WD40 as a line conditioner

[Kirtley Howe]

I've had several old-timers tell me that they always use WD40 to condition their monofilament line. They claim it will remove memory and make the like cast better without weakening it or damaging it in any way. I am hesitant to try it.

What are your thoughts on this?

[Log Catcher]

I would not use WD40 on fishing line. It has always been promoted as a lubricant but it is actually a solvent. It can be used as a cleaner in many different ways.

[Mike L]

I heard the same thing 20 yrs ago but wouldn’t consider using something that’s been proven to be toxic for marine life. 

 

I use KVD Line Conditioner but there are a few others that are a little less expensive if that’s a concern 
 

 

 

 

Mike

[Log Catcher]

I might add that Reel Magic is another one to stay away from.

[J Francho]

KVD L&L is all you'd ever need. Apply and let dry. Apply after ever trip. It's a can't live without deal for me. 

[Bird]

Ole wives tales still in existence. Lol

Back in the 70's I knew fisherman that sprayed their plastic worms with the stuff as an attractant......... that's if they didn't chew tobacco ?

[gim]

44 minutes ago, Bird said:

Back in the 70's I knew fisherman that sprayed their plastic worms with the stuff as an attractant

Ha!  I've heard that too and I wasn't even around in the 70's.

[Eric 26]

@Bird Not to detract from this thread but I’ve seen a YouTube video where guys were spraying “Pam” cooking spray as a catfish attraction. Speaking of WD40 wasn’t it rumored to be made of fish oil as one of the secret ingredients? 

[Kirtley Howe]

4 minutes ago, Eric 26 said:

@Bird Not to detract from this thread but I’ve seen a YouTube video where guys were spraying “Pam” cooking spray as a catfish attraction. Speaking of WD40 wasn’t it rumored to be made of fish oil as one of the secret ingredients? 

Yes that was the rumor. But there is no fish oil in WD40, and there never has been.

[Eric 26]

@Kirtley Howe I should’ve known as it was a relative of my grandmother both of them had a place on (for lack of a better term) Lake Koshkonong. The same man told me in order to catch a catfish I needed to step on my worm and then spit on it after I put it on the hook along with the secret formula to become a werewolf which was vinegar and cocoa powder and yes I was young and dumb and tried both secrets???

[Kirtley Howe]

4 minutes ago, Eric 26 said:

@Kirtley Howe I should’ve known as it was a relative of my grandmother both of them had a place on (for lack of a better term) Lake Koshkonong. The same man told me in order to catch a catfish I needed to step on my worm and then spit on it after I put it on the hook along with the secret formula to become a werewolf which was vinegar and cocoa powder and yes I was young and dumb and tried both secrets???

Well don't keep me in suspense....did the werewolf formula work?????

[J Francho]

49 minutes ago, Eric 26 said:

@Bird Not to detract from this thread but I’ve seen a YouTube video where guys were spraying “Pam” cooking spray as a catfish attraction. Speaking of WD40 wasn’t it rumored to be made of fish oil as one of the secret ingredients? 

I've used Pam on my guides to meals easier to knock ice off them. KVD L&L works for that too. 

[optimator]

25 minutes ago, J Francho said:

I've used Pam on my guides to meals easier to knock ice off them. KVD L&L works for that too. 

Rain X works well too. 

[J Francho]

3 minutes ago, optimator said:

Rain X works well too. 

That's a sweet tip. Never thought of it. 

[optimator]

8 minutes ago, J Francho said:

That's a sweet tip. Never thought of it. 

I read that in Bassmaster magazine back in the late 80’s. It works really good. 

[KP Duty]

Grab some instant/quick detail spray from the automotive cleaning supply section of your local walmart.  Wouldn't be surprised if Meguiats or Turtle wax was the co-packer for the KVD spray.  I'm using some Turtle wax spray detailer I picked up on sale.  Works great.

[GetFishorDieTryin]

I remember hearing as kid that wd-40 actually can damage mono.  Whether its true or not, IDK.

[Jar11591]

I’ve also heard old timers say they use WD-40 as an attractant. I think old timers just have a WD fetish. Just use KVD L&L and save the WD for that rusty gate. 

[Captain Phil]

11 hours ago, Bird said:

Ole wives tales still in existence. Lol

Back in the 70's I knew fisherman that sprayed their plastic worms with the stuff as an attractant......... that's if they didn't chew tobacco ?

 

As one of those "Old Timers", I can tell you there has never been an ailment or condition that WD-40 has not claimed to fix.  I have used it on plastic worms myself.  It works just about as good as any fish attractant. What it does is make soft plastic baits shinny and more visible to the fish.  It's a good cleaner for reel parts as long as you use a coating of light oil on assembly.   What it's really good at is masking fine scratches on metal flake boats.   You can make an old bass boat shine like a new penny with a coating of WD-40.  I'm not sure if it cures any human ailments, but someone somewhere probably claimed it can. ?

[MN Fisher]

43 minutes ago, Captain Phil said:

I'm not sure if it cures any human ailments, but someone somewhere probably claimed it can.

Ya, I wouldn't use WD-40 anywhere near lures/line as it's main component is Petroleum Distilates - in other words, once they've gotten gas, oil and diesel from crude oil, WD-40s base is extracted from the leftovers.

 

Come on - it's MSDS has these warnings.

 

4 - FIRST AID MEASURES

http://complyplus.grainger.com/grainger/images/MSDSText_Top.gif

INGESTION (SWALLOWED):
ASPIRATION HAZARD. DO NOT INDUCE VOMITING. CALL PHYSICIAN, POISON CONTROL
CENTER OR THE WD-40 SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-324-7596 IMMEDIATELY.

EYE CONTACT:
FLUSH THOROUGHLY WITH WATER. REMOVE CONTACT LENSES IF PRESENT AFTER THE
FIRST 5 MINUTES AND CONTINUE FLUSHING FOR SEVERAL MORE MINUTES. GET MEDICAL
ATTENTION IF IRRITATION PERSISTS.

SKIN CONTACT:
WASH WITH SOAP AND WATER. IF IRRITATION DEVELOPS AND PERSISTS, GET MEDICAL
ATTENTION.

INHALATION (BREATHING):
IF IRRITATION IS EXPERIENCED, MOVE TO FRESH AIR. GET MEDICAL ATTENTION IF
IRRITATION OR OTHER SYMPTOMS DEVELOP AND PERSIST.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF EXPOSURE:
HARMFUL OR FATAL IF SWALLOWED. ASPIRATION OF LIQUID INTO THE LUNGS DURING
SWALLOWING OR VOMITING MAY CAUSE LUNG DAMAGE. MAY CAUSE EYE AND RESPIRATORY
IRRITATION. INHALATION OF MISTS OR VAPORS MAY CAUSE DROWSINESS, DIZZINESS
AND OTHER NERVOUS SYSTEM EFFECTS. SKIN CONTACT MAY CAUSE DRYING OF THE
SKIN.

INDICATION OF IMMEDIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION/SPECIAL TREATMENT NEEDED:
IMMEDIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION IS NEEDED FOR INGESTION.

 

Would you feed this to your kid? Why feed it to bass?

[Bdnoble84]

4 hours ago, Jar11591 said:

I’ve also heard old timers say they use WD-40 as an attractant. I think old timers just have a WD fetish. Just use KVD L&L and save the WD for that rusty gate. 

My dad always called it panther tick because thats what the old timers he was always around called it.

[Glenn]

15 hours ago, Log Catcher said:

I would not use WD40 on fishing line. It has always been promoted as a lubricant but it is actually a solvent. It can be used as a cleaner in many different ways.

Correct, and that's why it "works" as a line conditioner - with a BIG CAVEAT!

 

The solvent softens the outer layer of the line, thus making it more pliable and easier to handle.  HOWEVER, that process also DAMAGES the outer layer and ends up stripping it off in chunks over time.  Thus, IT WEAKENS THE LINE!

[Captain Phil]

22 hours ago, Bdnoble84 said:

My dad always called it panther tick because thats what the old timers he was always around called it.

 

It probably cures ED too, but I don't know anything about that.  ???

[Kirtley Howe]

1 hour ago, Captain Phil said:

 

It probably cures ED too, but I won't know anything about that.  ???

Who is this guy Ed you are talking about? Never heard of him.

 

[Bankc]

WD-40's exact formula is a trade secret, so there's no way of knowing exactly what's in there (unless you work for the company and in which case, you probably signed an NDA preventing you from speaking about it). 

 

People look up the MSDS on WD-40 and see "45-50% LVP Aliphatic Hydrocarbon" and assume that it's primarily made up of a solvent like mineral spirits or hexane, because they are the most commonly used chemicals that fall into that category.  But that's a very broad category and if you take a can, spray it into a jar and store it for a few weeks out in the open, you'll notice a few things that suggest it's not a solvent.  First, a paraffin wax like substance settles on the bottom and an oil separates to the top.  Second, you don't see 45-50% evaporation.  This, combined with its rust converting properties leads me to believe it's more likely "mineral seal oil", which is also classified as an "LVP Aliphatic Hydrocarbon". Though, it also contains "less than 25% Aliphatic Hydrocarbon" (not LVP variety), which due to its glue dissolving properties, leads me to believe that there is definitely some solvent in there, and that's probably it.  So it's probably about 1/4 solvent and 3/4 lubricant.  

 

Mono fishing line is made of nylon, and nylon is generally resistant to chemicals like mineral spirits and oils.  So it probably won't hurt the line any.  Though since we can't be certain on the exact chemical makeup, we'd have to run some tests to say for sure.  And it could vary by brand, since not all mono fishing lines are made from the same type of nylon.  

 

So my point is, the old myths might actually be true.  Or the new myths might be correct.  It's hard to say.  Until someone runs some controlled experiments to find out, we're all just guessing.