[TowerTalk] WD40 - additional

[K8RI on Tower talk]

>I have been impressed by the number and variability of the responses to my
>query about WD-40 as a lubricant.

>This morning, in Idaho Falls, ID, I had an opportunity to speak with one of
>the DOE scientists about WD-40. He told me that it is a silicone product

I have a gallon of the stuff in the shop.  No where does it say it has a 
silicone in it and virtually all lubricans that do have silicones
will say so as they are create a major problem around surfaces that will be 
painted.  WD-40 has never caused me a problem around painting.  So although 
I've seen others mention silicone I don't believe there is any in WD-40.

I worked for a company that produced silicones.  I didn't want to get any of 
that stuff any where near a surface I might want to paint some day. <:-)) 
Mineral spirits, or Acetone does a very good job of removing WD-40.  When 
viewed at a low angle they leave a big smear after trying to remove 
silicones.

WD 40 is a penetrating oil, so is 3-1 oil but with a different ratio of 
materials and a higher viscosity lubricating oil.  Sewing machine oil is a 
low viscosity oil.
WD 40 does lubricate, but the lubricating oil is low viscosity and highly 
volitile which means it doesn't stay around long.



>which is deliquescent (captures moisture) and that is reflected in the 
>name.
>According to him the WD stands for "water displacing". The "40" is related
>to the experimental 'mixture' that made it to the market.

Virtually all hydrocargons are water displacement.    Alcohol OTOH will mix 
with the water and is a good way to dry something out that has gotten water 
in it.  Look at what water does in gas.  Gas is water displacement and the 
water will seperate and sink to the bottom no matter how hard you try to mix 
them.  Pour in some alcohol, shake, and the water is no longer visible.


Roger Halstead (K8RI and ARRL 40 year Life Member)
N833R - World's oldest Debonair CD-2
www.rogerhalstead.com

He asserted that it does indeed work well as a lubricant because of the
silicone in the mixture. He stated that one should use only a small amount
and it should be used on things that restrict the access of air currents
because it will capture dust particles if they are present in high
concentrations. He felt that using if for indoor, enclosed equipment
applications would be optimum. He said he had used it as a lubricant and did
not find that repeated applications were necessary in the usage experience
he had had.

I am repeating what I was told so please do not expect me to provide 'real'
scientific data on this, only what I have written above. I guess this is
where one says "YMMV".

Tod, KØTO



> -----Original Message-----
> From: towertalk-bounces at contesting.com
> [mailto:towertalk-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of kd4e
> Sent: Monday, October 03, 2005 6:09 AM
> To: towertalk reflector
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] WD40 (was lubing air variable caps)
>
> Kelly Taylor wrote:
> > When the WD40 official website says it's a lubricant...
>
> The site is a bit misleading.
>
> It should say "temporary lubricant requiring frequent re-application".
>
> Of course being dependent on a lubricant that requires
> frequent re-application is good for their business!
>
> Frequent re-application is hardly the goal for anything on a
> tower, or for busy Hams, for anything in frequent use that
> requires disassembly and reassembly for the re-application
> such as an antenna tuner.
>
> --
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> Thanks! & 73, doc kd4e
>
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> See: http://www.mscomputer.com  for "Self Supporting Towers",
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_______________________________________________

See: http://www.mscomputer.com  for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless 
Weather Stations", and lot's more.  Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with any 
questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.

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