[GreenKeys] WD40

[Roy Morgan]

On Jun 5, 2008, at 1:56 PM, Roy Morgan wrote:
>
> Now:


OOPS:  I forgot to add what I had in mind for after the "Now:"
Here it is:

Oil made from the jaw of the whale was the traditional oil used in  
clocks and likely watches for a very long time.  It was the best they  
had.  Now, however, though you can still get traditional whale (?)  
based oil, synthetics are used a lot. They are MUCH better than the  
traditional whale oils.  In whatever way you care to compare, they are  
better except for price. But note: I have a one half ounce bottle of  
watch oil I got in perhaps the 1970's. It's barely used.  The amount  
needed to lubricate any one point in a watch or similar movement in a  
clock is so small, you need a magnifying glass to see it.. And to get  
in the right spot and not put too much on.

Thanks for the info on 3-in-one oil. I did not know there were two  
kinds.  All I remembered was some lore from long ago, and the fact  
that a few drops spilled into the top of the can around the neck of a  
can I've used turned gooey after a while.

<Rant ON>
A note on WD-40: Lore has it that it was the 40-th and finally  
successful compound developed by or for NASA when they had trouble  
with rocket flames/exhaust cracking the ceramic lining of the launch  
platform blast deflectors.  The "WD" was, as noted, for "Water  
Displacer".  The night time dew got into the pores of the ceramic and  
turned to damaging steam or superheated water/steam when the rocket  
was launched before the ceramics were dry.  Since then, lore has it,  
WD-40 has been changed in composition, and the Material Safety Data  
Sheets do not provide much information useful to us except to list a,  
or the, major ingredient as Stoddards Solvent.  This is refined  
kerosene and likely very close in composition to K-1 you can buy for a  
few dollars a gallon at some gas stations.  WD-40 (or kerosene) *is*  
good for loosening grease that's been there too long and needs to come  
out.

Perhaps a little-noted but important milestone in our society is the  
time when a four ounce container of WD-40 costs the same as a gallon  
of it's major ingredient.

While I'm on a rant: And in case you have any radios or the like with  
wooden cases, "Lemon Oil Wood Restorer" and "Old English Furniture  
Polish" have two important ingredients:  Mineral oil and Lemon (or  
other) scent. They do not and cannot "Feed the wood."  The wood is  
dead, already.  The oil is to make it shine (until it gloms onto  
another layer of dust and grime, and makes you put another batch of  
the goo on), and the lemon scent is to sell the product. Neither is  
good for your wood radio cabinets.

What *should* you do?  Clean with cheap mineral spirits, allow to dry  
thoroughly, then repair any glued joints or veneer as needed, then  
apply paste wax.  Brie Wax if you must (it comes in different colors)  
or bowling alley wax if you have some (Cheap at the super markets), or  
Renaissance Wax if you care (developed by the Victoria and Albert  
Museum conservators for use on priceless antiques.)

<Rant OFF>

Roy

Roy Morgan
k1lky at earthlink.net
Lovettsville, VA 20180