harrisonrick

So I got one of those "uses for WD40 (water displacement 40)" emails. It said its really good to condition rubber mouldings. So...on Saturday before I went to a car show, I sprayed some on a rag and wiped the rear spoiler down.

HOLY ****! It went from dry/rough and faded to smooth and "silky" feeling. It looked refreshed/renewed. I did the rear bumper pads and they look new!

It acts like a leather conditioner would by treating the material it comes in contact with. Plus, it beads water.

Thought I'd share.

V2Rocket

cool. will give it a shot later.

now try it out on some leather and let us know how it goes

:P

Marcquito

Leather? Cool! But... that SMELL! Bleugh...

Tom R.

i've put it on the rubber hatch seal to stop squeaks but never thought of the spoiler. doohhhhh!

rickb20

It also works as a tar and bug remover and it's cheaper than products that are sold explicitly for this purpose.

I've even used it to remove dried paint slung up by the tires onto the side of the car, as well as removing paint from places where other drivers have bumped my rub strip and left their paint color behind.

It will also get grease out of clothing and off the hands.

kevincnc

I have been told by our linear bearing manufacturers that it is bad for them because it causes the seals to swell, then shrink back to smaller than original when it dries. Maybe Silicone spray would be a better choice (for rubber?)

cie_lab

also seems to dissolve grease.

nice idea regarding the spoiler though. however, I'm wondering if dust and crud will stick to it. When I was in ROTC I tried to make my shoes look like the patent leather ones the upper class guys had. I polished them with vaseline. Man, that was SWEET.

Until I walked across the quad.

Potomac-Greg

A little off topic, but a petroleum based engine de-greaser is also terrific as a lighter fluid for charcoal briquettes! Yes, I learned this through desperation.

I still bbq the old fashioned way, and some wadded newspaper, a pile of briquettes and a liberal spray of degreaser, add a match, and you're set! It's not explosive or volatile. It burns slowly just like lighter fluid. As with any lighter fluid, you have to let it burn off, which occurs as the charcoal turns white.

So, is charcoal lighter fluid a cheap engine degreaser?

KuHL 951

Anything with petroleum distillates like WD-40 is not really good for rubber, vinyl, or urethane. It soaks in deeper, attracts dirt, and then evaporates over time dissolving the components used as binders. It's your call but the results can be short lived and possibly irreversible. IMO I would be very careful of using WD-40 on the spoiler when there are much better UV resistant products like Back to Black and non-silicon based products for rubber and urethane.

harrisonrick

oooh...I see. Did not know that one! Back to black it is then.

75ohm

Mop'N'Glo on a cotton swab... come on! ROFL

ibkevin

WD40 is the 40th formula for displacing water in early rocket assby's gaskets, a San Diego company.

In bootcamp you used what you had, and everyone had vaseline..

brad@tirerack.com

From an email I got a few days ago:

Water Displacement #40. 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.

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:

1) Protects silver from tarnishing.
2) Removes road tar and grime from cars.
3) Cleans and lubricates guitar strings.
4) Gives floors that 'just-waxed' sheen without making it slippery.
5) Keeps flies off cows.
6) Restores and cleans chalkboards.
7) Removes lipstick stains.
8) Loosens stubborn zippers.
9) Untangles jewelry chains.
10) Removes stains from stainless steel sinks.
11) Removes dirt and grime from the barbecue grill.
12) Keeps ceramic/terra cotta garden pots from oxidizing.
13) Removes tomato stains from clothing.
14) Keeps glass shower doors free of water spots.
15) Camouflages scratches in ceramic and marble floors.
16) Keeps scissors working smoothly.
17) Lubricates noisy door hinges on vehicles and doors in homes
18) It removes black scuff marks from the kitchen floor! Use WD-40 for those nasty tar and scuff marks on flooring. 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.
19) Bug guts will eat away the finish on your car if not removed quickly!
Use WD-40!
20) Gives a children's play gym slide a shine for a super fast slide.
21) Lubricates gear shift and mower deck lever for ease of handling on riding mowers.
22) Rids kids rocking chairs and swings of squeaky noises.
23) Lubricates tracks in sticking home windows and makes them easier to open.
24) Spraying an umbrella stem makes it easier to open and close.
25) Restores and cleans padded leather dashboards in vehicles, as well as vinyl bumpers.
26) Restores and cleans roof racks on vehicles.
27) Lubricates and stops squeaks in electric fans.
28) Lubricates wheel sprockets on tricycles, wagons, and bicycles for easy handling.
29) Lubricates fan belts on washers and dryers and keeps them running smoothly.
30) Keeps rust from forming on saws and saw blades, and other tools.
31) Removes splattered grease on stove.
32) Keeps bathroom mirror from fogging.
33) Lubricates prosthetic limbs.
34) Keeps pigeons off the balcony (they hate the smell).
35) Removes all traces of duct tape.
36) Folks even spray it on their arms, hands, and knees to relieve arthritis pain.
37) Florida's favorite use is: "cleans and removes love bugs from grills and bumpers."
38) The favorite use in the state of New York WD-40 protects the Statue of Liberty from the elements.
39) WD-40 attracts fish. Spray a LITTLE on live bait or lures and you will be catching the big one in no time. Also, it's a lot cheaper than the chemical attractants that are made for just that purpose. Keep in mind though, using some chemical laced baits or lures for fishing are not allowed in some states.
40) Use it for fire ant bites. It takes the sting away immediately and stops the itch.
41) WD-40 is great for removing crayon from walls. Spray on the mark and wipe with a clean rag.
42) 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 re-wash. Presto! Lipstick is gone!
43) If you sprayed WD-40 on the distributor cap, it would displace the moisture and allow the car to start.

P. S. The basic ingredient is FISH OIL.

P. P. S. I keep a can of WD-40 in my kitchen cabinet over the stove. It is good for oven burns or any other type of burn. It takes the burned feeling away and heals with NO scarring.

Stien

If those are real, that is obscene.

Ben951S

"33) Lubricates prosthetic limbs."