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review

WD40 Fast Acting Degreaser

8
£8.99

VERDICT:

8
10
Powerful degreaser for general workshop duties that works a treat on drivetrains but I'd use with caution around composites and rubber seals.
Weight: 
500g
Contact: 
www.wd40.co.uk

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WD40 Specialist fact acting degreaser will gobble through anything remotely lube based it comes into contact with.

Drivetrains are the most obvious candidates followed by bearings and contact points but it also makes short work of Waxoyl and similarly medieval potions used to preserve treasured framesets. However, in common with these substances, its environmental credentials are a little lacking so store in cool settings far from the grasp of children and pets.

WD40 has largely forgone the familiar (and invariably lost) red applicator in favour of a swish yellow smart-straw. This means the applicator turret has to be at ninety degrees before the pressurised contents are released for tackling localised areas such as cassettes/drivetrains but removing the collar allows a much broader delivery, say when degreasing a mothballed frame. It's a very powerful solvent that visibly consumes grime on contact.

Two sharp squirts saw congealed oils, gunge and ingress slide from a nine-speed cassette, forming a muddy black pool on the floor. It does clean up after itself but I wouldn't risk it on the kitchen lino.

There wasn't any call for additional coaxing from a brush or similar implement, but loose wheel and headset bearings benefit from a quick scrub, especially those dressed in super stiff marine greases.

It breezes through standard greases, wet lubes and locking compounds (Carbo grip and threadlock being obvious examples), so despite WD40's assurances to the contrary, I'd be uncomfortable about using it regularly with composites and rubber seals and the like, or allowing it prolonged contact with them. I'd rinse them thoroughly with clean water and possibly a citrus based cleaner before re-lubricating.

Verdict

Powerful degreaser for general workshop duties that works a treat on drivetrains but I'd use with caution around composites and rubber seals.

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road.cc test report

Make and model: WD40 Specialist: Fast Acting Degreaser

Size tested: n/a

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

"WD-40 Specialist Fast Acting Degreaser is a solvent based solution that quickly removes grease, oil, dirt and grime without leaving any residue. It works immediately on contact and is easy to rinse away. This fast acting degreaser can be used on a wide variety of surfaces including metal, exhaust hoods, and flooring." No quibble here.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Translucent, non-viscous liquid

Organic Solvent

0.93 - 0.96

1.5 - 2.4 g/s

Partially soluble

K1

Classed as extremely flammable under current legislation

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
7/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10

Very efficient!

Rate the product for durability:
 
7/10
Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
8/10
Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
7/10
Rate the product for value:
 
8/10

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

The fast acting degreaser literally gobbles through grime on contact and is generally hard to fault-especially on chains, cassettes and other drivetrain. However, while very fragrant, only use in well ventilated areas.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Efficient, tenacious and goes on in a flash.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Nothing given the design brief.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 38  Height: 1m 81  Weight: 70 kilos

I usually ride: Rough Stuff Tourer Based around 4130 Univega mtb Frameset  My best bike is: 1955 Holdsworth Road Path and several others including cross & traditional road

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: cyclo cross, commuting, touring, fixed/singlespeed, mtb,

 

Shaun Audane is a freelance writer/product tester with over twenty-eight years riding experience, the last twelve (120,000 miles) spent putting bikes and kit through their paces for a variety of publications. Previous generations of his family worked at manufacturing's sharp end, thus Shaun can weld, has a sound understanding of frame building practice and a preference for steel or titanium framesets.
Citing Richard Ballantine and an Au pair as his earliest cycling influences, he is presently writing a cycling book with particular focus upon women, families and disabled audiences (Having been a registered care manager and coached children at Herne Hill Velodrome in earlier careers)

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