Is WD40 Flammable?

WD40 is a household name, the first thing that comes to mind is whether it can be used to loosen stuck screws, clean bicycle chains, and much more.

But is WD40 flammable? The answer may surprise you. Read on to learn more.

WD-40 is flammable if it comes into contact with an open flame or spark. This is due to the propellant in the aerosol when it is sprayed. Once the lubricant is out and the pressure is relieved, it will no longer be flammable unless it is in a very fine mist.

However, this propellant only poses the slightest fire hazard if WD-40 is used as directed. It should never be sprayed into or near open flames or spark.

To prevent serious injury from any kind of fire, it’s important to take proper precautions when using WD-40 for anything other than its intended purposes.

When not being used for lubrication purposes, keep away from heat and flame; do not spray indoors, and make sure to avoid spraying on wiring and electrical components (which can cause short circuits) or on painted surfaces (which could peel).

For safety purposes, it might be best to use WD-40 for its intended functions rather than any alternative uses.

When you’re using the lubricant as directed, there is no danger of fire or explosion.

While some people may find other uses for WD-40 that make it worth keeping in the home, it’s wise to keep away from heat and flame when not being used as a lubricant.

Using WD-40 for its many original purposes ensures that, if there are any problems with the product or if it starts to act differently than usual, you’ll know exactly why instead of wondering whether it has started to pose an increased fire hazard.

At what temperature does WD40 ignite?

There’s a reason WD40 is such a popular lubricant: it has a ton of uses. But did you know that at high temperatures, WD40 can actually reach its flashpoint?

The temperature that WD-40 ignites is 47° C or 116.6° F. Because of this, it’s incredibly important to avoid using WD-40 in the presence of ignition sources.

The flashpoint is not actually caused by the product itself but rather the propellant that is used when the product is sprayed. The propellant, which contains butane, can be ignited at a very low temperature if there are enough vapours present.

When you’re removing stuck bolts or cleaning the gunk out from small crevices, you need to make sure that you’re doing so in an area where there aren’t any ignition sources and that you’re using as few sprays as possible to get the job done.

If you spray too much WD-40 into an area with high amounts of flammable vapour, there’s a good chance that it will ignite.

Ways to use WD40 without risking fire:

• Spray into any crevice where dirt is likely to get trapped (such as on the interior of door hinges or under tools).
• Use the product only when needed; only spray what you need to get the job done.
• Avoid using WD-40 near open flames, sparks, or high heat sources (including the engine and car parts of a car).

About WD-40 Company

Founded in 1953 in San Diego, California by Norm Larsen and his wife Bette, The WD-40 Company was originally known for its ability to prevent corrosion on steel warships. Later, this same formula became famous for having thousands of household uses related to locks, hinges, gears and much more.

WD-40 ended up becoming the Rocket Chemical Company’s most successful product ever and by the end of the century, it had been renamed as the WD-40 company. 

It was initially used for rocket propulsion and was meant to stop the Atlas missile’s outer layer from corroding or rusting while in storage.

It later became an aerosol in the 1960s and the industrial standard by 1965. The success of WD-40 made the company a lot bigger.

Today, the company is based in San Diego and it has a chain of facilities around the world. It’s considered one of the most popular companies that create household products that are used by people across all demographics for various uses.

What should you not use WD-40 on?

You might think that WD-40 is a magic potion that can be used to fix anything, but you would be wrong. While WD-40 is certainly versatile, there are some things you should never use it on.

Check out this list to find out what they are!

• Door hinges. Sure, WD-40 will stop the squeaking, but it also attracts dust and dirt.
• Glue guns. Again, WD-40 melts things, and using it will cause your glue gun to be unusable until it cools down again.
• Bike chains. WD-40 can cause dirt and dust to stick to a chain.
• Paintball guns. WD-40 can melt the seals in the guns.
• Locks. WD-40 causes the tumblers to rust.
• Plumbing. WD-40 can eat through rubber washers and balloons, causing leaks.
• Metal tree stands for Christmas trees. WD-40 attracts water, which will rust the metal over time.
• iPods and iPads. The spray can actually damage the rubber coating on these products.

It’s also important not to spray too much of this lubricant into one area unless you’re trying to create a fire hazard

Applying too much WD-40 can cause buildup that attracts debris, which could lead to malfunctioning or even damage of sensitive electronics as well as other items over time if too much is used.

It might seem like a great idea to just blast away at something with WD-40 until you hit the sweet spot, but in many cases, this will leave your device worse off than it was, to begin with.

De-greasing dirt with WD40

WD40 is very useful when you are cleaning grease. It will make your job easier, but it will also make the grease softer and easier to remove. The problem is that grease can often be difficult to fully remove using just one application of this spray, so repeating the process may be necessary.

Applying more than once isn’t a big deal, but applying too much of this stuff could cause problems if you don’t allow it some time to dry between applications.

If you do this, the repeated applications could cause the WD-40 to attract debris and dirt.

How long does WD-40 take to evaporate?

Many WD-40 lubricants are made using petroleum-based solvents. They tend to evaporate quickly after the spray is applied.

The evaporating process itself can take up to 15 minutes, but the WD-40 will eventually dry properly after this time has passed.

Applying more of the product too soon could cause problems, as it can attract dust and dirt like a magnet, so it’s best to wait until the solvents have evaporated before applying again for maximum results.

So if you’re going to use a lubricant on a device that doesn’t need a lot of maintenance, apply sparingly and let it dry out completely before using it again.

Is WD-40 compressed air?

WD-40 is a great multi-purpose product to have in your home. Some people think it can be used as a compressed air substitute, while others believe it’s a miracle cure-all for everything from rusty screws to bugs trapped in your car’s engine.

In reality, WD-40 is nothing more than a lubricant and protectant. You cannot use WD-40 for the same tasks you would use a compressed air can for.

While WD-40 is a great product, it’s not a substitute for getting rid of anything in your home that’s stuck. It can be used to help loosen things up and prepare them for removal, but you’ll still need to use some elbow grease before the WD-40 has evaporated completely.

That said, WD-40 can also cause damage if you aren’t careful and use it incorrectly.

For example, using this powerful spray on electrical contacts could result in sparks or an electrical fire, so make sure you read all of the instructions on how best to use this product before attempting any DIY repairs.

While it’s certainly useful for certain tasks, you should never rely on it as your only option.

Final Thoughts

WD-40 is a great product for many purposes, but it’s not always the solution to every problem. Always read the instructions before attempting to use this product and be careful about how much of it you apply.

It might seem like a good idea to spray more WD-40 into an area that hasn’t dried properly in order to make pooling inert gases evaporate faster, but this can end up causing problems when you’re doing DIY repairs at home.

Before using WD-40 again in a given area for maintenance purposes, make sure it has fully dried out after the first application.