Homestead mailing list

[EarthNSky <erthnsky AT bellsouth.net>]

The product began from a search for a rust preventative solvent and 
degreaser to protect missile parts.
WD-40 was created in 1953 by three technicians at the San Diego Rocket 
Chemical Company.
Its name comes from the project that was to find a "water displacement" 
compound.
They were successful with the fortieth formulation, thus WD-40.

The Corvair Company bought it in bulk to protect their Atlas missile parts.
The workers were so pleased with the product they began smuggling (! 
also known as "shrinkage" or "stealing")
it out to use at home.

The executives decided there might be a consumer market for it and put 
it in aerosol cans.
The rest is history.

It is a carefully guarded recipe known only to four people.  One of them 
is the "brewmaster."
There are about 2.5 million gallons of the stuff manufactured each year.
It gets its distinctive smell from a fragrance that is added to the brew.
Ken East (one of the original founders) says there is nothing in WD-40 
that would hurt you.

Here are some of its uses.

Protects silver from tarnishing
Cleans and lubricates guitar strings
Gets oil spots off concrete driveways
Gives floors that 'just-waxed' sheen without making it slippery.
Keeps flies off cows
Restores and cleans chalkboards
Removes lipstick stains
Loosens stubborn zippers
Untangles jewelry chains
Removes stains from stainless steel sinks
Removes dirt and grime from the barbecue grill
Keeps ceramic/terra cotta garden pots from oxidizing
Removes tomato stains from clothing
Keeps glass shower doors free of water spots
Camouflages scratches in ceramic and marble floors
Keeps scissors working smoothly
Lubricates noisy door hinges on vehicles and doors in homes and gives a 
children's play gym slide a shine for a super fast slide Lubricates gear 
shift and mower deck lever for ease of handling on riding mowers
Rids rocking chairs and swings of squeaky noises
Lubricates tracks in sticking home windows and makes them easier to open 
Spraying an umbrella stem makes it easier to open and close
Restores and cleans padded leather dashboards and vinyl bumpers, roof 
racks on vehicles
Lubricates and stops squeaks in electric fans, wheel sprockets on 
tricycles, wagons and bicycles for easy handling
Lubricates fan belts on washers and dryers and keeps them running smoothly
Keeps rust from forming on saws and saw blades, and other tools
Removes splattered grease on stove
Keeps bathroom mirror from fogging
Lubricates prosthetic limbs
Keeps pigeons off the balcony (they hate the smell)
Removes all traces of duct tape
I have even heard of folks spraying it on their arms, hands, and knees 
to relieve arthritis pain.
Florida's favorite use was "cleans and removes love bugs from grills and 
bumpers
The favorite use in the state of New York, WD-40 protects the Statue of 
Liberty from the elements.
Use it for fire ant bites.  It takes the sting away immediately, and 
stops the itch.
WD-40 is great for removing crayon from walls.  Spray on the mark and 
wipe with a clean rag.
If you've discovered that your teenager has washed and dried a tube of 
lipstick with a load of laundry, saturate the lipstick spots with WD-40 
and rewash.  Presto!  Lipstick is gone!
WD-40, long known for its ability to remove leftover tape, masking tape 
and sticky label tape
It removes black scuff marks from the kitchen floor!
Use WD-40 for those nasty tar and scuff marks on flooring.  It doesn't 
seem to harm the finish and you won't have to scrub nearly as hard to 
get them off.  Just remember to open some windows if you have a lot of 
marks.
Use WD-40 to remove bug remains that eat away the finish on your car.



--
Bevanron of EarthNSky Farm   Sleep well tonight, for somewhere in the 
ocean's depths, MY son is protecting YOUR freedom.