Re: Head guide rails clean & lube - head

[Charles Knox <cknox@netspace.net.au>]

At 07:55 PM 22/05/2002 +0100, you wrote:
> A '93 Safety Data Sheet for WD-40 apparently says that it contains 50%
>Stoddard solvent, 25% liquefied petroleum gas, 15% light mineral oil, and
>10% inert materials.
>
>The petroleum gas has probably been replaced by CO2.
>
>Bob Frost.

Given the general attitude to CO2 in global warming circles, and that it's
prohibited for use as a propellant without special permission (here in
Australia, at least) I doubt they would replace a petroleum-based
propellant with this.

Stoddard solvent is/was widely used for dry cleaning and is more-or-less
mineral turpentine with some of the aromatics removed (in a former life, I
took in some 2000 gallons of the stuff monthly (it was cents a gallon then,
it's dollars a gallon today) -- the plant used about a thousand gallons a
day, most of which was recycled.)

For cleaning/lubing/rust-inhibiting metal, you could make a very similar
product by just mixing either mineral turps or lighting kerosine with
25-30% light mineral oil.

I sometimes use a 50/50 mix for internally cleaning neglected and badly
clogged car and truck engines -- don't start the engine, of course, just
run the oil pump for a half hour or so with a power drill and suitable
adapter, drain and flush with light oil.

You'd be amazed what it shifts...

That said, I'm dubious about its use on any device containing plastic
unless I knew for certain the non-metal component was specially designed to
withstand petroleum products.

Charles



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