Talk:WD-40
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[edit] Older comments
Changed the dates of the company name change and first public stock offering, based on the history on WD-40's own web site.Kevin Forsyth 15:37, 10 Mar 2005 (UTC)
Anybody know what WD-40 is made of, and how it works? 82.18.42.151 17:33, 4 November 2005 (UTC)
[edit] Cocaine?
WD-40 is apparently effective against cocaine according to BBC ( http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4566526.stm )
[edit] Name?
Does anyone have any deffinative evidence of what WD40 stands for, as i have always beleved that it stood for WarDept #40 - This backed up by both of my grandparents, both of which remember the war, one also being an engineer. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 158.125.1.112 (talk • contribs) .
- Until you do have evidence, please do not add this to the article. -SCEhardT 20:18, 26 April 2006 (UTC)
- Snopes quotes the company as saying it stands for Water Displacement, 40th Attempt.[1]
- WD-40 literally stands for Water Displacement, 40th attempt. That's the name straight out of the lab book used by the chemist who developed WD-40 back in 1953. The chemist, Norm Larsen, was attempting to concoct a formula to prevent corrosion — a task which is done by displacing water. Norm's persistence paid off when he perfected the formula on his 40th try.
- —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 66.101.59.18 (talk) 17:54, 17 January 2007 (UTC).
- Snopes quotes the company as saying it stands for Water Displacement, 40th Attempt.[1]
[edit] Whats in it?
Anyone add further to what WD40 actaully contains? I have heard that a key ingredients is whitespirt (or terpentine substite) —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 158.125.1.112 (talk • contribs) .
- The US can says it "CONTAINS PETROLEUM DISTILLATES Harmful or fatal if swallowed..." etc. The MSDS here gives more details. -SCEhardT 23:20, 26 April 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Insecticide
It's great for killing flying critters indoors. Knocks them to the floor so you can dispose of them, without leaving those toxic fumes. -71.49.163.77 02:33, 1 August 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Possible External Link for Article
My company did the research and publication of a page that provides a nice overview of the history and uses of WD-40. It is at: http://www.coxhardware.com/Products/WD40.html It duplicates some of the information in the article, but it includes more information and a different presentation. Please see if you think this link is beneficial for the WD-40 Wikipedia article.
Thanks, Sally Seaver Shabaka, Active Lightning, 30 September 2006
- Sorry, I'll have to suggest against adding this site as an external link because it doesn't have significant new information but it does have significant advertising -SCEhardT 04:16, 1 October 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Tone tag
I've tagged the article for cleanup because it reads in part like an instruction manual. Articles should not have prescriptive commentary on usage. Chris Cunningham 09:44, 28 January 2007 (UTC)
[edit] Caramba
Please note that Caramba is not similar to WD-40. Caramba is a penetrating solvent, used for loosening rusted bolts etc., but the lubricating properties of Caramba are poor. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 82.35.23.167 (talk) 17:01, 7 March 2007 (UTC).
[edit] Questionable content
I have removed the majority of the "computing uses" from the uses portion of the article, because they are not only unverified, but are likely untrue, and advise potentially dangerous uses of the product:
Original section before modification:
When it comes to computing WD-40 can be used to clean and lubricate mechanical mice. Additionally, it can be used to clean keyboards that have become stuck because of drinks spillage or human debris (including cleaning human grease and sweat off key tops). It can even be used as a screen cleaner, although care should be taken on plastic TFT monitors to ensure there isn't a negative reaction (although WD-40 is, in nearly all instances around the house, inert). It should not be used to free-up fans inside a computer because of its tendency to dry and attract dust; although temporarily solving the problem, WD-40 will in fact make it worse over time.
Rationale:
- WD-40 is not a good lubricant for plastic parts, as it dissolves or breaks down certain types of plastic. Most mechanical mice use heavier greases for lubrication where necessary. WD-40 would be a temporary solution at best, and would destroy the mouse at worst. Considering dust is the primary fouler of mechanical mice, it is pretty clear that using a lubricant known to collect dust would be a bad idea.
- Similarly, WD-40 may dissolve or damage plastic parts inside a keyboard, and will likely cause dust and skin particles that would normally blow away to collect inside the keyboard.
- The residue left by WD-40 on the keys would be far worse than the "human grease" it is purported to remove. As mentioned earlier in the article, the smell of WD-40 lingers, and contact with the skin is to be avoided.
- WD-40 should under no circumstances be used to clean a screen. Most CRT monitors have anti-reflective and anti-static coatings that do not tolerate solvents well. Further, all antireflective coating (that I have encountered) cease to function properly when oily substances are applied - WD-40 leaves a layer of oil behind. The situation is even worse for LCD monitors. It is very likely that this "tip" would make the screen worse, and quite possible that it would irreparably damage the surface of the screen. Users should follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer to clean the screen.
Do not add this section back until you can verify (from a reputible source) that these actions will not do any damage. The last thing we need is people coming after Wikipedia because they melted their mouse with WD-40, or got cancer from spraying it all over their keyboard.
JMPZ 18:59, 1 April 2007 (UTC)
