WD-40 gets things unstuck. I don’t see where anybody said it was a lubricant. Sorry that everyone is letting you down. Life can be rough.
ploogman
on 21 Dec 11
awesome flowchart – classic!
@D
Just to clarify – WD 40 is a lubricant but only for certain materials and certain purposes because it is also a degreaser and if something is meant to be lubricated with grease, WD40 will seem great at first buy then will eat the grease and the objects will no longer be lubricated and will need grease (or more WD40!). This is from personal experience including trying to WD40 some wheels on a tractor that needed to be packed with grease instead.
I absolutely love this! Mostly because I have had (at least) one can of WD-40 and (at least) one roll of duct tape since I bought my first home. They get used all the time.
Ryan
on 22 Dec 11
I also am bothered by the widespread use of WD-40 as a lubricant (like for tractor bearings?)
It’s great for getting things un-stuck, but is primarily designed for Water Displacement.
Use Tri-Flow for lubricant, but not as a substitute for grease… tractor bearings – can’t get over that. Way better stuff.
Jimmy Chan
on 22 Dec 11
Thanks. For reminding me keep everything simple :)
David Andersen
on 22 Dec 11
Ohmygod D, good thing you’re here, who knows what sort of mayhem might have been unleashed had you not stepped in; by the way, I’m surprised (or, not unsurprised) that a pedant such as yourself wrote this:
“NOT UNsurprised that 37s DOESN’T know that WD-40 is NOT a lubricant”
Chris
on 22 Dec 11
David Andersen +1
GeeIWonder
on 26 Dec 11
The reason you put WD40 on this chart is because it ALSO is a solvent that can remove duct tape (and a boatload of other residues, btw).
So they are companion tools.
Bill
on 26 Dec 11
WD40 was designed to replace moisture in elrctrical components.
My (former) aunt needed some WD-40 one time and she asked where the can of “Screw Loose” was.
This discussion is closed.
About Jason Fried
Jason co-founded Basecamp back in 1999. He also co-authored REWORK, the New York Times bestselling book on running a "right-sized" business. Co-founded, co-authored... Can he do anything on his own?
Anonymous Coward
on 21 Dec 11Now I understand MacGywver’s brilliance.
D
on 21 Dec 11I’m not unsurprised that 37signals doesn’t know that WD-40 is not a lubricant, but I’m a bit let down by NdGT.
https://www.google.com/search?q=%22WD-40%22+%22not+a+lubricant%22
Adam
on 21 Dec 11@D
WD-40 gets things unstuck. I don’t see where anybody said it was a lubricant. Sorry that everyone is letting you down. Life can be rough.
ploogman
on 21 Dec 11awesome flowchart – classic!
@D
Just to clarify – WD 40 is a lubricant but only for certain materials and certain purposes because it is also a degreaser and if something is meant to be lubricated with grease, WD40 will seem great at first buy then will eat the grease and the objects will no longer be lubricated and will need grease (or more WD40!). This is from personal experience including trying to WD40 some wheels on a tractor that needed to be packed with grease instead.
Bryan Sebastian
on 21 Dec 11I absolutely love this! Mostly because I have had (at least) one can of WD-40 and (at least) one roll of duct tape since I bought my first home. They get used all the time.
Ryan
on 22 Dec 11I also am bothered by the widespread use of WD-40 as a lubricant (like for tractor bearings?)
It’s great for getting things un-stuck, but is primarily designed for Water Displacement.
Use Tri-Flow for lubricant, but not as a substitute for grease… tractor bearings – can’t get over that. Way better stuff.
Jimmy Chan
on 22 Dec 11Thanks. For reminding me keep everything simple :)
David Andersen
on 22 Dec 11Ohmygod D, good thing you’re here, who knows what sort of mayhem might have been unleashed had you not stepped in; by the way, I’m surprised (or, not unsurprised) that a pedant such as yourself wrote this:
“NOT UNsurprised that 37s DOESN’T know that WD-40 is NOT a lubricant”
Chris
on 22 Dec 11David Andersen +1
GeeIWonder
on 26 Dec 11The reason you put WD40 on this chart is because it ALSO is a solvent that can remove duct tape (and a boatload of other residues, btw).
So they are companion tools.
Bill
on 26 Dec 11WD40 was designed to replace moisture in elrctrical components.
J. Simmons
on 27 Dec 11My (former) aunt needed some WD-40 one time and she asked where the can of “Screw Loose” was.
This discussion is closed.