WD-40
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
WD-40 is the trademark of a widely used penetrating oil (cleaner, lubricant and anti-corrosive solution) spray. It was developed in 1953 by Norm Larsen (then working for the Rocket Chemical Company) to eliminate water and prevent corrosion on electrical circuitry. It also has many household uses.
WD-40 stands for "Water Displacement, 40th attempt", a name which came from Larsen's laboratory notebook. Larsen was attempting to concoct a formula to prevent corrosion by displacing water, and arrived at the formula on his 40th try.[1] A common myth is that "WD" stands for "war department".
It was first used by Convair to protect the outer skin of the Atlas missile from rust and corrosion. The product first became commercially available on store shelves in San Diego in 1958.
Contents |
[edit] Formulation
Main ingredients, from the material safety sheet are:
- 50%: Stoddard solvent (mineral spirits, also commonly known as dry cleaning solvent)
- 25%: Liquified petroleum gas (presumably as a propellant, carbon dioxide is used now to reduce considerable flammability)
- 15+%: Mineral oil (light lubricating oil)
- 10-%: Inert ingredients
The German version of the mandatory EU safety sheet lists the following safety relevant ingredients:
- 60-80%: Heavy Naphtha (petroleum product), hydrogen treated
- 1-5%: Carbon dioxide
It further lists flammability and effects to the human skin when repeatedly exposed to WD-40 as risks when using WD-40. Nitrile gloves and safety glasses should be used. Water is unsuitable for extinguishing burning WD-40.
[edit] Uses
Typical uses of WD-40 around the home include:
- Stopping squeaks in door hinges and generally freeing up simple mechanical items found around the house, such as door locks
- Loosening rusting components, such as nuts and screws, so they can be removed
- Spraying on hand tools prior to storage to protect against rust
- Cleaning objects affected by grease, caked-on dirt or adhesive residue (such as that left behind by sticky tape); however, its uses in this way are limited around the house because of its unpleasant smell, which tends to linger
Typical use of WD-40 in automotive repair include:
- Driving moisture out of the high and low tension electrical components of a motor engine, so that it can start (particularly on cold days). E.g. cleaning and drying the inside of the cap of the ignition distributor.
- Loosening nuts and screws
- Cleaning car locks
- Cleaning rims. Note: WD-40 should not end up on the brake pads or brake disc.
- Although the WD-40 company claims WD-40 is safe for use on all motorcycle chains, all motorcycle chain manufacturers recommend against its use on seal-ring chains because of potential drying effect of Stoddard solution on the nitrile sealing rings.
While its uses are many and varied, WD-40 should not be used as a general-purpose lubricant, as it dries very quickly and collects dust. This can result in serious damage to machinery and equipment designed for use with heavy oils when they are lubricated with lightweight WD-40.
Leatherman, the manufacturer of the popular multi-tool of the same name, recommends WD-40 as a post-cleaning lubricant to displace water and prevent corrosion.[2][citation needed] In The Duct Tape Guys' book WD-40, they proclaim, "Two rules get you through life: If it's stuck and it's not supposed to be, WD-40 it. "
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.
[edit] Competitors
WD-40's success has spawned a number of competitors in different countries. In Australia, WD-40 is in direct competition with Selleys RP7. At one time there was for sale in Mexico a similar product called "WB-50," whose name apparently had no meaning other than to market it as an alternative to WD-40.[citation needed] GT85 is also common in the United Kingdom. In Germany the common brand is "Caramba." "Kontakt 40" and CRC 5.56 are other similar products.
[edit] WD-40 Company
In 1969, the Rocket Chemical Company renamed itself WD-40 after what was then its only product, but WD-40 was still sold as "Rocket WD-40" for many years, with the history of its use in preserving Atlas rockets printed on each can. The company went public in 1973. Its NASDAQ stock symbol is (NASDAQ: WDFC). In recent years the WD-40 company has acquired several household-products companies, adding such brand names as 3-In-One Oil and Lava soap to its roster. The company still has its corporate offices in San Diego, California. It now markets its products in more than 160 countries around the world. In 2003, it recorded sales of $238.1 million.
[edit] Trivia
- The computer game Space Quest V had an assassin android named WD40.
- In the computer game Beneath a Steel Sky, the protagonist can pick up a can of WD-40 in the storeroom of the pipe factory.
- WD-40 dissolves cocaine.[3]
- In the movie Spy Hard, WD-40 is the code name of Leslie Nielsen's character Dick Steele.
- In the movie eXistenZ, a can of lubricant XE-60 with identical design is used. This is a reference to WD-40, as "XE" is "WD" with each letter incremented by one.
- There is a popular urban legend that the main ingredient in WD-40 is fish oil. Although it is unknown whether the formula contains fish oil, material safety data sheets for the product show that the main ingredient is Stoddard solvent, not fish oil.[4] WD-40 is, however, used by some sea fishermen as an added scent when fishing with bait.
- In the Star Trek parody movie "Galaxy Quest" this reference is made to WD-40: Fred Kwan (after blowing two of Sarris' men out the airlock) says, "Sorry, I was--door was a little sticky. Did you see that? I'll get one of my boys up here with a can of WD-40."
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.wd40.com/AboutUs/our_history.html
- ^ http://www.leatherman.com/products/tool-maintenance/default.asp
- ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4566526.stm
- ^ http://www.wd40.com/Brands/pdfs/msds-wd40_aerosol.us.pdf
