The history of WD-40

[Tomtall]

Used by most people on the planet at one time or another I found the history about it was rather cool.

>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.

[RichardKCMo]

Way cool list Tom, my dad never used rain X on truckwindows just WD 40.
RichardKCMo.

[Skoontz]

I could tell you of a story back in the day when we went over to a friends house and walked in on he and his girlfriend....After that we would hand the bratender at the local watering hole a can to give to this guy when he was with us and odered...to this day that story rolls around my head every time WD is mentioned...Every time I see a can, and I keep a case in every truck, we use it to clean out cement finishing tools and trowels before we put them away. and, if you finish colored mud, you don't ever want to use a watered broom cause it will peel the color off the top, so, we use WD to lube the broom....

[Gene East]

Two best things in the world, WD-40 and duct tape. If it's supposed to move and doesn't, use WD-40!
If it moves and shouldn't, use duct tape!
I've wondered for years if Ken East was a relative. I guess not, at least he doesn't share the royalty checks.

[Bill Van Steenwyk]

Some years ago Baldy showed me another use for the WD-40 container. Didn't have anything to do with lubricity, etc., but was a substitute for a propane torch when you didn't have one and needed one. Seems they used propane or something similiar for a propellant and the majority of the liquid in the can is something akin to kerosene on diesel fuel. Anyway it burns like crazy and will shoot a flame just like a flame thrower 10-12 ft depending on how much pressure you hold the button down with. A couple of years ago I was watching some kick *** movie late nite and the heroine chased off the bad guy using the same technique. Dont know whether or not they still use a flammable propellant as safety regulations have put an end to lots of stuff like that, but it was impressive especially if you just were screwing around and had a can and shot a stream thru the flame on a lighter. Used to see someone at DePue doing it but I cant remember who. Wayne Baldwin probably has some good stories like this as this was one of the selling points of MX-237 over WD-40 as they didn't use a flammable propellent.

[David Mason]

Bill,

I use it as an ant killer. Works great, touch the flame to it and wham, that huge bunch of ants on the patio go by by in seconds. Easy way to get rid of a lot of them. Toss out some food let them converge and nail them !! Cheaper than ant traps and sprays too.

[Skoontz]

You die laughing here, but, in this land of fruits and nuts, we have ant attacks every June through September give or take. You spray, or yuppify by using a pest control company, or drop Borax around your footing...They ALWAYS get into the kitchen...So, creative person I can be, found a can of Pam cooking spray out one day...Dust em with that stuff, then come back in 2 minutes, and they are little molten blobs sitting on the counter.....

Pretty scarey we use that stuff to lubricate pots and pans we cook on!