# What is WD40 actually the best for? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 23, 2013, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-wd40-actually-the-best-for/656530 "2013-04-23T20:08:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![R.P.McMurphy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@R.P.McMurphy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R.P.McMurphy)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2013, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-wd40-actually-the-best-for/656530/42 "2013-07-06T14:16:40Z")
WD-40 is good as a solvent and rust inhibitor. It was developed to stop corrosion on Atlas rockets. It displaces water. When it was realized that it was being “borrowed” by employees for use at home the company decided to turn it into a commercial product. WD-40 is not a good lubricant. Practical tip: Use a rag with an area soaked with WD-40 to clean your bicycle chain. Then us a good chain lubricant, sparingly applied only on the rollers, to make it run smooth. ---
**Author:** ![toofs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4491bb/32.png) [@toofs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toofs)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2013, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-wd40-actually-the-best-for/656530/43 "2013-07-06T20:04:54Z")
Agreed, WD-40 is not a lubricant. In fact, a twenty year old can in my garage does not have the words “lubricant” or “lubricates” anywhere on the can. Terrible lube. The shit gunks up and turns into a cosmoline-like mess. Penetrant: use Kroil. Better than PB Blaster or Liquid Wrench. Lubricant: use the appropriate lubricant for the job. Preventing rust: Remoil, Eezox, Break-Free are great, but use the appropriate product for the job. The best use for WD-40? It is great for spraying and wiping down yard tools like hedge clippers, shovels, etc. This is a great use because WD-40 is CHEAP and comes out of the can in a mist. Just fog spray them and wipe 'em down. It has enough solvents to help clean off the gunk and does an acceptable job of preventing rust. Perfect for things where a bit of rust is not a big deal. ---
**Author:** ![MrQwertyasd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9d8465/32.png) [@MrQwertyasd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrQwertyasd)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2013, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-wd40-actually-the-best-for/656530/44 "2013-07-06T21:35:29Z")
Possibly the facts of WD-40 "WD-40 is the trademark name of a lubricant, penetrating oil and water-displacing spray. It was developed in 1953 by Norm Larsen, founder of the Rocket Chemical Company, in San Diego, California. WD-40, abbreviated from the phrase “Water Displacement, 40th formula,” ~wikiP ---
**Author:** ![janeslogin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@janeslogin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janeslogin)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2013, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-wd40-actually-the-best-for/656530/45 "2013-07-07T15:20:32Z")
[WD-40.com](http://WD-40.com) says it ‘contains’ lubricants. There are several sites that claim to list the 2000 uses. I have not counted them. Before I screw anything that’s not alive I spray it with WD-40. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2013, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-wd40-actually-the-best-for/656530/46 "2013-07-07T22:02:53Z")
> [@toofs](#): > > The best use for WD-40? It is great for spraying and wiping down yard tools like hedge clippers, shovels, etc. This is a great use because WD-40 is CHEAP and comes out of the can in a mist. Just fog spray them and wipe 'em down. It has enough solvents to help clean off the gunk and does an acceptable job of preventing rust. Perfect for things where a bit of rust is not a big deal. That’s kind of what I was thinking; it’s a good general purpose solvent/cleaner and rust preventative. It’s also useful for displacing water out of electrical contacts, etc… ---
**Author:** ![Kelevra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/97f17d/32.png) [@Kelevra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kelevra)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2013, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-wd40-actually-the-best-for/656530/47 "2013-07-08T18:25:06Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > It works great as a coolant/lubricant for machining aluminum. [hijack]Well that gives me insight on your user name. I had just assumed it was a name.[/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2013, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-wd40-actually-the-best-for/656530/48 "2013-07-08T22:29:45Z")
> [@Kelevra](#): > > [hijack]Well that gives me insight on your user name. I had just assumed it was a name.[/hijack] [continued hijack] Psst..check out [this post](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=13143231&postcount=41).. [/continued hijack] ---
**Author:** ![yorick73](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/b5a626/32.png) [@yorick73](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yorick73)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-wd40-actually-the-best-for/656530/49 "2013-07-09T00:39:36Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > And it’s keeping my knees limber (no need for expensive and painful joint surgery). Are you being serious? I’ve heard old-timers claim it works great on joints but I’ve also heard (no proof) that it can cause cancer. A quick google search turns up a bunch of conflicting statements about carcinogens and whether it contains DMSO. ETA: Old SD thread [WD-40 - Arthritis Prevention? - Factual Questions - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=3815) ---
**Author:** ![Lazlo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lazlo/32/9678_2.png) [@Lazlo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lazlo)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-wd40-actually-the-best-for/656530/50 "2013-07-09T01:46:48Z")
> [@LawMonkey](#): > > And we may comfortably assume WDs-1 through 39 were not as good. Just like Preparations A through G. ---
**Author:** ![SlickRoenick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@SlickRoenick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlickRoenick)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-wd40-actually-the-best-for/656530/51 "2013-07-09T19:26:20Z")
> [@LawMonkey](#): > > And we may comfortably assume WDs-1 through 39 were not as good. And can we assume that no further attempts to make the product better have been made yet? Where is WD-41 or WD-50? ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2013, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-wd40-actually-the-best-for/656530/52 "2013-07-10T10:34:22Z")
> [@yorick73](#): > > Are you being serious? I’ve heard old-timers claim it works great on joints but I’ve also heard (no proof) that it can cause cancer. A quick google search turns up a bunch of conflicting statements about carcinogens and whether it contains DMSO. > > ETA: Old SD thread [WD-40 - Arthritis Prevention? - Factual Questions - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=3815) Remember DMSO? It was supposed to be good for everything-arthritis, sore joints, etc. Football players used it..now nobody uses it..was it basically “snake oil”? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-wd40-actually-the-best-for/656530.md?page=2)