WD-40 on reels...

[BadBass94]

Hi, i was looking for something to keep on my reels to keep them nice and clean. I was thinking wd40 becuase that is a lubricant and it is also made of fish oil... So i would think it could also be somehwat of an attractant. Any thoughts if this is a good or bad idea. or if it would scare the fish. Iv read that a lot of ice fisherman use it to keep their reels from freezing...

[koulaid]

To keep them nice and clean:

1. Don't dip them in the water.

2. Don't drop them.

3. After use take them off the pole and put them in your bag.

4. Treat it like like cost $5000 to you.

And i'm not too sure if you would want to use wd-40 on your reel. Go get some reel grease/lubricant.

[Carrington]

first off, if my memory is right wd-40 is not techniqually a lubricant, thats just what alot of people use it as.  I believe it stands for water displacement or something like that.  and second, how would adding something to the reel attract fish?

[roadwarrior]

Well, it's not fish oil.

Grease for gears; oil for bearings and everything

else.

8-)

[Raul]

I don 't and won 't use WD40 as lubricant, it 's an excellent solvent but it 's properties as lubricant for reels is insignifacnt and too short term lasting.

[burleytog]

Well, it's not fish oil. it's basically silicone spray. For SHORT TIME solutions, it is very effective.

Long-term: Grease for gears; oil for bearings and everything else.

8-)

Silicone? 

Look at the MSDS

http://www.wd40.com/files/pdf/msds-wd494716385.pdf

No silicone there.

As for the original question, I wouldn't spray WD-40 on a rotten tomato.

[fourbizz]

As for the original question, I wouldn't spray WD-40 on a rotten tomato.

I would. It is rotten.

[IwillChooseFreeWill]

WD = Water Displacement

40 =  40th attempt at this formula.

When off roading thats what we used when a distributor or spark plug top coil gets wet and we need to dry it off quickly

[J Francho]

Dilute Simple Green works very well for cleaning your reels.

[SirSnookalot]

WD 40 is not recommended by any one I ever talked to in the reel cleaning business, it's crap.  A shimano tech turned me on to corrosion block and boy was he right, it's the best product I have ever used, my reels are far smoother than factory.

As far as the exterior of the reel, I do nothing except in the case of saltwater reels, simple rinse with water and sometimes a spray of salt x.

[rubba bubba]

It's properties as a lubricant for anything is non-existent because it is indeed a solvent.  It's not a silicone spray, it's a degreaser.  It leaves a light film of itself behind but that's like using Simple Green and not wiping it off after you apply it - i.e. simply a solvent residue left over.

[silverbullet32]

first off, if my memory is right wd-40 is not techniqually a lubricant, thats just what alot of people use it as. I believe it stands for water displacement or something like that. and second, how would adding something to the reel attract fish?

where i live we have alot of salmon (kings, humpies, and silvers) and steelhead rivers, i live in washington state btw, and alot of the old timers use it for scent. it actually does work. but i dont think enviromentalists would like it so much

[rubba bubba]

where i live we have alot of salmon (kings, humpies, and silvers) and steelhead rivers, i live in washington state btw, and alot of the old timers use it for scent. it actually does work. but i dont think enviromentalists would like it so much

Some local Texans I know also use it for scent.

I'd rather use Megastrike.

[Grey Wolf]

Hi, i was looking for something to keep on my reels to keep them nice and clean. I was thinking wd40 becuase that is a lubricant and it is also made of fish oil... So i would think it could also be somehwat of an attractant. Any thoughts if this is a good or bad idea. or if it would scare the fish. Iv read that a lot of ice fisherman use it to keep their reels from freezing...

BAD IDEA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[bear7625]

I've seen it used as a sent by Lake Michigan fishermen when Salmon fishing. I don't believe it was ever meant to be a lubricant, just a water displacing solvent.

[Wayne P.]

The lable on the can states that it lubricates, cleans, protects, penetrates and displaces moisture.

It's flammable and contains petroleum distillates.

[skunked_again]

its great to know we will even argue about WD-40.

;D  ;D  ;D

[kbkindle]

i used it one a reel i had that had some rubber seals and such   if the rubber seal was round as a penny  it came out the size of a orange

[RoLo]

WD40 smells nice, but that's about it.

It's as much a solvent as a lubricant, but unfortunately they're opposed.

Working like penetrating oil, WD40 reduces the viscosity of lubricants in the long run.

Roger

[Fishing Rhino]

WD 40 for scent?  I've heard all sorts of urban legends when I was lobstering.

Some old timers claimed used oil filters were a great bait.  Others claimed bricks soaked in kerosene worked very well.

Some claimed that a red can, like an empty Coke can in the parlor would attract lobsters because they thought it was a lobster.

This one should sound familiar to the bassin fraternity.  Some claimed the red color of the can did not matter.  They said the rattle of the can produced by currents is what attracted lobsters.  Can you say Rattletraps, jigs with rattles, etc.

Never tried the filter or brick things, but we did put empty tin cans in half the traps, kept notes and saw no significant difference one way or the other.

What we did try as a joke with interesting results was a stinky cheese that was given to us. 

When the run was on, we put the cheese in a bait bag and set the trap.  The next time we hauled it, it had eight counters, or keepers.

What attracted them?  At least two things.  First the calcium, and second the fat/oils.

When lobsters shed, the first thing they eat is their old shell to get the calcium needed to harden up the new shell.  They'll also eat shells from shellfish that have died.

Cheese is high in calcium.  The second is the oils.  It amounts to chumming.  The lobster downcurrent from the trap will follow the oil slick to the trap.

As for the rattling, I don't have a clue, not even a guess.

[SirSnookalot]

For me using any artificial scent insults my integrity as a recreational angler.

[steezy]

WD40 = crap, infomercial grade snake oil

It should be banned.

I wouldn't buy it or apply it to anything and NEVER put it on a fishing reel.

Just my .02 worth.

[burleytog]

WD40 = crap, infomercial grade snake oil

It should be banned.

I wouldn't buy it or apply it to anything and NEVER put it on a fishing reel.

Just my .02 worth.

;D

[Vincent Alexander]

Everybody is saying "WD40 is not a lubricant" but everyone seems to be missing the point. 
I dont think anyone intends to open their reel up and spray WD40 inside. Instead, we are considering spraying a ton of it all over the OUTSIDE of the reel, so when the reel gets splashed with salt water while surf fishing, the WD40 displaces the water and hopefully the salt water foes not get in and corrode anything.  

I bought a cheap $20 reel at Walmart and I am now experimenting with this. I spray it down very well with WD40 all over the outside and let that sit for a few minutes before I use it in the surf. We'll see if this reel lasts a long time as a result. 

[J Francho]

11 years ago....