WD-40 (History Lesson???)

[Procharged5.0]

WD-40

Or Water Displacement #40 as it is known. 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. Its 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 its 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. When you read the "shower door" part, try it. It's the first thing that has ever cleaned that spotty shower door. If yours is plastic, it works just as well as glass. It's a miracle! Then try it on your stovetop...Voila! It's now shinier than it's ever been. You'll be amazed.

Here are some of the uses: Protects silver from tarnishing. Cleans and lubricates guitar strings. 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 kids 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 oth er too ls. 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. Folks even spray it on their arms, hands, and knees to relieve arthritis pain. Florida 's favorite use is: "cleans and removes love bugs from grills and bumpers." The favorite use in the state of New York --WD-40 protects the Statue of Liberty from the elements. Use it for fire ant bites. It takes the sting away immediately and stops the itch WD-40 is great for removing crayon from walls. Spray on the mark and wipe with a clean rag. Also, if you've discovered that your teenage daughter has washed and dried a tube of lipstick with a load of laundry, saturate the lipstick spots with WD-40 and rewash. Presto! Lipstick is gone! If you sprayed WD-40 on the distributor cap, it would displace the moisture and allow the car to start. It removes black scuff marks from the kitchen floor! Use WD-40 for those nasty tar and scuff marks on flooring &1 tbsp; It doesn't seem to harm the finish and you won't have to scrub nearly as hard to get them off. Just remember to open some windows if you have a lot of marks. Bug guts will eat away the finish on your car if not removed quickly! Use WD-40! P.S. The basic ingredient is FISH OIL

[BrianG]

Interesting lesson. Now that I'm out of the Nitro scene and don't need WD-40 for after run oil, I just use it to help camoflage the scratches in my lexan bodies. Plus, it makes it nice and shiny. :)

Does it really remove lipstick from clothing without further staining the garment? Lipstick is greasy so I'm thinking it might work on similar grease stains? Also, you said "...has washed and dried a tube of lipstick with a load of laundry..."; does this mean it will remove the stain even after it has "set in"? Usually, once you wash/dry the garment, the stain is in there for good AFAIK.

[Mike.L]

wow, i never thought wd-40 can do more then clean. it dissolves heals and restores! :)

[coolhandcountry]

I do know you can start a disel with it if it is warm and don't want to start.

[Mike.L]

who has a crappy car that doesn't start? any volunteries

[crazyjr]

I know my grandfather swore it helped with his arthritis

[squeeforever]

Crazy, I hope your joking...

[coolhandcountry]

Afraid not squee. I have hear alot of the old peeps talk about it. I have not
tried it myself. I have to wait for arthritis to first.

[Procharged5.0]

Originally Posted by coolhandcountry

Afraid not squee. I have hear alot of the old peeps talk about it. I have not
tried it myself. I have to wait for arthritis to first.

Hope you never get to experimant on the arthritis!

On the other topics, I'm not sure. I'm just passing the info along because it's interesting. I've used it to remove adhesive, displace water, lube numerous mechanical things, clean spark plus wires, and many other things. Traxxas recommends it for use as after-run oil. Much like Windex and RTV (silicone sealant/adhesive) people never seem to run out of new ways to use it!

I still think somebody should spray down an entire parking lot with WD40 and then do the "drifting" thing. Any scale including 1:1. I don't want to be there to see it but I'd love to watch the vid's!

[BrianG]

Wow, a whole parking lot for 1:1 drifting?? Better start investing in WD-40 I guess...

[Mike.L]

i uno about that though lol but i bet you can do it for r/c cars that dont drift, and has plenty of power like the nitro 4.tech 3.3 that would be fun to control

[coolhandcountry]

It would be just as easy to put down a light spray of disel. It is slick on asphalt.
You could do some serious drifting.

[Gustav]

You know if you park the rear wheels of a front drive car on a pair of plastic bread crates and lock the hand brake on you have an instant parking lot drifter.Don't blame me when the cops turn up and bust you though:027:

I knew most of that, but it kinda started to sound like a sales pitch by the end.

[Procharged5.0]

Just to clarify, I didn't write it. It does start to sound a bit like an infomertial though doesn't it?

I think is cures cancer too!