Let US Spray: The `Duct Tape Guys' Extol Wd-40

Jim and Tim, the "Duct Tape Guys," were stuck for a follow-up to their two scandalously successful duct-tape books.

One night they hit upon the idea for a book that would save lives, promote world peace and change the course of humanity. Unfortunately, somebody already had the rights to that idea, so instead they wrote "The WD-40 Book" (Bad Dog Press, $7).

If you thought WD-40 only loosened lug nuts or stopped tools from rusting, your own hinges need some oiling. WD-40 is perhaps the most popular lubricant since the martini. If duct tape doesn't fix it, then reach for the familiar blue-and-yellow spray can.

"If it's not stuck and it's supposed to be, duct tape it. If it's stuck and it's not supposed to be, WD-40 it," says Tim Nyberg, who wrote the book along with brother-in-law Jim Berg.

For example, did you know that WD-40 cures the common cold?

Well, it doesn't. Don't believe everything you read.

However, WD-40 does remove oil stains from driveways, helps break in new baseball gloves and extends the life of razor blades. Some motorists spray it on their grills to prevent buildup of insects. Cobblers use it to soften new leather. Anglers spray it on bait and lures to attract fish.

And yes, WD-40 removes sticky duct-tape residue. Although it defies logic why anybody would want to remove duct tape from anything, Nyberg says.

Richard Mangieri, owner of Mangieri Car Clinic in McCandless, Pa., uses WD-40 both at work and at home.

Ken Massey of Plum, Pa., keeps a can of the stuff handy and recently used it to loosen the tire rack under his Ford Ranger.

"You can't live without it. Whenever something gets too tight I grab that stuff," says Massey, a freelance graphic designer.

The WD-40 Co. balked when Nyberg and Berg approached them with the idea for the book. They later changed their minds, providing them with testimonial letters and suggestions from loyal WD-40 users around the country.

These legitimate uses are listed on each left-hand page of "The WD-40 Book." Jim and Tim offer their own tongue-in-cheek suggestions on the right-hand pages. Confusing the two could result in personal injury and a possible court summons.

For example, WD-40 has been used to keep flies off cows, but should not be used to keep cows off the roof of your barn.

WD, or Water Displacer 40, was first manufactured in 1953 by the Rocket Chemical Co. of San Diego. It was the dawn of the aerospace industry, and the three-employee company was trying to create a rust-preventative solvent that would displace water.

Rocket Chemical founder Norm Larson perfected the formula on his 40th try.

Many uses were too farfetched to include in the book, Nyberg says. Some people claimed that WD-40 helped heal corns and athlete's foot. Others vouched for it as a reliever of arthritis pain.

"You spray it on the joint and rub it in. People swear the pain goes away," Nyberg says.

So which is better, duct tape or WD-40?

Nyberg replies in the manner of a Zen handyman: "I've had people ask me if I was stuck on a desert island, what tool would it be, duct tape or WD-40? If the island had a tree I'd say duct tape because you can down the tree somehow and make a boat. If there are no trees it would be WD-40 because you could spray yourself down, and because it's a water displacer, it would help you float and you could swim to safety."

In their tireless pursuit of knowledge and financial gain, Jim and Tim even are conducting scientific experiments with duct tape and WD-40.

"We have a roll of duct tape wrapped around a can of WD-40 sitting in an isolation booth. Until we're done with this experiment, you might want to separate your roll of duct tape and your can of WD-40," Nyberg says. -----------------------------------------------------------------

Here are some of the things WD-40 does, according to "The WD-40 Book" (Bad Dog Press, $7), by Jim and Tim, the "Duct Tape Guys."

WD-40:

-- Removes glue from fingers.

-- Keeps grandfather clocks running smoothly.

-- Keeps automobile hoses and fan belts from drying and cracking.

-- When spritzed on pole of bird feeder, keeps squirrels from climbing.

-- Cleans and protects golf clubs and guitar strings.

-- Removes lipstick stains.

-- Unsticks computer keyboard and mouse.

-- Kills thistle plants.

-- Removes rings stuck on fingers.

-- Keeps wasps from building nests under your eaves.