test this on the cat today.

 

You gotta cat that chews bubble gum Dix?

[djh3]

Well yea I usually measure the stuff. If ya dont it can make a big ole bubbly mess. Then you got to get the shop vac out and leaf blower... Its just a mess.

[Venture n Dixie]

You gotta cat that chews bubble gum Dix?

I love this forum! I learn all kinds of alternate ways to use things!

[saddlebum]

water displacement formula # 40. first designed to repel water droplets off of rockets prior to launch. It was the 40th try, thus the name WD40.

That's what I remember about its design intentions.

Bill

 

 

....Also I was drilling a bar of tool steel and ran out of Kool Tool. Grabbing a can of WD 40 thinking it was beter than nothing I was amazed to discover it actually worked better than the Kool Tool (not having to stop and sharpen the drill bit near as often). I have been using it for cutting oil ever since, when ever drilling steel. I also spray my Hack saw blades whether a hand hacksaw or a reciprocating saw with WD40 when cutting steel. Amazing how it saves the teeth on your blades and speeds up cutting.

Edited June 26, 2016 by saddlebum

[saddlebum]

Well yea I usually measure the stuff. If ya dont it can make a big ole bubbly mess. Then you got to get the shop vac out and leaf blower... Its just a mess.

Thats How its supposed to work ....After that the wife just say's "from now on don't do the Laundry just let me do it".

[Venture n Dixie]

....Also I was drilling a bar of tool steel and ran out of Kool Tool. Grabbing a can of WD 40 thinking it was beter than nothing I was amazed to discover it actually worked better than the Kool Tool (not having to stop and sharpen the drill bit near as often). I have been using it for cutting oil ever since, when ever drilling steel. I also spray my Hack saw blades whether a hand hacksaw or a reciprocating saw with WD40 when cutting steel. Amazing how it saves the teeth on your blades and speeds up cutting.

 

I really miss original Tap Magic and original Tap Magic aluminum. Nothing else compares. I was at the Industrial Trade show in Chicago a year before it was banned. They had the longest lines and most activity at the McCormick Center. Folks were buying 55 gallon drums. We all knew it was being discontinued like Freon because of CFC's. Thought I had scored by getting 4 free cans. As soon as I ran out I realized the missed opportunity. Remember the pallets of Freon at Kmart for 99 cents a can?

[bongobobny]

Here, have fun reading all 295,000 articles...

 

https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=uses+for+WD40

[djh3]

Saddlebum, may work for some folks. LOL I took over doing my laundry way back when I was active duty. My uniforms allways had hydro fluid, jet fuel or some other kind of crap on them and I wanted to be sure to get it out. Plus at that time the fatigues were not permanent press. Creases had to be right etc.

[M61A1MECH]

Plus at that time the fatigues were not permanent press. Creases had to be right etc.

 

Lucky you if you could wear permanent press fatigues. Us poor weapons troops were not allowed to have them, created and held to much static electricity,the last thing you want is that impulse cartridge that you just pulled out of a launcher breech, going off in your hand, or if you were dumb enough to carry them in your pants pocket, definitely did not want that puppy going off in there. And yes it was known to happen

[djh3]

Some of our avionics troops had fried a box or 2 in winter when the static charges seemed to store up more.