wrote:

wrote:

*JimH* wrote:


WD40 has become a versatile fluid for lubrication, cleaning and water
proofing. This site gives 2000 uses for it. http://www.twbc.org/wd40.htm

How do you use it on the boat?

I don't, it sux & is basically marked-up Stoddard solvent. There are
far better penetrants as well as cleaners, and calling it a lube is
almost a joke.


Under the right circumstances, it's a fairly good lubricant, as is
water.

A good few years ago I remember reading an article about some testing
done on various lubricants. This would probably have been in an
electronics magazine. Basically, the tests (IIRC it was an inclined
plane test with metal on metal and plastic on metal) showed that
although the friction was lower with freshly applied WD40 than when dry,
it was significantly higher than with just about any commonly available
oil or grease and that adding WD40 to *ANY* other lubricant resulted
in *MORE* friction than either that lubricant or WD40 alone. YMMV, but
its the *LAST* thing I reach for if I want lubrication.

I keep a minature can on board for de-watering my Seagull's carb and
ignition if it ever goes for a swim, but otherwise its strictly a
workshop convenience for sticky label remains, drilling or cutting
Aluminium, cleaning up small parts etc.

There are a couple of spray cans on the shelf and the oldest one (which
I try to use up first unless I've left it somewhere stupid) is still
about 1/3 full and has been there about 20 years. Its not a jumbo can
either. A friend used to rent the garage and I 'inherited' it and a few
tools from him so I am certain how long I've had that can. The other
can he had on the go lasted me till the late 90's. He loved the stuff
but was very much a 'hammer' mechanic.

Good marketing though . . .
--
Ian Malcolm. London, ENGLAND. (NEWSGROUP REPLY PREFERRED)
ianm[at]the[dash]malcolms[dot]freeserve[dot]co[dot]uk
[at]=@, [dash]=- & [dot]=. *Warning* HTML & 32K emails -- NUL:
'Stingo' Albacore #1554 - 15' Early 60's, Uffa Fox designed,
All varnished hot moulded wooden racing dinghy.