WD-40: contents

[PeterC]

So now we know what's in WD-40.

[Phil L]

I was only thinking about WD40 yesterday.....I have a pair of '100% waterproof' boots, which aren't, they are a type of suede on the outside and christ-knows-what on the inside, I was going to buy some waterproof spray from millets but happened upon the WD40 in the shed and started thinking about giving them a spray with that.

I haven't yet as I'm a bit wary about what it might do to the synthetic rubber soles.

Any advice anyone?

[Andrew Gabriel]

Probably a disaster. The WD40 will short-term push water away until the volatiles have evaporated, but it's useless for waterproofing. Actually, because it's rather good at washing away oils and grease, it can leave items more prone to water damage than they were before.

[Bob Mannix]

Agreed - if you must use something inappropriate, GT85 from bike shops would be better as it contains silicone.

[PeterC]

Or something appropriate:

(I hope the wibble is OK - TinyURL seems to be down)

but they'd need cleaning first:

[David in Normandy]

Well I've got a shoe that accidentally had a good soak in old engine oil yesterday when I changed the oil in the lawnmower. So far the shoe is nice and shiny but showing no signs of dissolving.

[Owain]

Did you keep enough engine oil to do the other shoe?

Owain

[PeterC]

Especialy one's codpiece.

[The Medway Handyman]

Wasn't there a scare a few years ago warning mechanics not to put oily rags in their overall pockets. Risk of testicular cancer or summint?

[PeterC]

It's more than a scare, especially with the carcinogens in used oil (me last GF is a dotor... oh, and her definition of a chemist is 'a man who washes his hands before going to the loo - also should apply to mechanics).

[newshound]

All depends on the rubber. Since WD40 is based on hydrocarbons (just like petrol and mineral oil) it won't do much to nitrile, which is why you have nitrile O rings, seals, gaskets on carburettors, gearboxes, wheel bearings, etc. But it will dissolve into natural rubber or SBR (styrene butadiene) which, although synthetic, is chemically much the same as natural. This will cause the rubber to soften and swell. As the volatile components evaporate, the rubber will recover its properties. But you may have damaged it mechanically while it is soft.

Agree with other posters, you are better to use nikwax or similar.

[Frank Erskine]

On Wed, 20 May 2009 18:16:13 GMT, "The Medway Handyman" had this to say:

There was a nofficial poster used (around the late 60s) in works premises warning about scratching your bollocks after playing about with oily thingummies. Probably before cancer was sucha nemotive subject.

[ARWadsworth]

What about female mechanics?

Adam

[PeterC]

They should also wash their hands before scratching your bollocks.

[Jules]

I can just imagine the wartime-style "mechanics: never keep your bollocks in your pockets!" poster...

[ARWadsworth]

Nice one. I will tell her later.

Adam