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Author Topic:  WD-40 Who Knew...
Lynn Stafford


From:
Ridgefield, WA USA
Post  Posted 13 Oct 2021 1:59 pm    
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I recently found that WD-40 works very well as a solvent to remove the adhesive left when fret boards are removed! It's actually the best that I've ever found for that purpose, as I've tried quite a few, like Goof-Off and several others.

Most everyone here knows that it's NOT an lubricant though, so don't ever use it to lubricate your steel guitar!
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Donny Hinson

 

From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
Post  Posted 13 Oct 2021 2:41 pm    
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WD-40 has literally dozens of uses*, though it is a poor lubricant. I don't recommend it as a lube, but it's better than nothing if you're between a rock and a hard place. Laughing

*(Use google to get a list...no use posting them all here.)
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Brendan Mitchell


From:
Melbourne Australia
Post  Posted 13 Oct 2021 3:11 pm    
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https://youtu.be/APl0edZ8gI8
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Scott Denniston


From:
Hahns Peak, Colorado, USA
Post  Posted 13 Oct 2021 5:11 pm    
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Yeah I've been using it for years to remove that gummy glue under decals and stickers.
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Jerry Overstreet


From:
Louisville Ky
Post  Posted 13 Oct 2021 5:23 pm    
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WD40 gets a bad rap. Especially around here.

I used to work in a metal forming shop. They bought that stuff by the drums. It was all they used to run metal.
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Charlie Hansen


From:
Halifax, NS Canada and Various Southern Towns.
Post  Posted 13 Oct 2021 6:27 pm    
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I’ve used it for years to remove glue residue. Great for that.
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Ian Rae


From:
Redditch, England
Post  Posted 14 Oct 2021 12:02 am    
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Once you've removed the glue, does it leave a surface suitabled for glueing again? I'd be afraid it would render it non-stick!
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Jon Light


From:
Saugerties, NY
Post  Posted 14 Oct 2021 3:14 am    
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Ian Rae wrote:
Once you've removed the glue, does it leave a surface suitabled for glueing again? I'd be afraid it would render it non-stick!


After I've gotten my coffee in me I'm going to test that. Some WD40 on some Formica. Wipe it off. Dry it. See if masking tape sticks. My guess is that it will want some sort of degreasing with alcohol or acetone.
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Richard Stoops

 

From:
Ohio, USA
Post  Posted 14 Oct 2021 3:53 am     Wd-40
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You will want to clean the surface with an to remove the oily residue after using WD-40 before trying to get anything to stick to the surface.
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Jon Light


From:
Saugerties, NY
Post  Posted 14 Oct 2021 3:56 am    
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Very much to my surprise, I find that any effect of the WD40 residue is negligible. Tape sticks to the treated and untreated surface about equally. I'll still do a general degreasing routine in the future, should this situation come up, because of a lifetime of surface prep experiences and assumptions.
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Roy McKinney

 

From:
Ontario, OR
Post  Posted 14 Oct 2021 4:25 am    
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If I remember correctly, it was developed for the Navy. WD=water displacement, 40= fourith formula. I have been wrong before.
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Ian Rae


From:
Redditch, England
Post  Posted 14 Oct 2021 1:46 pm    
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I believe you're right, although I know nothing about the previous 39 attempts. Don't give up is the message there. What I am certain of is that it leaves an oily residue behind - quite deliberately, to keep off further moisture. I think it's a vegetable oil - castor, maybe?

But as Jon says, it's good practice to degrease anyway.
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Larry Allen


From:
Kapaa, Kauai,Hawaii
Post  Posted 14 Oct 2021 3:36 pm     Wd40
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On their website, 50% Refined Mineral Spirits, 50% Petroleum Distillates… Shocked
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Ian Rae


From:
Redditch, England
Post  Posted 15 Oct 2021 12:32 am    
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Oh well, at least being wrong you learn more Smile
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gary pierce


From:
Rossville TN
Post  Posted 15 Oct 2021 7:24 am    
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We used it in road construction to remove tar from vehicles, and will not harm the paint.
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Loren Morehouse

 

From:
Meadowlands, MN USA
Post  Posted 15 Oct 2021 10:33 pm    
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTD_SBudQfY

Love this lady!!
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Ken Mizell


From:
Lakeland, Florida, 33809, USA
Post  Posted 16 Oct 2021 7:48 am    
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Excellent for removing sticky glue residue and other sticky stuff. Residue from bumper stickers, product labels, etc. I’ve been using it a long, long time. I just wipe off the surface with toilet paper or Kleenex really good. I’ve seldom tried to stick something else where I’ve used it, but it will work if you just clean it good. The stuff evaporates too.
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Larry Bressington

 

From:
Nebraska
Post  Posted 19 Oct 2021 9:58 am    
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I find the best stuff is 3m adhesive remover, works better than wd-40 but wd is most likely on hand at most houses. Very Happy
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Ken Mizell


From:
Lakeland, Florida, 33809, USA
Post  Posted 19 Oct 2021 12:44 pm    
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I once knew some people who swore that WD-40 helped arthritis in their hands. Yep, that certainly sounds crazy, for sure, but they swore by the stuff. I'm telling the truth too. I've been tempted to try it on one of my knuckles, but haven't. DISCLAIMER: DON'T DO THIS! Just some FYI and an attempt at humor. I am not a doctor, I don't play one on TV, and I didn't stay at the Holiday Inn Express last night. YMMV.
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Roy McKinney

 

From:
Ontario, OR
Post  Posted 19 Oct 2021 1:08 pm    
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I had some kinfolk down in Texas hill country who swore by that WD40 and arthritis. Used it on their legs and knees. That was way back when it first hit the market. After they rubbed it in they would wrap their legs with seran wrap.
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Ken Mizell


From:
Lakeland, Florida, 33809, USA
Post  Posted 19 Oct 2021 1:52 pm    
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I have a can, and some plastic wrap. I'm tempted... Laughing
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Scott Spanbauer


From:
Boulder, Colorado, USA
Post  Posted 19 Oct 2021 1:55 pm    
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My kids used to use it to set fire to things.
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Ken Mizell


From:
Lakeland, Florida, 33809, USA
Post  Posted 19 Oct 2021 2:03 pm    
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WD-40 is some seriously amazing stuff - no doubt about it.

I just make sure the stuff doesn't get within 6 feet of my steel guitar. If used to wipe something off, like something sticky, it has already been sprayed on a paper towel.
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Paul Redmond

 

From:
Illinois, USA
Post  Posted 21 Oct 2021 8:38 am    
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I use it as a cutting fluid on aluminum....drilling, milling, reaming, tapping. It keeps the flutes of these cutters from clogging up with the aluminum. When I was an apprentice, I was always told to use kerosene as a lubricant....WD-40 had not been invented yet. IMO WD-40 is far superior to kerosene and it doesn't stink!!! I remove it from surfaces with either naphtha or lacquer thinner....usually the latter.
PRR
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Donny Hinson

 

From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
Post  Posted 25 Oct 2021 7:37 pm    
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Jerry Overstreet wrote:
WD40 gets a bad rap. Especially around here.

I used to work in a metal forming shop. They bought that stuff by the drums. It was all they used to run metal.


Yup! Most every sheet metal shop I've been in also uses it for punching operations; keeps the dies from galling and allows cleaner holes.
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