What was WD-40 originally designed for?
The team of inventors was working on a line of industrial rust-prevention solvents and degreasers for use in the aerospace industry. Today, it is manufactured by the San Diego, California-based WD-40 Company. WD-40 was first used to protect the outer skin of the Atlas Missile from rust and corrosion.
What does the 40 mean in WD-40?
Water Displacement, 40th formula
Take a trip through WD-40 Company history WD-40 stands for Water Displacement, 40th formula. That’s the name straight out of the lab book used by the chemist who developed the product.
In which US city is the secret formula for WD-40 still locked in a safe?
San Diego
WD-40’s formula is a trade secret, and has not changed over the years, according to historian Iris Engstrand. The original copy of the formula was moved to a secure bank vault in San Diego in 2018.
How many households have WD-40?
Statistics revealed that 4 out of every 5 American households used WD-40, and that 81 percent of industrial and trade consumers also chose the product. Weekly sales in the U.S. amounted to over one million cans of the petroleum-based lubricant.
Has WD-40 ever been patented?
The formula for WD-40® Multi-Use Product is a trade secret so protected the company never even filed for a patent. In fact, only a single person knows every exact ingredient that goes into the famous formula.
When was WD-40 first sold?
WD-40: Its Creation and the Many Uses The name is actually an abbreviation of Water Displacement, 40th Formula. This means that it was a result of Norman Lawson’s 40th attempt at the formula. WD-40 was developed in 1953, released in 1958, and has never been patented.
Is WD-40 poisonous?
Ingestion: This product has low oral toxicity. If swallowed, this material may cause irritation of the mouth, throat and esophagus. Swallowing may cause gastrointestinal irritation, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, drowsiness and other central nervous system effects.
How do you use WD-40 in the toilet?
You can use WD-40 to break down tough lime stains or hard water lines in your toilet bowl. First, spray a small amount of WD-40 into the bowl, let it sit for a few minutes, then scrub the stains or water lines with your toilet brush. After flushing your toilet, the stains should disappear.
How old is WD-40?
The product made its first appearance on store shelves in San Diego in 1958. In 1960 the company nearly doubled in size, growing to seven people, who sold an average of 45 cases per day from the trunk of their cars to hardware and sporting goods stores in the San Diego area.
What does WD-40 smell like?
Nothing close to the usual smell of solvent / thinner / turpentine / gasoline / kerosene / etc. I would describe it as similar to hot butterscotch candy, maybe with a tinge of lemon or orange peel; “sweetish”, but rather strong and off-putting, almost nauseating.
Is WD-40 carcinogenic?
This product is an aspiration hazard. If swallowed, can enter the lungs and may cause chemical pneumonitis, severe lung damage and death. Chronic Effects: None expected. Carcinogen Status: None of the components are listed as a carcinogen or suspect carcinogen by IARC, NTP, ACGIH or OSHA.
Is this WD-40 AD from the 1960s real?
WD-40 Company does not believe that the ad that has been making the rounds on the Internet – and is purported to be an actual ad from the 1960s – is real. We first saw this document in late October, and have not been able to verify its existence through our internal records.
Is a 1964 WD-40 AD full of sexual innuendo?
Is a 1964 WD-40 Ad Full of Sexual Innuendo? No jokes are too old to be recycled in a modern setting, especially ones that play on adult puns. WD-40 released a print advertisement in 1964 that was full of sexual innuendo.
Is a 1964 AD too old to be recycled?
No jokes are too old to be recycled in a modern setting, especially ones that play on adult puns. WD-40 released a print advertisement in 1964 that was full of sexual innuendo. An image purportedly showing a 1964 print advertisement for the WD-40 brand of spray lubricant began circulating on the internet in November 2014:
Does WD-40 have a hyphen in it?
Second, we would have likely used WD-40 with a hyphen, which does not appear in the ad. And third, it is highly unlikely that WD-40 Company would have authorized such an ad, even in the 60s when ad standards were less stringent than they are now.