Leslie, I appreciate your comments, but can only relate my own experience
with WD-40:

I've been using a solution of WD-40 and lighter fluid on my shells for over
20 years.  I've never seen any degrading or any damage.  Quite the contrary
from oily compounds, it dries and thus does not gather dust or gunk in
crevices, or leave an oily spot on the shelf.  I used to rinse them under
cool water once a year, but have discovered that since nothing adheres, it
isn't necessary.  If it weren't for the shelves underneath them, my
dusting would only consist of a hair dryer. My 20-year old shells are just
as shiny as when I acquired them and there is no oily residue.

We've been through this before on Conch-L - but mineral oil, baby oil, etc.,
are all
petroleum products.  All I can give you is over 20 years experience with
nothing but good effects. As for smell, I detect none.

When I lived on top of a sand dune, salt air took quite a toll on
everything, even aluminum and stainless steel.  There were many things we
used WD-40 on that would have disintegrated without it.  Particularly
sliding glass door and screen tracks.  It leaves a dry, protective,
non-yellowing coating.

Sylvia

----- Original Message -----
From: "Leslie Allen Crnkovic" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, August 13, 2001 10:05 PM
Subject: WD-40 on shells


> 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