Unexpected Origins of WD40

Описание: Most people don’t know this…

WD-40 was created to protect a missile.

In 1953, during the height of the Cold War, a small San Diego company called Rocket Chemical Company was contracted to develop a rust-prevention solvent for the Atlas missile program.

The problem was corrosion.

The Atlas missile had a thin steel skin.
Moisture meant failure.
Failure meant national risk.

The team worked through formula after formula trying to create a compound that would displace water and prevent rust under extreme conditions.

Thirty-nine attempts failed.

The 40th worked.

Water Displacement.
Formula 40.

WD-40.

It was not designed for squeaky hinges.
It was engineered for aerospace protection.

Soon, workers in the facility began taking cans home. They discovered it loosened bolts, stopped corrosion, cleaned grime, and freed stuck parts.

Industrial necessity became household utility.

In 1958, WD-40 hit retail shelves. Mechanics, machinists, and homeowners adopted it fast. It was simple.

Spray.
Wait.
Turn.

No redesign.
No rebranding.
Just performance.

As American garages filled with lawnmowers, bicycles, and automobiles in the postwar boom, WD-40 became a staple. It sat on workbenches next to socket sets and rags.

Blue and yellow.
Red straw.
Metal can.

It represented mechanical self-reliance.

Fix it yourself.
Maintain what you own.
Prevent failure before it spreads.

Over time, WD-40 Company expanded the product line, but the original formula remained the backbone.

Not decorative.
Not complicated.

A chemical solution built for corrosion control that found a permanent place in American tool culture.

From missile silos to kitchen drawers.

This is the real story of how a Cold War rust inhibitor became one of the most recognizable maintenance products in the world.

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IRON & HONOR – The Stories of How We Were Built

Iron & Honor uncovers the hidden grit behind tools, machines, and systems forged under pressure. From aerospace labs to garage shelves, we tell the stories most people never hear.

If you are into
industrial history
Cold War innovation
garage culture
mechanical maintenance
brands built on utility

You are in the right place.

Follow Iron & Honor for the stories of how we were built.

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KEY TOPICS IN THIS VIDEO:

WD-40 history
Rocket Chemical Company
Atlas missile corrosion protection
Water Displacement Formula 40
Cold War industry
American garage culture

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