how to fix anything - engineering flowchart

I have a fondness for flowcharts (and engineer-types).

I love it.  WD-40 and duct tape belong in every 5 gallon plastic pail.
The farmer's friends.

Glad you liked it, John! You know, I heard somewhere--maybe here on permies--that WD-40 is primarily castor oil. Wish I could remember more about that.

More rules of Chaos Carpentry:
-When all else fails, get a bigger hammer.
-If it jams, force it.  If it breaks, it needed to be replaced anyway.
-In any home workshop environment, immediately cover all horizontal surfaces with junk.
-Leave projects unfinished everywhere.  That way no matter where you are there is something to do.
-As long as you have a pair of pliers handy, there is nothing wrong with going barefoot.

Warranty?  Heck, I can fix it for less than shipping back to the factory!

WD40 even liquified the gum stomped into the carpet, enabling it's removal.  Then soap and water took care of the WD40

If WD40 doesn't do it, get PB Blaster, that stuff may take apply, wiggle, leave it a day, wiggle, apply, wiggle, leave it a day for a few days but it will get it where the blue and yellow can can't.

If Duct Tape doesn't do it, JB Weld will.....

I never cared for WD-40 as a lubricant, but I always have some around using it more as a cleaner.

Travis Johnson wrote:I never cared for WD-40 as a lubricant, but I always have some around using it more as a cleaner.

For that I use Brak-kleen from the local Dollar General. Cheap and I stay upwind of it because the volatile solvents can do things to me.

Still, as a friend sent me a bumper sticker:" Duct Tape is like the Force. It has a dark side and a light side, and holds the Universe together."

I had a t-shirt made up that says "If brute force isn't working, you aren't using enough of it."

Duck tape is like the Force: there is a dark side, a light side, and it binds the universe together.

For any purpose where WD40 works as a cleaner, you might like to try vegetable oil in its place. If the cleaning action is just because it's an oil, it might work as well. I have found that vegetable oil works just as well as any of the nasty-smelling commercial products for cleaning your hands after oil painting. I massage it into my hands, wipe it off on a paper towel, and wash with soap. Sometimes it takes a second round, but so do the commercial products.

Deb and Mark, I love that duct tape joke! It IS like the force!

Rebecca, I'm with you about vegetable oil in place of WD40 or other cleaners. I have often kept a jar of used vegetable oil, too smelly or darkened for cooking re-use, to use for removing sticky label residue and other things around the house. It's also useful for oiling hand tools.

Rebecca Norman wrote:For any purpose where WD40 works as a cleaner, you might like to try vegetable oil in its place. If the cleaning action is just because it's an oil, it might work as well. I have found that vegetable oil works just as well as any of the nasty-smelling commercial products...

Except, WD40 smells amazing.

Jocelyn Campbell wrote:Glad you liked it, John! You know, I heard somewhere--maybe here on permies--that WD-40 is primarily castor oil. Wish I could remember more about that.

I checked it out at the company's website. They do not mention castor oil. They do say that their product is mostly petroleum distillates. There are many myths concerning WD-40, including some that report that it helps with arthritis and other physical ailments. The company says to use the same precautions that you would with other petroleum distillates, and not to use it for any medical purpose.

Wes Hunter wrote:

Rebecca Norman wrote:For any purpose where WD40 works as a cleaner, you might like to try vegetable oil in its place. If the cleaning action is just because it's an oil, it might work as well. I have found that vegetable oil works just as well as any of the nasty-smelling commercial products...

Except, WD40 smells amazing.

Really?! Or are you joking? Blech. Not in my book though to each his own!

Dale Hodgins wrote:

Jocelyn Campbell wrote:Glad you liked it, John! You know, I heard somewhere--maybe here on permies--that WD-40 is primarily castor oil. Wish I could remember more about that.

I checked it out at the company's website. They do not mention castor oil. They do say that their product is mostly petroleum distillates. There are many myths concerning WD-40, including some that report that it helps with arthritis and other physical ailments. The company says to use the same precautions that you would with other petroleum distillates, and not to use it for any medical purpose.

Ah, thanks for checking into that, Dale. I'd rather use a vegetable oil than petroleum distillates, whenever possible. In Montana winters, any kind of oil can freeze up, so we've been trying alternatives to lubricate locks. Paul has spent some time researching options (and he started a thread for that here).