[AMRadio] A WD-40 Story

[Donald Chester]

That gummy-up problem must have been due to the emulsion resulting from the
presence of water. I have never had any problem using it on dry stuff.  The
oil evaporates quickly, and the remaining lubricant has never caused me any
ill effects.  I seem to recall reading  that it contains some kind of dry
lubricant that stays behind after the oil is gone, but that may actually be
a more viscous oil that stays behind after the volatile hydrocarbons
evaporate. It also allegedly used to contain DMSO, which was later removed
because people were spraying it on their skin hoping to relieve arthritis
pain.

The story is that WD-40 uses a secret formula, and that they have never
patented it because they don't want to disclose the recipe.

What's inside WD-40?
http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/magazine/17-05/st_whatsinside

What is DMSO?    http://www.dmso.org/articles/information/muir.htm