WD40...your thoughts?

Sproles

Sproles

Joined
Jan 11, 1999
Messages
700
OK-- I know that there are plenty of good lubricants out there,and plenty of cleaners as well. But what about WD40? It is cheap...it is EVERYWHERE you go, and it gets the "gunk" of my knife really well.

During the day, I cut open alot of boxes that are taped shut. The tape "gunk" gets on my blade nd WD40 cuts right through it.

My EDC is either a small Sebbie or a BM 722S. Advice and thoughts on this stuff?

Hey, it also smells pretty!
rolleyes.gif


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David P. Sproles
Eagle Scout Class of 1988
dps2970@hotmail.com
 
WD-40 is a great solvent, and maybe a decent rust inhibitor.

Not worth sour owl's **** for a lubricant.

I recommend Militec-1, Tri-Flow, Break-Free, or something high quality. (Read:Expensive)

Don't be cheap with your knife care.

Mike

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DISCLAIMER:

The opinions expressed here are my own, and in no way reflect the opinion of any other person, living or dead. Of course, your opinion may vary, in which case the prevailing laws of your jurisdiction shall apply.

firedept_md_wht.gif
 
Try 3-in-1 Oil instead, much cleaner than WD-40 and a real rust inhibitor as well as lubricant.
 
I used to use it when I first started carrying a knife on a daily basis, after a few weeks the odor started getting to me. Never had a problem with its performance on my low grade knives, but it attracted lint like a magnet and stunk up my pockets.

Dark Nemesis

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Crimson Horizon
Nothing but edge baby...
dark.nemesis@home.com
 
Nothing does more tasks as poorly as WD40. Jack of all trades, master of none -- and in a handy spray can. I wouldn't be without a can.

It's a solvent, a cleaner, a rust inhibitor, a lubricant, a polish, a fire starter, a salad dressing, a popcorn topping, a cologne... what can't this can do?

In one test done by a respected BF member, WD40 outpreformed Tuffcloth as a rust inhibitor.

WD40 is a great lubricant, but it just has not staying power. You get great lubrication, but just not for very long.

As a solvent, cleaner, I've never seen WD40 attack any knife material except for that Changmade one I had with the tape-skum inserts.

WD40 is USDA approved for use in food service (says to right on the label). You know, I've got a lot of recipies that begin "grease the pan..." Well, not of my pans have a grease fitting. Besides, I can't see why you'd grease a pan that has no moving parts. I've found that a light spray of WD40 works great.

So, while there are fancy products such as Militec-1 that are significantly better as lubricants, WD40 is the one can to have when you're having only one can.

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Chuck
Balisongs -- because it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing!
http://www.balisongcollector.com

[This message has been edited by Gollnick (edited 04-16-2001).]
 
I like WD 40 when I am cleaning my knives. Otherwise I like 3 in 1. You have to be very careful in it's application otherwise it spreads all over the place. Other than that, it rocks.
Matt
 
I would not use WD40 on a knife. Notice how your kids bike chain still rusts no mater how much you spray it with WD40?
I use Acetone to clean the knife and Break Free or Rem-Oil to lube. Less is better with a good lube. Tuff-Cloth is a good dry blade protectant. Just be sure not to light up a smoke around acetone.

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Aloha
 
WD-40 is great for in-process clean up of blades and keeping the water away. White Lightnin for lube is my choice.

WD-40 also works great on 1/4 ounce walleye jigs! I'm serious! The sweet smell brings them around.

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Mondt Custom Knives
For the Word of God is...sharper than any two edged sword.

[This message has been edited by Doug Mondt (edited 04-17-2001).]
 
WD40 is great for initial cleaning and freeing locked joints but evaporates after awhile and is not really a long-term rust inhibitor or lubricant. Just apply something else like Rem oil or Militec once you're done cleaning them.

Red


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"Praise not the day until evening has come;a sword until it is tried; ice until it has been crossed; beer until it has been drunk" - Viking proverb
 
Works great for bluefish too!
After I hose off the rods and reels they get a spritz of WD40...never wiped it off the line...that one got the most bites the next day!
Now the surgical tube baits/lures get a zotz before they go in the water
eek.gif


WD40: jack of all trades, master of none. Works for me!

On a side note, did anyone ever try graphite (like you use for your car locks in the winter) on their blade pivots?
 
My carbon steel knives get a lovely light coating in mineral oil to keep them happy.

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"Come What May..."
 
wd40 is ok but it does evaporate rather quickly also it smells bad and is kind of toxic.i recommend nyoil which really has no smell and is environmentally safe.
 
WD-40 is great for knives that are used alot, get dirty and have to be cleaned frequently. I use high pressure air to blow out the gunk, scrub in the sink, blast with WD-40, and wipe down. WD-40's cheaper than my preferred RemOil, which is why I use it. Sometimes use contact cleaner, too (this stuff really does smell great!).

I save the Tuff-Cloth and Tuf-Glide for the ones that don't get carried much anymore, or don't get used at work.
 
I used WD with the high pressure red tube to clean out crud from a SAK a coworker asked me to clean. The thing would barely open, and no snap when it did. I doused it in WD, but then flushed it out with good old dish soap & water. Rinse. Repeat. Put it in a dish towel and shake well to shake the moisture out. Blow dry in the open, half, & closed positions to really dry it out. Apply White Lightening if necessary. Work the action. Let set overnight.
 
The trouble with using WD-40 to get gunk off your knife is then you're left with the problem of getting the WD-40 off your knife.

It's a mystery how people who can't read the prominent toxic warnings on the label can post on the net. They must have voice software, I guess....

I use 91% isopropyl alcohol to clean, and oil with mineral oil I've added a few drops of clove oil to just to make it smell nice. It's also good for skin so I don't mind if I get a little on my hands.


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-Cougar :{)
Use of Weapons
 
Cougar Allen,

I'm quite interested in your opinion and suggestions regarding mineral oil on a knife blade. I just recently started using my CRKT M-16 with it's bead blasted stainless AUS-8 blade...I would like to use it to cut food ocasionally, but not at the expense of staining or corroding it's steel. I currently use one of my Spyderco's for this purpose.

So, my question is: do you think that mineral oil provides good corrosion protection? Are there any acids, etc in this oil, or clove oil. My concern is one of using a non toxic coating on the blade.

Thanks for any help you can offer. Jeff/1911.
 
WD-40 is great as a cleanser in the garage (cuts through oil and other sticky grime) but as a lube it flat out sucks. I would never use it on any of my knives not only for this but also for the fact that it has a strong odor. Funny thing is, I use WD-40 a lot for non-lube uses. That's to the extent of it. For knife lube, stick with Tuf-Glide, White Lightning, Rem-Oil, etc. Easier to apply with less mess and certainly no overspray.

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Proud member: AKTI, NCCKG, NCKK, and SCAK


Living life on the edge
 
Bailey Bradshaw told me once that the problem with WD40 is, it is a decent lubricant, but poor as a rust preventive. The reason being is the lubricant evaporates fairly quickly, and what is left on your blade is the corrosive propellents. Never used it on my customs since. Still use it to clean stuff up though.

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Danbo, soul brother of Rambo
 
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