Hi Sylvia:
When I worked for Mid-Continent Chemical back in the mid 80's we had
considerable discussions / briefings on the topic of WD-40.  We made a
competitive (not as good) comparison to it called D-Hydro Lube.  Liquid
Wrench brand has had several different knock-offs of it.

In short WD-40 is high viscosity denature kerosene / mineral spirits
compound and a light petroleum based solvent.  It has no silica's in it.

The formula has never been patented.  That is how they keep it a secret.  If
it were patented it could be re-engineered and copied by the formula.  I am
surprised however that it seems the formula has never been stolen or
properly duplicated.

Since it is a light spirits it is prone to evaporation. The base film that
it leaves after evaporation is the residual trace oils.  It is not a
suitable replacement to oils or grease in general use, but it is rather a
temporary lubricant.

I do not know how it would effect a shells but I would not put it on mine
personally.

Beyond the smell there is still the unknown effect of the solvent.
So I recommend leaving the WD-40 to the garage and not the shell room!

Leslie Allen Crnkovic



-----Original Message-----
From: Conchologists of America List [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
Behalf Of Sylvia S. Edwards
Sent: Monday, August 13, 2001 5:18 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: WD-40 on shells


A couple of years ago, Conch-L had a discussion going about using WD-40 to
add shine to shells (it is my personal favorite).  We all wondered what was
in WD-40 (silicon?), and weren't able to find out.  Here's some weird facts
about WD-40 I gather from the internet. I guess nobody knows what it is made
of.  A hint is probably the smell of petroleum.

Sylvia S. Edwards
Huntsville, AL
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
WD-40®

Norman Larsen, president and head chemist at the Rocket Chemical Company,
developed a water displacement formula on his fortieth try, naming it WD-40.

The aerospace industry needed a product to eliminate moisture from
electrical circuitry and to prevent corrosion on airplanes and Atlas Missile
nose-cones. The newly developed WD-40 worked so well, engineers working at
the Rocket Chemical Company began sneaking it out of the plant for home use
on squeaky doors and stuck locks.

WD-40 became available to the public in 1958, and in 1961, a sweet fragrance
was added to overcome the smell of the petroleum distillates. In 1969, the
Rocket Chemical Company was renamed the WD-40 Company, after its only
product. The WD-40 Company makes the "secret sauce," then sends it to
packagers who add the solvent and propellant.

In 1964, John Glenn circled the earth in Friendship VII, which was covered
with WD-40 from top to bottom.

The WD-40 Company went public on the NASDAQ exchange in 1973. The initial
300,000 shares, available at $16.50, closed that same day at $26.50.

WD-40 makes over a million gallons of the "secret sauce" every year.

WD-40 can be found in four out of five American homes.

"WD-40" is a registered trademark of the WD-40 Company