[Healeys] WD-40

[James Lea]

Yes, WD-40 was a mil spec. and it is a water displacement coating. For forty 
years I have built and repaired clocks and I wish I had a dime for every 
clock that has come in the shop soaked in the damn stuff. It's a common 
fallacy that it is a lubricant, which it is not, and people spray it 
liberally on their clock movements. When the solvent flashes off it leaves a 
gummy mess which is great for preventing corrosion but lousy as a clock oil. 
I even had a ships clock a few years ago that had a label stuck on the back 
that said, "DO NOT TAKE THIS CLOCK ASHORE FOR REPAIR. JUST SPRAY IT WITH 
WD-40 AND PUT IT BACK IN IT'S CASE". Of course the clock had long since 
ceased to run but I must say it wasn't corroded. Cheers, JL

James Lea
AHCA NER
Maine coordinator