5 ms·

Lost me at calling WD40 lubricant. Although I do agree with the premise, it is very satisfying when it is easy to open your door.

stcredzero 3y ago
Lost me at calling WD40 lubricant. I know it's for keeping water away. I use it for that purpose on my swords. But why isn't it a lubricant? Maybe it's not the best, but it can serve that purpose.
- mikewarot 3y ago
  It wasn't intended to be a lubricant. When it "dries" it gets gummy. Quoting Wikipedia[1] The spray, composed of various hydrocarbons, was originally designed to be used by Convair to protect the outer skin of the Atlas missile from rust and corrosion.[11][12] This outer skin also functioned as the outer wall of the missile's delicate balloon tanks. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WD-40 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WD-40
  - hansonkd 3y ago
    From the article: > It acts as a lubricant, rust preventive, penetrant and moisture displacer. and the article is in the category of "Petroleum based lubricants" So it seems just because it wasn't intended as a lubricant doesn't mean it can't be be.
    - dharmab 3y ago
      Wikipedia says a lot of things. Many of them are wrong. Ask anyone who works professionally with machines and they'll tell you WD-40 is a temporary lubricant at best.
      - stcredzero 3y ago
        Surely, there is some context where WD-40 is just fine. I do note that lubrication is actually complex. Soap feels plenty slick in general, but if I try to shave with it, certain soaps give very poor results. So, of course, not everything slick and oily is going to work for lubricating machines. But when I rub soap on wood screws, it works just fine in that context!
    - SAI_Peregrinus 3y ago
      It lubricates for a very short time, then most of it evaporates & leaves behind a slightly sticky residue that helps prevent rust. It dissolves most lubricants that would stay in place for longer (greases) and cleans them off of surfaces.
    - sliken 3y ago
      Sure, but if you don't know what you are doing, and have a need for lubricating something at home, on a bike, or on a car, you are MUCH better off with a oil, graphite, teflon, or grease. Sure professionals use WD40 when appropriate. Sure WD40 lubricates great, for seconds to minutes (before the volatilies evaporate off, thus the WD40 smell), less well after that (somewhat gummy residue) and might well stop a creak. But won't lubricate nearly as well as oil or grease or last as long.
- sliken 3y ago
  If you take a properly lubricated widget and as part of regular maintenance you lubricate it, it's well lubricated. If you take a properly lubricated widget and as part of regular maintenance you spray WD-40 on it, it's less lubricated, might be fine for a bit, but it's mostly a cleaner and water displacer. Ideal in some situations for cleaning, before you apply a lubricant. WD40 does leave something behind, maybe better than metal on metal, but it's gummy and pretty far from what I'd consider a lubricant. Sure in some cases chewing gum, soil, or sand can reduce friction, I wouldn't call them lubricants though.
aidenn0 3y ago
FWIW, the makers of WD-40 claim it is a lubricant[1]. 1: https://www.wd40.com/myths-legends-fun-facts/ https://www.wd40.com/myths-legends-fun-facts/
AnotherGoodName 3y ago
I'd love to know where this myth came from. Every single test i've seen or done myself have had no issues with it in door locks (fixed a problem and stayed fixed for decades) or on bicycle chains yet you can't have an internet thread about lubricant without somone saying "WD40 ISN'T A LUBRICANT" even though it is most certainly a lubricant. I feel like this is one of those internet myths someone once said and now everyone just blindly repeats. My only thought is that there's cheaper generic brands but regardless it's a great tool for the job.
- praptak 3y ago
  It is a good enough lubricant. In my experience with door hinges they stay non-creaky for much longer with technical vaseline though. Btw, about a year ago I read that copper grease is absolutely the best for this purpose but I'm still waiting for a hinge to become squeaky so that I can test that.

stcredzero 3y ago

Lost me at calling WD40 lubricant. I know it's for keeping water away. I use it for that purpose on my swords. But why isn't it a lubricant? Maybe it's not the best, but it can serve that purpose.

mikewarot 3y ago
It wasn't intended to be a lubricant. When it "dries" it gets gummy. Quoting Wikipedia[1] The spray, composed of various hydrocarbons, was originally designed to be used by Convair to protect the outer skin of the Atlas missile from rust and corrosion.[11][12] This outer skin also functioned as the outer wall of the missile's delicate balloon tanks. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WD-40 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WD-40
- hansonkd 3y ago
  From the article: > It acts as a lubricant, rust preventive, penetrant and moisture displacer. and the article is in the category of "Petroleum based lubricants" So it seems just because it wasn't intended as a lubricant doesn't mean it can't be be.
  - dharmab 3y ago
    Wikipedia says a lot of things. Many of them are wrong. Ask anyone who works professionally with machines and they'll tell you WD-40 is a temporary lubricant at best.
    - stcredzero 3y ago
      Surely, there is some context where WD-40 is just fine. I do note that lubrication is actually complex. Soap feels plenty slick in general, but if I try to shave with it, certain soaps give very poor results. So, of course, not everything slick and oily is going to work for lubricating machines. But when I rub soap on wood screws, it works just fine in that context!
  - SAI_Peregrinus 3y ago
    It lubricates for a very short time, then most of it evaporates & leaves behind a slightly sticky residue that helps prevent rust. It dissolves most lubricants that would stay in place for longer (greases) and cleans them off of surfaces.
  - sliken 3y ago
    Sure, but if you don't know what you are doing, and have a need for lubricating something at home, on a bike, or on a car, you are MUCH better off with a oil, graphite, teflon, or grease. Sure professionals use WD40 when appropriate. Sure WD40 lubricates great, for seconds to minutes (before the volatilies evaporate off, thus the WD40 smell), less well after that (somewhat gummy residue) and might well stop a creak. But won't lubricate nearly as well as oil or grease or last as long.
sliken 3y ago
If you take a properly lubricated widget and as part of regular maintenance you lubricate it, it's well lubricated. If you take a properly lubricated widget and as part of regular maintenance you spray WD-40 on it, it's less lubricated, might be fine for a bit, but it's mostly a cleaner and water displacer. Ideal in some situations for cleaning, before you apply a lubricant. WD40 does leave something behind, maybe better than metal on metal, but it's gummy and pretty far from what I'd consider a lubricant. Sure in some cases chewing gum, soil, or sand can reduce friction, I wouldn't call them lubricants though.

aidenn0 3y ago

FWIW, the makers of WD-40 claim it is a lubricant[1]. 1: https://www.wd40.com/myths-legends-fun-facts/ https://www.wd40.com/myths-legends-fun-facts/

AnotherGoodName 3y ago

I'd love to know where this myth came from. Every single test i've seen or done myself have had no issues with it in door locks (fixed a problem and stayed fixed for decades) or on bicycle chains yet you can't have an internet thread about lubricant without somone saying "WD40 ISN'T A LUBRICANT" even though it is most certainly a lubricant. I feel like this is one of those internet myths someone once said and now everyone just blindly repeats. My only thought is that there's cheaper generic brands but regardless it's a great tool for the job.

praptak 3y ago
It is a good enough lubricant. In my experience with door hinges they stay non-creaky for much longer with technical vaseline though. Btw, about a year ago I read that copper grease is absolutely the best for this purpose but I'm still waiting for a hinge to become squeaky so that I can test that.