What WD-40 Is REALLY For!

Are you really interested to know what the WD-40 on your shelf is actually intended to be used for? Well, Enjoy!

#Atlas #NASA #fail
- Music by Fran Blanche -

[Hydrazine]

" _You need two things in life: WD 40 for things that don't move but should, and duct tape for things that move and shouldn't._ " Most of us are familiar with that one. But what I find so wonderful is that *WD40 is excellent for removing duct tape adhesive residu!*

[Namrevlis]

Hi Fran, thanks for an interesting and informative video. I would surmise that I'm one of the very few people still around who worked on the Atlas-Centaur missile program. I worked for General Dynamics/Astronautics in San Diego from 1963 to 1965. I'm now 83.

[markhammer]

Twenty years ago, I had two angioplasties, about 6 weeks apart. For those unfamiliar with the procedure, a slender tube is inserted in a major blood vessel, and snaked along until the tip reaches the site of a blocked coronary or other artery. An even more slender tube is inserted inside the first one, ad when it reaches the open end of the first tube, it can be inflated, pushing all the "artery gunk" tightly against the arterial wall, creating more room for blood to flow.

Anyhow, as they wheeled me into the surgical suite, I was a little sedated but awake. Happy drowsy. From the gurney, I could see a big spray can of WD-40 sitting on the counter off to the side. The familiar thin red tube sticking out of it is about the same size as the main tube they insert to guide the thinner tube. My first thought, when I saw that can with the long thin tube protruding was "WD-40, man. Is there anything it *can't* fix?" I had drugged visions of them inserting the red tube and giving a shpritz to lubricate my circulatory system.

[jdmarino]

I grew up with a boat with an outboard motor. At the end of every summer season, our mechanic would take of the engine's cover and spray it down with WD-40 he kept in an old windex bottle. That's when I learned it displaced water: in the 1980s. You are only the second person to confirm that function!

[tracylemme]

I had a professor in college that was on the design team for the Atlas. He was very proud of the pressurized fuselage.

[Dick_Gozinya]

The old saying is, "Grease it if it slides, oil it if it spins."

[donwilliams]

I worked at General Dynamics during the early Atlas days and can offer some comments.

WD40 wasn't the 40th attempt to develop a product, 40 was just a nice marketing number.

WD40 is the most expensive kerosene on the market.

I have no knowledge of WD40 being applied to the missile body before launch, I think it was related to protection of the spot welds that held the stainless sheets together. I ran some tests at the time and it didn't prevent rust on nails exposed to the weather.

The vernier engines were an idea put forward by James Crooks, who was also a co-inventor of the AZUSA tracking system. According to Jim, there was some doubt about being able to shut off the main engines precisely so the verniers were used to control the final velocity by burning after the main (Center engine) was stopped. They also provided some steering assistance during main engine burn. The design thrust of the verniers was 1000 pounds each and they had single axis movement.

During transport the Atlas missiles were not pressurized. Special trailers kept them in longitudinal tension during transportation.

There is always a question about the long structures on each side of the Atlas body. Simple answer. They held the electronics for guidance and tracking. I was a designer of the tracking system airborne components.

The AZUSA tracking system wasn't designed in the California city of AZUSA. Jim thought the tracking system was complex and had everything from A to Z in it.

[jimmydgaf]

I used to work with an old fella that would spray WD on his elbows and knees before work .

[LarsSveen]

I find it useful as a solvent to remove other dried up oils and gunk without causing a lot of collateral damage. Products made to remove grease/oil will usually also strip paint, destroy rubber, and cause other problems.

[kchgv]

Here in Louisiana when you bought a new Boat or just the Outboard Motor the first thing that we did was to remove the motor cover and spray WD-40 over the entire engine and let it sit in the Sun and give it several coats. This would prevent corrosion on the electrical connections as with the Powerhead and put a sticky coating on the engine for protection.

[CuriousMarc]

Not silly at all! Great video, very informative! I had no idea of the WD-40 rocketry origins. The Atlas footage and explanations are fascinating.

[jonthecomposer]

I doubt I've ever commented on a video of yours, but I must confess, I think you and your projects / videos are pretty awesome. It's GREAT to see such a good, hands-on channel that looks and feels like an old "tinker shed" of someone who really knew their analog electronics. Flipping 150, 000% amazing.

[denniscowdrick]

I belonged to a Sport Car Club that ran Rallies thru the back woods in central Missouri. The “roads” we traveled on our Road Rallies often forded small creaks as part of the fun. The car distributor however did not work well when wet. WD40 was essential to get a wet distributor working again. Thanks for your discussion - it brought back great memories.

[-Pol-]

The most useful fluid in my workshop is Ballistol Universal Oil - Formulated for the German army prior to WW1 it'll serve for just about everything you need an oil for, not just a lubricant but also a preservative for wood and leather. It'll even double as a linament and wound cleaner at a stretch - a certified medical grade version of the same stuff is available.
I use it for practically everything now, particularly where 3 in1 oil was often too viscous.

[iancowan]

Used it as penetrating oil and is the best thing I know for noisy door hinges! Which I can see how a water displacement would help prevent rust from making a door squeak!

Awesome back story! And though I have no idea how your video dropped to my feed, but I'm so impressed - I have to see what you create next and subscribed!

[McTroyd]

Hardly a "silly" video, Fran! That was damn cool.

[cloisterene]

I keep a can handy, 'just in case'. And I recently found it very useful for dissolving burnt-on grease on my old apartment stove top. The handyman was very impressed, he said my stovetop was the cleanest looking one in the whole complex. Just don't try to cook anything until you remove all the residuals and allow it to evaporate, air out, etc., first. I sprayed it on the yucky places and let it sit for a few minutes, then scrubbed and it came right off, very easily.

[craignielson]

I use WD on my paint brushes after use, keeps them nice and soft, especially with enamels after cleaning

[benlloyddavis]

This channel is awesome! I stumbled across it and enjoy the enthusiasm of the topics! Just wanted to shout out that you're an inspiration to all of us that have a shop or tinkering area. Keep on doing great things!

[omnivore]

Nice! I knew is stood for Water Displacement but I'd never heard about it in regard to the Atlas rocket. Thanks! I use it mostly as a solvent for loosening gummed up parts, cleaning old grease off of things, etc., and for protecting steel surfaces in the unheated garage where there's often condensation in winter.