32 replies to this topic

[Jogumpie]

What surfaces or materials are OK to use WD-40 on?
WD-40 can be used on just about everything. It is safe for metal, rubber, wood and plastic. WD-40 can be applied to painted metal surfaces without harming the paint. Polycarbonate and clear polystyrene plastic are among the few surfaces on which to avoid using a petroleum-based product like WD-40.

The Dutch website provides even more info:

Kunststoffen:
Er werd geen enkel nadelig effect vastgesteld na 168 uren onderdompeling op de volgende materialen: polyethyleen, polypropyleen, PTFE, formica, acryl, polyester, epoxy, vinyl, nylon en delrin.
Polystyreen en polycarbonaat kunnen kloven en barsten vertonen na contact met WD-40.

Meaning that there were no disadvantageous effects after 168 hours of submersion in WD-40 of the following materials: polyethylene, polypropylene, PTFE, formica, polyacrylonitrile, polyester, epoxy, vinyl, nylon and polyoxymethylene.
Only polystyrene and polycarbonates can show gaps and cracks after contact with WD-40.

K'nex is made of Celcon POM, which is a polyoxymethylene if I'm correct. So that would mean that it wouldn't hurt the material. I e-mailed K'nex a long time ago and they said that tires are made of HDPE (high density polyethylene) and tubing of LDPE (low density polyethylene). I'd say that, theoretically, K'nex would be fine with WD-40.

[ForgotToGrowUp]

I've said this many times but is still needs repeating. WD40 is a horrible lubricant. It's not good on knex, it's not good on bike chains, it's not good on door hinges. It sucks a lube. It is good as a penetrating oil but it's usefulness at that application is only a few minutes. it is a good cleaner of greasy messes.

And it is great at it's original purpose Water Displacement. That's what it was invented for. Water Displacement #40

[Jogumpie]

My point is that it is supposedly not bad for the plastic.

[ickus305]

edit: sorry I was writing my reply while the above two commented.

After reading this and working as a hobbist for more then just building and maintaining Knex here is my two sense.

Pledge can be very nasty if you use too much, and do not apply it to the track. I tried it on my SS and it caused build up on my wheels and ruined a few wheel sets as they were sliding and not rolling (mind you this running 8 hours a day). I do use pledge on the corkscrew canyon (though I leave it as "dry" as possible).

As for bike lube you are probably using a "wet" lube. Wet lubes are great in adverse conditions but for my thousands of miles logged annual I use dry lubes on my chain which are wax based. But either way both are light weight lubricants and would do well for axles (especially since some companies give you the nice little drip tip).

WD-40 is not a lubricant. WD= water displacement and the 40 is the 40th attempt. So if your axles got wet or moist go for it, other wise use an oil or other lubrication.

Now to what I use From model trains, to slotcars, to even my model helicopter and of course SS cars. I use a light weight synthetic motor oil. I usually use a 0W-5W ($6 or less and it should last you a life-time) . I put it into a pinpoint oiler, and add 1 drop per axle. This is safe with all plastics, and CHEAP, and it also gives me control with the application.

Also, remember oil lightly and often rather than once heavily.

[Roy]

Thank for your replies.

I usually apply the oil by dipping the end of a paperclip that has been full open out into the oil and then onto the axels.

I will get some 0W-5W motor oil. As for WD40, I've kept this well away from my SS. Now that I've read your replies, I think I will stop using this on my car door hinges and I will get some other lube.

My only real concern with damaging the K'nex and that is the sun light causing the plastic to fade and go brittle, so I ensure that my k'nex is always out of the direct sunlight.

[Evil Scotsman]

As said above WD40 isn't a lubricant, it's a degreaser. Silicone spray is still probably the best option, oils tend to gunk up and collect dust over time. I tried WD40, silicone spray and some of that white bike chain lubricant on different cars when I was building and the silicone worked best.

[colintaylor]

Thank for your replies.

I usually apply the oil by dipping the end of a paperclip that has been full open out into the oil and then onto the axels.

I will get some 0W-5W motor oil. As for WD40, I've kept this well away from my SS. Now that I've read your replies, I think I will stop using this on my car door hinges and I will get some other lube.

My only real concern with damaging the K'nex and that is the sun light causing the plastic to fade and go brittle, so I ensure that my k'nex is always out of the direct sunlight.

I also use the end of a paper clip, because it's more direct that a toothpick. A toothpick is slightly larger, causing for more spills on the track and therefore more cleanups (Which I hate). I realized that with a paper clip there are extremely few spills and it is a super direct applicant!

EDIT: Darn it! Sorry for the bump. I need to get back in the groove D:

[Jumpge]

Attention! Do not ever use Pledge on your trains!

I am happy/sorry to announce that Pledge kills your trains over time. I recently bought a new train and decided to use Silicone spray to lube them today and tried it out on Unleashed. The old Pledge lubed train that couldn't make the twisty element by a little had really slow speed through the elements, while the new silicone spray train rocketed through the element and all of the others! Although Pledge may boost your trains initially, over time they make your trains rot and make them very slow. So never use Pledge and only use silicone spray to lube your cars.

[rollercoasterfanatic919]

Can't you just take apart your cars and clean your axles when that happens? Not saying I support the useage of Pledge, as silicone spray is far better.

[Sniggeh]

I used Pledge on my tracks, is that bad?

[ickus305]

Finally someone gets what has been preached over and over!!!

Pledge will damage your cars. Use a light weight OIL (most of you prefer silicon spray which is an excellent choice) and ONLY OIL the AXLE!

No you cannot just take apart the train and clean it out. The problem with the pledge it causes the wheels to slide across the track instead of rolling. Over time this will cause some deformation, on both the axle and the outside of the wheel. plus it also really gunks things up and is hard to remove (I destroyed an SS train with pledge, you could see the flat and high spots on the wheels, and I had to take a knife to remove the build ups, because soaking it did not help)

[Maxwell58]

You guys saved my life. I was about to lube my track with some pledge i found. I read this post after i sprayed a 1 inch section of my track and immediately cleaned it. Thank you ickus and jumpge.

[LaMbChOpZ]

Well after reading Jumpge's post above I'm not sure if I should be concerned or happy: I used a miniscule amount of Pledge on my car wheel axels after I cleaned them (which I found to be almost pointless after I took the assembly apart since they were so clean), but they really helped me gain a lot more speed on Orange Rush. I also used Pledge very lightly on the axles of the seats for Orange rush too to make them spin easier and it really works well.