WD 40 has paraffin in it- that is the fuzzy film it leaves and what little lubrication it offers- a micro film of wax.
California framers used to put gasoline in a 5 gallon bucket and drop a block of paraffin and nails in the bucket and when it evaporated it created the first coated nails- Then the California long handled framing hammer in the right hands could sink one in one lick. Larry Haun was the man- He and his brother and a helper could frame the small post war homes that sprouted like mushrooms in three days and turn it over to the stucco crew.
WD 40 is not amazing- it’s success is. It performs as advertised, albeit eventually in some applications.
It does displace water well- It was ideal during the era of distributors, points, etc. and is an excellent cleaner- But so is Naptha or mineral spirits which is the base of the product.
It’s sort of like the psychologist who said that his patients told him that they feel more alert and energized taking their ADD medicine- He said “I do too when I take amphetamines.”
It is still a privately held company and without a doubt has made its’ way into every garage and workshop in America practically. Basically when you don’t know what to do. at least spray WD-40 on it is the idea
.
My dad had a brother, Thomas, and what was kind of funny was Thomas was just almost larger than life and everything he did. Dad would spray WD-40 on things and Thomas would put diesel fuel in a bug sprayer. He went big.
I told dad Thomas was “200 pounds of walking hell and romance” once. He loved that and quoted it for years.