Not just another WD-40 question...

dennisn

I always follow the ongoing WD wars with a kind of WTF interest. For some reason I seem to have gotten the impression that some people spray their painted frame with WD
for reasons not quite clear to me. Then again lots of things aren't clear to me. Anyway,
does anyone do this??? Why?? Do you leave it on the paint??? In which case I would assume it doesn't hurt the paint?? Anyone??? Please feel free to tell me to crawl back into the hole I came from if I am completely missing the mark here.

badly_dubbed

id assume for water displacing reasons though i may be well off the mark....

bigdavevw

Well its not quite as good as GT85, the main reason it to stop mud sticking to the frame, plus it makes the frame shine 8)

dennisn

bigdavevw wrote:

Well its not quite as good as GT85, the main reason it to stop mud sticking to the frame, plus it makes the frame shine 8)

On paint????

oldwelshman

Forget wd40 for the frame, the best thng to use is furnature polish such as pledge (not sure if you have that brand in USA? ) leaves a great shine and helps keep clean.
If its good enough for top frame makers its good enough for me

desweller

I think the main reason for using WD40 on your frame is just to stop stuff sticking to it. Expect some enterprising bicycle components manufacturer to bring out a special overpriced grease for doing exactly the same thing!

Or maybe, we could get our frames coated in PTFE. Hmmm.....

crankycrank

oldwelshman wrote:

Forget wd40 for the frame, the best thng to use is furnature polish such as pledge (not sure if you have that brand in USA? ) leaves a great shine and helps keep clean.
If its good enough for top frame makers its good enough for me

I had a friend who used Lemon Pledge on his bike and he said it attracted bee's.

giant_man

dennisn wrote:

I always follow the ongoing WD wars with a kind of WTF interest. For some reason I seem to have gotten the impression that some people spray their painted frame with WD
for reasons not quite clear to me. Then again lots of things aren't clear to me. Anyway,
does anyone do this??? Why?? Do you leave it on the paint??? In which case I would assume it doesn't hurt the paint?? Anyone??? Please feel free to tell me to crawl back into the hole I came from if I am completely missing the mark here.

Dear oh dear - the ONLY thing i would use this stuff for is to cure my creaking bottom gate! Put it on a bike frame? shudder ......

pastey_boy

a light coating of baby oil has the same effect and its much cheaper and a bottle will last forever unless you yearn for baby soft legs

rake

linseed (flaxseed) oil is best for anodised black wheels, makes them like new.i also use it for wheel building. it will protect the frame but tends to dry on and can cause dirt to stick.

markos1963

WD40 for cleaning the black plastic bumper*/trim on cars and motorbikes, brings it up a treat.

*fenders( for dennisn)

dennisn

markos1963 wrote:

WD40 for cleaning the black plastic bumper*/trim on cars and motorbikes, brings it up a treat.

*fenders( for dennisn)

One thing I will say for WD-40. It always seems to be around. I've had a can or two
most of my life yet can't seem to recall ever buying one. It must just appear. In any case
I'm going to do a little experimenting with it on my bike.

ademort

Here in the Netherlands when a bike is put in for a service its common policy to cover the frame in WD40 and rub it down. It does the frame/paint no harm at all. As other members have suggested using pledge to clean/polish the frame is also a good idea. It puts a real shine on the frame, especially a Black carbon frame like mine.
Ademort

stratcat

Many years ago, when I had no garage I used to clean my motorbike with WD40. It cleans the road muck/brake disc dust and chain lube off really easily. The bike never had any corrosion despite being ridden through winter.

Unfortunately it leaves a film that then attracts more muck. So its a bit of a catch 22.
I use pledge (or similar). The cleaner the bike in the first place the less muck sticks. The muck usually just wipes off.

WD40 was invented to remove moisture from electrics WD=water displacement, for that job it is brilliant, for most other jobs there are better products out there.

lae

Any car wax will do a better job than WD40 and isn't sticky either.

Although I do have a bare-metalled frame that I oil occasionally. Gibbs Brand is supposed to be the best (all the bare-metal hot rodders use it apparently) but I just use any old oil. Even olive oil, sometimes, but it has to be extra-virgin.

giant_man

dennisn wrote:

markos1963 wrote:

WD40 for cleaning the black plastic bumper*/trim on cars and motorbikes, brings it up a treat.

*fenders( for dennisn)

One thing I will say for WD-40. It always seems to be around. I've had a can or two
most of my life yet can't seem to recall ever buying one. It must just appear. In any case
I'm going to do a little experimenting with it on my bike.

That doesn't mean to say you have to use it dennis.

appletrees

If you are going to use WD40 to clean your bike, don't forget that where it works best is on the rims and brake blocks, so use an especially large amount in these areas.

:twisted:

on-yer-bike

Auto Glym car polish.

rake

surely autoglym gloss protectin doesnt work over wax? i thought it was for after the polish.

bexley5200

fuck

Pushinit

I have a Specialised SL3 Roubaix C/F painted mainly glossy white. I find it attracts grease stains and find it hard to clean even after using strong soapy water substances. I have tried many products mentioned in many of the forum responses but nothing cleans the frame as well as WD40. Spray some on a clean rag or paper towel and simply wipe off. Researched it and no problems in fact recommended. Been doing this for a long time now and no dulling of the paintwork. All good,..go for it!!

StillGoing

I use it on the painted frame all the time as it makes it easier to clean bugs and crap off after a ride. Used it on my race bikes fairings too when I was racing motorcycles for exactly the same reasons. Doesn't do any damage to the paintwork and it did give off a very nice smell when the exhausts warmed up.

dmclite-3.0

Yep, got a small can of this in the goody bag after a sportive. Once your bike has been cleaned, wiping over the frame etc with WD40 sprayed onto a clean rag brings the shine up a treat.

white/blue flash

Autoglym Instant Show Shine for the frame....Works a treat and smells nice to

centimani

ademort wrote:

Here in the Netherlands when a bike is put in for a service its common policy to cover the frame in WD40 and rub it down. It does the frame/paint no harm at all. As other members have suggested using pledge to clean/polish the frame is also a good idea. It puts a real shine on the frame, especially a Black carbon frame like mine.
Ademort

Bugger i get fed up of all these WD scare stories...
I'm a maintenance engineer. WD's been used in workshops longer than many of you (and me) have been alive. Like Ademort, we used to use it to give machinery a quick spray then wipe down. It gives paintwork a lovely shine.
Would i use it on a car paintwork...no.
Would i use it on a bike...yes, i have in the past.
Are there better products...yes. But WD's versatile. Most people have a can. If you have nothing else, WD will do what OPs asking with no harm.

stratcat wrote:

Many years ago, when I had no garage I used to clean my motorbike with WD40. It cleans the road muck/brake disc dust and chain lube off really easily. The bike never had any corrosion despite being ridden through winter.

Unfortunately it leaves a film that then attracts more muck. So its a bit of a catch 22.I use pledge (or similar). The cleaner the bike in the first place the less muck sticks. The muck usually just wipes off.

WD40 was invented to remove moisture from electrics WD=water displacement, for that job it is brilliant, for most other jobs there are better products out there.

Spot on. If you leave it, it actually attracts dust, leaving your paintwork dirtier than before. IF you leave it.

As above. There ARE better products out there. But, if you have a can...again, it will do what OPs asking.

bikeit65

Autoglym HD wax is miles better IMO, i use it on my bikes, cars and on my customers cars.