[TowerTalk] WD-40

[Jimmy Weierich]

I hope that this will lay to rest the discussion as to what WD-40 is or isn't.


>From the WD-40 Product Description:

        "WD-40's versitility has made it the world's number one
        multi-purpose problem solver. It has five basic functions -
        cleaning,lubricating, penetrating, displacing moisture and
        preventing rust."

A quote from Paige M. Perdue,
Marketing Manager of the WD-40 Company , San Diego, CA. This excerpt is
from a letter to the editor published in the August,1994 "AOPA PILOT"
magazine (page 24):

     " It is true that WD-40's carrier does evaporate, like all carriers,
     but it deposits inhibitors that penetrate into the grain areas of metal
     surfaces, removing existing moisture and providing a protective film
     against corrosion. In fact, WD-40 was originally developed to prevent
     corrosion on Atlas missiles and has many applications for all types of
     aircraft." "... It acts as a lubricant, penetrant, corrosion
     preventative, moisture displacer and cleaner."

>From the WD-40 MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet):

     Aliphatic Petroleum Distillates     60-70%
     Petroleum Base Oil     15-25%
     Non-hazardous ingredients     <10%
     Carbon Dioxide     2-3%

Aliphatic Petroleum Distillates are also known as Stoddard Solvent or
mineral spirits.
Petroleum Base Oil is a lubricant.
Carbon Dioxide is the propellant in the aerosal cans.
The WD-40 Company ain't sayin what the non-hazardous ingredients are.

I make no claims as to the suitability of WD-40 for any given purpose. I
have no connection to the WD-40 Company other than wishing I owned some of
their stock.

As Casey Stengal often said - "you can look it up".

Jimmy, KG2AU       <kg2au@stny.lrun.com>



--
FAQ on WWW:               http://www.contesting.com/towertalkfaq.html
Submissions:              towertalk@contesting.com
Administrative requests:  towertalk-REQUEST@contesting.com
Problems:                 owner-towertalk@contesting.com
Search:                   http://www.contesting.com/km9p/search