The WD 40 debate

[raesewell]

The topic of WD40 came up in another thread with regard to cleaning contacts and megawatt stated that he had been using WD40 for 42 years to clean contacts without issue and I'm sure that is true. I am a big fan of WD40 and think it's a great product. However it was formulated 64 years ago and was as the WD indicates, a water dispersal agent, it was also useful as a lubricant and a penetrating fluid and contact cleaner. Time has moved on and there are more specialised products in the market place.

WD40 themselves have also moved on with more specialised products. See here

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/SearchRouter?storeId=10001&catalogId=10151&tabNo=1&action=listrefine&qcon=brand%3DWd-40%3B&pageNo=1&pageSize=21&sort=we_recommend&srch=penetrating+fluid

So while WD40 can do all of the thing it has always done, sometimes there are better, specialised products rather than the Jack of All Trades that is WD40.

I am never without the original WD40 I hasten to add before you die hard WD40 fans pillory me.

[Diko]

WD-40 it was used to spray the ignition system of every car and m/c in the winters to prevent damp stopping you getting to work. I have never been without it it can be sprayed on anything that involves metal and movement, but not clutches of course and keep well away from disc brakes! WD-40 one of the best inventions ever.

[Via]

I think the jack of all trades point sums it up, I've always got cans of wd40 laying around and it's used for everything from quick oil of gate hinges to cleaning parts.

That said there are lots of specialist sprays that do some jobs better and some I've bought and used in the past these are more bespoke products and while needed for some things the cost outweighs the regularity of use and 'importance' of job.

E.g. Would never use wd40 for clutch cable although know others that do as know other products much better and worth using. But would never go buy a specialist gate hinge oiling spray for a quick squirt on a squeaky hinge.

In reference to the thread and contact cleaner tbh see both sides, contact cleaner would be better but at same time wd40 would do, if I needed to check a few contacts and give them a spray if I had contact cleaner laying around I'd use it if not I'd use wd40, I certainly wouldn't go through effort of going out and buying contact cleaner just because it is a bit better than wd40.

[Westbeef]

So if both products work, what’s the debate? I’m sure most people would agree the specialist product might do it better, but WD40 does it to a good enough standard.

[Gerontious]

The WD 40 Non debate debate.

[geofferz]

I read you can use it to remove sticker glue from your tank etc.

[MikeHorton]

And chewing gum for places it shouldn't be i.e. Most places except for your mouth

[MikeHorton]

Amazing product tho a bit like acf 50 developed for the aerospace industry so more than adequate for biking

[fastbob]

Believe it or not but builders and mechanics rub WD40 on themselves as a cure for arthritis . This is refuted as ineffective by the medical profession but is apparently quite a widespread practice .

Edited March 16, 2018 by fastbob

[Guest]

Believe it or not but builders rub WD40 on their chests as a bronchial decongestant . This is refuted as ineffective by the medical profession but is apparently quite a widespread practice .

 

In St Lucia people use it on their stiff knees and arthritic joints, again not medically recommended.

[fastbob]

Believe it or not but builders rub WD40 on their chests as a bronchial decongestant . This is refuted as ineffective by the medical profession but is apparently quite a widespread practice .

 

In St Lucia people use it on their stiff knees and arthritic joints, again not medically recommended.

I got that wrong ! You are right , its supposed to cure arthritis not colds . You beat me to the edit !

[SlowBusa]

This Stuff is Awsome..it works So much better than WD40

[Tango]

This Stuff is Awsome..it works So much better than WD40

22.jpg

 

On your arthritis? .......

[Gerontious]

tease it out with a bit of corned beef.. sometime the old methods are still the best.

[Stu]

I always have WD40 in stock as well as GT85

purely because I get them for free

[fastbob]

tease it out with a bit of corned beef.. sometime the old methods are still the best.

 

Eh ? Another inexplicable comment . I'm still puzzled by the one about Jim Bowen leaving Pan's People in the General section .

[MikeHorton]

Re the corned beef that's a waste I love jacket tayta cheese beans and corned beef its the food of Kings!

[fastbob]

Re the corned beef that's a waste I love jacket tayta cheese beans and corned beef its the food of Kings!

[/quot

Corned beef ? What am I not seeing here ? What's corned beef got to do with anything ?

[MikeHorton]

Gerontious mentioned corned beef, for the best part of 35 years of my life I hated the stuff, don't ask me why but I have learned to love it!

[geofferz]

I've never had corned beef

[Guest]

Corned beef is the devils work

[Stu]

[someone]

WD40 themselves have also moved on with more specialised products…

 

…as a way of getting consumers to buy multiple separate product, each justifying a higher price by their specialist nature.

 

So while WD40 can do all of the thing it has always done, sometimes there are better, specialised products rather than the Jack of All Trades that is WD40.

 

And sometimes the difference between something which does the job and something which does a better job has no practical benefit because you will never be able to realize or appreciate the difference in practice.

The problem with using WD40 as a contact cleaner is that in particularly dusty environments it causes the dust to stick which causes problems, which I assume is what the specialist product prevents. But in ordinary environments it does the job without issue, so the specialist produce is better but is it worth it for most people?

When things already do a job well, the newer better versions usually only offer improvements in specific situations. WD40 may be 64 years old, but electricity has not changed within that time. Cleaner than clean enough will not make any difference, newer products will not stop the old ones from doing the same job that have done with problem for decades.

There are many reasons for changing to something else, like it being more environmentally friendly, but improvements you will not need or able able to gain an advantage from is not one of them. That is just marketing.

(Well someone needed to offer some debate, which was unfortunate for me.)

[fastbob]

What debate ? The OP was just a big free advert for Halfords. The reason WD40 is so versatile is because its so non specific . It's just some slightly greasy stuff that smells pleasant and comes in a tin . If you want to oil something, put some oil on it . If you want to polish something, get some polish . If you want to clean an electrical contact use some meths and fine emery paper . WD40 just attracts dirt . As for all these spin off variety's this is just lazy marketing . This nonsense all began when Persil introduced washing up liquid and Mars drinks and ice cream appeared. Chilli flavoured corned beef, now that's another story. Mix a tin of this with a tin of beans , heat and in less than two minutes you have a reasonable approximation of Chilli con carne , ideal for campers in a hurry.

[Via]

It's just some slightly greasy stuff that smells pleasant and comes in a tin

I got some muc off equivalent once (cheap and why not) that smelt really nice! Much better than WD40 (and it came out like a luminous purple colour).