What WD-40 Is REALLY For!

Not to mention WD-2 through WD-39!

I loved this video! It's more my speed (for me, your really technical vids are like "ancient Egyptian algebra").

I'm curious how bad WD-1 was?

One must have proper Lubrication , That was a great little piece of History. Oh on the intro dear when that display kicks off the Franlab It scares me . The singing distracts me,In a good way~

William Nimmo

At the front desk right next to the coffee machine.

Fran Blanche

I actually knew the origins of WD-40, and what the WD actually stands for, but never knew it was used to launch rockets into space. Great and very informative video! Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us!!

kevin_p0

oh, I remember this now: https://www.yarchive.net/space/wd40.html

Michaela Pereckas

I'm with those who have a can of WD-40 under the kitchen sink or in the garage but rarely use it for anything. I remember first buying it like 35 years ago and attempting to use it as a lubricant and realizing quickly that its lubricating qualities were poor and fleeting. It can work to loosen rusted bolts because of its penetrating quality, and can be an o.k. stand-in for mineral spirits if you need to clean off a surface of something that mineral spirits would dissolve. I had no idea of the history of the stuff, or even what the "WD" and "40" stood for. Great video to set us straight on the origin of this most ubiquitous of concoctions!

Peter Knazko

No not silly, very practical and informative Fran, keep’m coming. Great sound track as well!

OMG I knew this. Where do I go to collect my nerd medal, Fran?

Thomas Fuchs

Thanks Fran for de-greasing my understanding of WD-40! I never bought a can of it, but I’ve seen others use it for “lubrication”, “cleaning” and rusted bolt removal aid since I was a kid. Usually on car engines and lawn mowers. Not knowing what was in the stuff, I was always afraid if I applied it somewhere I wouldn’t know how to get it off. In all the avionics repair manuals I’ve read, none of them recommended WD-40 for anything. They do sometimes call out for really thin oil, called Mouse Milk, which is just an aviation grade of the thin sewing oil that you showed us. I never liked the idea of “everything in a can” that can solve whatever mechanical problem I may have. Now that I know what it does, I’m glad I never used it. I don’t have my own ICBM program, so I’ll skip WD-40. Basic chemicals like Naptha, Acetone, Alcohol, and bleach (Not sure what makes up bleach) have always worked predictably. I know how materials react with those specific chemicals. A bunch of chemicals in a spray can would probably solve one problem, but create others. But I am working with very precise, tiny, gear trains and bearings that would not react well to a blast of chemicals from a spray can, even with the directional straw that can be placed on the top. But at least the frozen lock application sounds like it could be useful. But not for “everything”.

Matt Wietlispach

Where do you find the film clips for these videos? They are fantastic! I could watch that rocket motor falling back to Earth for hours.

David Peaker

I have a rusty can of WD40 sat on a shelf in my garage, so if anyone needs to launch an atlas into orbit you know where to come.

David Peaker

I only use WD40 for rusty stuff that needs a clean for everything else i use 10W40, light oil, haft oil for chains and chap Aldi Lidel Oil and Fat Spray and when i need to grease up a gear box i have Fat for that purpose :) for Rubber abd Silicone i use silicone spray makes everything smooth :)