Post by: jepinto on July 23, 2006, 05:54:25 AM
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.
The workers were so pleased with the product, they began smuggling (also known as "shrinkage" or "stealing") it out to use at home. The executives decided there might be a consumer market for it and put it in aerosol cans. The rest, as they say, is history.
It is a carefully guarded recipe known only to four people. Only one of them is the "brew master". There are about 2.5 million gallons of the stuff manufactured each year. It gets its distinctive smell from a fragrance that is added to the brew. 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 is the first thing that has ever cleaned that spotty shower door. If yours is plastic, it works just as well as glass. It is a miracle!
Then try it on your stovetop...Voila! It is now shinier than it has ever been. You will be amazed.
Here are some of the uses:
-- Protects silver from tarnishing.
-- Cleans and lubricates guitar strings.
-- Gives floors that 'just-waxed' sheen without making it slippery.
-- Keeps flies off cows.
-- Restores and cleans chalkboards.
-- Removes lipstick stains.
-- Loosens stubborn zippers.
-- Untangles jewelry chains.
-- Removes stains from stainless steel sinks.
-- Removes dirt and grime from the barbecue grill.
-- Keeps ceramic/terra cotta garden pots from oxidizing.
-- Removes tomato stains from clothing.
-- Keeps glass shower doors free of water spots.
-- Camouflages scratches in ceramic and marble floors.
-- Keeps scissors working smoothly.
-- Lubricates noisy door hinges on vehicles and doors in homes.
-- Gives a children's play gym slide a shine for a super fast slide.
-- Lubricates gearshift and mower deck lever for ease of handling on riding mowers.
-- Rids kids rocking chairs and swings of squeaky noises.
-- Lubricates tracks in sticking home windows and makes them easier to open.
-- Spraying an umbrella stem makes it easier to open and close.
-- Restores and cleans padded leather dashboards in vehicles, as well as vinyl bumpers.
-- Restores and cleans roof racks on vehicles.
-- Lubricates and stops squeaks in electric fans.
-- Lubricates wheel sprockets on tricycles, wagons and bicycles for easy handling.
-- Lubricates fan belts on washers and dryers and keeps them running smoothly.
-- Keeps rust from forming on saws and saw blades, and other tools.
-- Removes splattered grease on stove.
-- Keeps bathroom mirror from fogging.
-- Keeps pigeons off the balcony (they hate the smell).
-- Removes all traces of duct tape.
-- Folks even spray it on their arms, hands and knees to relieve arthritis pain.
-- Florida 's favorite use is "cleans and removes love bugs from grills and bumpers".
-- The favorite use in the state of New York --WD-40 protects the Statue of Liberty from the elements.
-- 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 is 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.
-- Use it for fire ant bites. It takes the sting away immediately and stops the itch.
WD-40 is great for removing crayon from walls. Spray on the mark and wipe with a clean rag.
Also, if you have 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!
If you sprayed WD-40 on the distributor cap, it would displace the moisture and allow the car to start.
It removes black scuffmarks from the kitchen floor!
Use WD-40 for those nasty tar and scuff marks on flooring. It does not seem to harm the finish and you will not have to scrub nearly as hard to get them off. Just remember to open some windows if you have a lot of marks.
Bug guts will eat away the finish on your car if not removed quickly! Use WD-40!
P.S. The basic ingredient is FISH OIL
Post by: RHPConsult on July 23, 2006, 09:48:02 AM
Fascinatiing, Jen. Puts it right up there with "Duck" Tape!
Wonder if Garrison Keillor is planning commercials from the WD-40 Advisory Board for Prairie Home Companion?
Post by: gunug on July 23, 2006, 11:33:06 AM
Post by: Kruser on July 23, 2006, 11:58:56 AM
On squeaking belts i use RTV silicone instead of WD-40 it dosen't sling off and make a mess.
Post by: LR827 on July 23, 2006, 03:40:19 PM
QUOTE
Folks even spray it on their arms, hands and knees to relieve arthritis pain.
DO NOT -- repeat-- DO NOT DO THIS!
It can be toxic when absorbed into the skin.
I knew of a patient who had mystified neurologists at our hospital, who were unable to diagnose the source of his peripheral neuropathy (a diminishing of sensation starting at the outer parts of the limbs -- fingers and toes -- and over time moving upward toward the body).
The doctor walked into his hospital room and smelled something vaguely familiar. When he asked the patient what it was, he said it was WD-40. He sprayed it on his hands and knees because he "heard it was good for joints."
This is NOT A JOKE! Please do not use WD-40 on your body, nor ingest it.
Post by: Xairbusdriver on July 23, 2006, 04:02:10 PM
Snopes confirms most of the story, even has a link to <wd40.com>.
Post by: RHPConsult on July 23, 2006, 05:17:11 PM
- - -
Dear Dr.
I thought peripheral neuropathy was somewhat similar to the "common" cold. If you're old enough you'll get it and no one will really know a) from whence it arose and 2) what to do about it.
Translation: It goes with the territory.
PS: Thanks for the WD-40 Alert. (Even though it's never been on my prescription list!)
Post by: gunug on July 23, 2006, 09:17:48 PM
Post by: Gregg on July 24, 2006, 07:39:58 AM
QUOTE(airbusdriver @ Jul 23 2006, 04:02 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Snopes confirms most of the story, even has a link to <wd40.com>.
Link temporarily unavailable???
Post by: gunug on July 24, 2006, 07:51:10 AM
QUOTE
I thought peripheral neuropathy was somewhat similar to the "common" cold. If you're old enough you'll get it and no one will really know a) from whence it arose and 2) what to do about it.
Well, I'm being treated at the Landon Center, which is a unit at the KU Med Center that is dedicated to the illnesses of the elderly; but I came down with PN when I was 44! It is not inevitable that you get it either!
Post by: Epaminondas on July 24, 2006, 08:18:16 AM
QUOTE
I thought peripheral neuropathy was somewhat similar to the "common" cold. If you're old enough you'll get it and no one will really know a) from whence it arose and 2) what to do about it.
Translation: It goes with the territory.
Translation: It goes with the territory.
A little bit of knowledge is a dangerous thing.
Best regards,
Epaminondas
Post by: gunug on July 24, 2006, 09:27:51 AM
Post by: LR827 on July 24, 2006, 09:51:46 AM
QUOTE(RHPConsult @ Jul 23 2006, 05:17 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I thought peripheral neuropathy was somewhat similar to the "common" cold. If you're old enough you'll get it and no one will really know a) from whence it arose and 2) what to do about it.
Translation: It goes with the territory.
Translation: It goes with the territory.
Although PN is fairly common, only 3% - 4% of people over 55 have it. It DOES NOT occur as a natural aging process. There is always a cause (although not always easy to identify). Here is a short summary:
Neuropathies occur by one of three methods:
1.Acquired neuropathies, for example, are caused by environmental forces like poisoning, diabetes, trauma, infection or an illness.
2.Hereditary neuropathy is not as common. It is caused by inherited genetic defects.
3.Idiopathic neuropathy is from an unknown cause. As many as a third of all neuropathies are classified this way, where the cause can't be explained.
What Causes Peripheral Neuropathy?
Many things can cause peripheral neuropathies so it is often difficult to discern the cause. In fact, in up to one in three cases, the cause cannot be determined. Diabetes is responsible for another third. Other known causes include several rare inherited diseases, alcoholism, toxins and certain environmental agents, poor nutrition or vitamin deficiency, trauma due to compression, herniated discs in the back, certain kinds of cancer, conditions where nerves are mistakenly attacked by the body's own immune system or damaged by an overaggressive response to injury, particular medications, kidney disease, thyroid disease, and infections such as Lyme disease, shingles or AIDS.
gunug, "working around a lot of chemicals" is a big risk factor. I have to assume the docs at KU have asked for as complete a list as possible. You may check on the toxicity of the chemicals you have been exposed to yourself, to see if there are any clues.
Post by: LR827 on July 24, 2006, 10:00:22 AM
There is a also a condition called "Burgher's Disease" * (I am not sure of the spelling) in which the PN progresses so severely that the tissue of the extremities dies and requires amputation. (And if THAT ain't enough to make you quit smoking, well...!)
*Okay, correction: Buerger's disease, and it is caused by a cardiovascular (arteries, veins & capillaries) occlusion (closing off), which is caused directly by smoking. The PN is an indirect effect of the dwindling blood supply.
Post by: gunug on July 24, 2006, 10:34:43 AM
Post by: LR827 on July 24, 2006, 11:45:05 AM
Post by: Frances144 on July 24, 2006, 01:39:29 PM
Favourite stuff for mending printers and everything else in the whole world.
Staple diet up her in the frozen north!
F
Post by: krissel on July 25, 2006, 03:52:39 AM
http://www.wd40.com/Brands/wd40_no_mess_pen_300_uses.cfm
I wish it didn't have that smell. It really makes it unpleasant to work with, especially indoors. Guess it kind of limits its use on purpose for health sake.
BTW, be careful of using any oil product on clothing that goes into a washer or dryer. Spontaneous ignition has been known to occur.
QUOTE
WARNING Do not place into the dryer items that have been spotted or soaked with vegetable oil or cooking oil. Even after being washed, these items may contain significant amounts of these oils. The remaining oil can ignite spontaneously. The potential for spontaneous ignition increases when the items containing vegetable oil or cooking oil are exposed to heat. Heat sources, such as the clothes dryer, can warm these items, allowing an oxidation reaction in the oil to occur. Oxidation creates heat. If this heat cannot escape, the items can become hot enough to catch fire. Piling, stacking or storing these kinds of items may prevent heat from escaping and can create a fire hazard.
All washed and unwashed fabrics that contain vegetable oil or cooking oil can be dangerous. Washing these items in hot water with extra detergent will reduce, but will not eliminate, the hazard. Always let these items remain in the dryer for the complete dry cycle to reduce the items’temperature. Never remove these items from the clothes dryer hot or interrupt the drying cycle. Never pile or stack these items when they are hot.
All washed and unwashed fabrics that contain vegetable oil or cooking oil can be dangerous. Washing these items in hot water with extra detergent will reduce, but will not eliminate, the hazard. Always let these items remain in the dryer for the complete dry cycle to reduce the items’temperature. Never remove these items from the clothes dryer hot or interrupt the drying cycle. Never pile or stack these items when they are hot.
Post by: Xairbusdriver on July 25, 2006, 08:40:51 AM
I think writing poetry also causes stress that can lead to more serious inflammations. 
So, never smoke in a dryer full of oil soaked rags! Especially if the oil is toxic!
Post by: RHPConsult on July 25, 2006, 11:50:21 AM
QUOTE(airbusdriver @ Jul 25 2006, 06:40 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Richard, perhaps your symptoms occur due to the third process: "Idiotic" episodes! I think writing poetry also causes stress that can lead to more serious inflammations.
ABD: I think writing poetry also causes stress that can lead to more serious inflammations. Let me say this about that . . .
Go get on the plane and come back down to Hawaii to finsih your vacation. Hurricane Daniel is scheduled to "arrive" Thursday night!
Al and I will advise you!
Aloha
Post by: Xairbusdriver on July 25, 2006, 01:43:10 PM
As you often say, "Flexible people don't get bent out of shape."
BTW, still waiting on that shipment of an iSight...can I breathe yet?!
Post by: Gregg on July 26, 2006, 07:34:16 AM
QUOTE(airbusdriver @ Jul 25 2006, 01:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
"Flexible people don't get bent out of shape."
I like that!
Post by: Randy B. Singer on July 26, 2006, 12:25:35 PM
WD-40 apparently has petroleum distillates in it, which is what makes it a great cleaner/degreaser. Unfortunately petroleum distillates can penetrate your skin and get into your bloodstream rather quickly, so it is best not to get WD-40 on your skin.
There is a new miracle spray lubricant on the market, and I'm really in love with it. DuPont came out with this stuff in a bright blue can called: Teflon Multi-Use Lubricant. What is so amazing about it is that it goes on and immediately drys and it leaves no oily film. It penetrates, lubricates, it doesn't attract dirt, it protects metal from rusting, and, most importantly to me, when applied to a motorcycle chain it doesn't fling off! It also doesn't destroy o-rings.
It has worked wonderfully on everything that I have tried it on.
Oh, one last thing about Teflon Multi-Use Lubricant, it has a smell just like coconuts. It reminds me of a vacation in Hawaii!
Post by: kimmer on July 26, 2006, 02:10:56 PM
QUOTE
Oh, one last thing about Teflon Multi-Use Lubricant, it has a smell just like coconuts.
Oh gads, then I *must* find a use for this stuff.
Post by: gunug on July 26, 2006, 02:52:06 PM
Post by: kimmer on July 26, 2006, 04:31:49 PM
QUOTE(gunug @ Jul 26 2006, 12:52 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Kimmer - I "think" one should read a Material Data Safety Sheet on it before ever even buying any! Hasn't there been a lot of concern about Teflon already?
Well, my comment was kinda tongue-in-cheek. I mean the stuff smells like coconuts.
Yeah, there are issues with Teflon, but I still use my teflon pans.
Post by: Xairbusdriver on July 26, 2006, 09:37:50 PM
QUOTE
Hasn't there been a lot of concern about Teflon already?
Wasn't that about 6 years ago...
Post by: gunug on July 27, 2006, 05:52:11 AM
http://www.teflon.com/NASApp/Teflon/Teflon...word_birds.html
I"ll grant you a lot of the problem is with overheating but that is pretty easy to do!
Post by: kimmer on July 27, 2006, 12:29:57 PM
QUOTE
I"ll grant you a lot of the problem is with overheating but that is pretty easy to do!
Well, any cook who heats his/her pots/pans to 500-degrees F needs to pay better attention to what they are doing.
Your food would be ruined - non-stick or not; oils in the pan could catch on fire; and even a non-stick pan can be ruined if left unattended on a hot burner. :whistles innocently at the long-ago memory of melting copper and flames:You might also refer to DuPont's Teflon® safety page.
My girl friend has raised birds, and has had them in her home as pets. She *never, ever, ever* allowed them in the kitchen. The beginning of the bird advisory explains why:
QUOTE
DuPont recommends that birds should not be kept in the kitchen while cooking. Fumes emitted from burned foods cooked in any type of pan can affect pet birds. Severely overheated non-stick cookware also can affect pet birds. However, the temperatures required to burn foods are significantly lower than those at which decomposition of non-stick coatings occur. Because they have highly sensitive respiratory systems, birds are more at risk from burning butters and oils, aerosol sprays and cleaning solvents.
I really think it's a matter of being a conscientious cook and conscientious pet owner.
Besides, living is hazardeous to my health.
Post by: Xairbusdriver on July 27, 2006, 06:30:16 PM
gunug, I'm afraid my 'teflon' remark slid right over your head! I was referring to a certain high office holder from Arkansas who was often called "Slick ...".
Hope you didn't have to wait too long to download this response. It probably wasn't worth the time on a modem!
Post by: kimmer on July 27, 2006, 06:51:45 PM
QUOTE
Great! We now have jobs for all those out-of-work canaries!
LOL! Nah, I want a parrot to sit on my shoulder, look at Sneakers and say ...
Give us a kiss. Give us a kiss.
