WD-40 is 50!

[D R Greysun]

Reckon how Balistol measures up?
D R
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Subject: WD-40

I got this in the mail today and was amazed. Checked to make sure it is true and it is. Boy I have needed this stuff for lots of things and never knew it.

There are more than one million cans produced each week and probably just as many uses. The product began from a search for a rust preventative solvent and de-greaser to protect missile parts. WD-40 was created in 1953 by three technicians at the San Diego Rocket Chemical Company. It's 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 heir Atlas missile
parts. The workers were so pleased with the product, they began
smuggling (also known as "shrinkage" or "stealing") it 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 "brewmaster." There are about 2.5 million gallons of
the stuff manufactured each year. It gets it's distinctive smell from a
fragrance that is added to the brew. Ken East says there is nothing
in WD-40 that would hurt you.

Here are some of the uses:

Protects silver from tarnishing
Cleans and lubricates guitar strings
Gets oil spots off concrete driveways
Gives floors that 'just-waxed' sheen without making it slippery
Keeps flies off cows
Restores and cleans chalkboards
Removes lipstick stains
Looses 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 playgym slide a shine for a super fast slide
Lubricates gear shift and mower deck lever for ease of handling on riding mowers
Rids 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 belts on washers and dryers and keeps them running smoothly
Keeps rust from forming on saws and saw blades, and other tools

We're not through. Here's more:

Removes splattered grease on stove
Keeps bathroom mirror from fogging
Lubricates prosthetic limbs
Keeps pigeons off the balcony (they hate the smell)
Removes all traces of duct tape
I have even heard of folks spraying it on their arms, hands, knees,
etc., to relieve arthritis pain.

One fellow claims spraying it on fishing lures attracts fish.
WD-40 has been designated the "official multi-purpose problem-solver of NASCAR," a ringing endorsement if there ever was one. I told my NASCAR loving sons about this and they said they couldn't imagine how WD-40 can solve the Jeff Gordon problem.

In celebration of their 50th year, the company conducted a contest to
learn the favorite uses of it's customers and fan club members, (Yes,
there is a WD-40 Fan Club).

They compiled the information to identify the favorite use in each of
the 50 states. Naturally I was curious about Georgia and Alabama and
found the favorite use in both states was that it "penetrates stuck
bolts, lug nuts, and hose ends." Florida's favorite use was "cleans and removes lovebugs from grills and bumpers."

California's favorite use was penetrating the bolts on the Golden Gate Bridge.

Let me close with one final, wonderful use--the favorite use in the
State of New York--WD-40 protects the Statue of Liberty from the
elements.

No wonder they have had 50 successful years.
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[ihuntbucks]

What happens when those "elite four" die?            Rick

[gwindrider1]

I'd like to add a comment about this stuff in regard to fishing.  I spent '89 and '90 living outside Portland, Oregon, and of course I wanted to do some fishing for Salmon, Steelhead, and Sturgeon.  

At the time I knew nothing about the ins-and-outs of doing this, so I listened and learned from the locals.  What I learned was that if I didn't hose my lure or bait down with WD-40, I was not going to catch a fish that day.  I didn't believe it at first, but came to see that it was the truth.

It still baffles me how a petroleum smell can attract fish, but for the first year not using it, I did not catch fish.  The next year, with my can of WD-40 in hand, I hammered 'em.  Go figure?

Try it, you'll like it!

[Garthag]

1.  Get the moisture and powder fowling out of suppressor cans:  soak the can in it overnight in a suitable container, take it out and let it drain in a warm place, wipe down and store worry-free.

2.  Substitute for cologne.  "Workshop Obsession"  (I'm only half-joking here)

[Braz475]

We use it for fishing when we are down at Lake Paulina near Bend, Oregon...it works great!

I use it all the time when working on my dirt bikes or vehicles also..

[dave375hh]

One of my shooting pals is the WD-40 factory rep for all of the NE USA. I came up with uses he didn't know of.
1. Removes bugs and tar from vehicles, best I've ever used.
2. Loosens plastic wad fouling from shotgun bbls.(let it soak overnite and one pass with a brush gets it all)
And my all-time favorite!
3. Stops the itch of skeeters, black flies, no-seeums, & poision ivy in seconds.

[Quan Toi]

I have a full can from 2005 that has the label printed upside down. A real collectors item. If anyone is interested, make me an offer I can't refuse.