Bostik Bearing Lubricant vs. WD-40

Spray Lubricant

There are countless degreasers, lubricants, cleaners, and solvents on the store shelf. How the heck do you know which one is right for your project? While there several brands and types of oil-based agents, two of the most popular are Bostik Bearing Lubricant and WD-40. While the two products seem similar, many important differences set them far apart. Let’s figure out the difference between Bostik Bearing Lubricant and WD-40.

What is Bostik Bearing Lubricant?

Bostik Bearing Lubricant is a petroleum-based aerosol lubricant. It is manufactured to lubricate moving mechanical components, especially bearings as the name implies. According to Bostik, their bearing lubricant can unfreeze frozen bearings, works up to 550 degrees Fahrenheit, works twice as long as standard oil, and can reduce operating friction by 25%.

Bostik Bearing Lubricant contains antioxidative compounds to keep it from gumming up over time and high viscosity for both slowly and quickly moving parts.

When to Use Bostik Bearing Lubricant

Because Bostik Bearing Lubricant dries quickly and doesn’t gum even after multiple applications, it’s great for long-term applications where you need something to open, move, or slide gracefully. Bostik recommends their bearing lubricant for:

  • Ball bearings
  • Roller bearings
  • Wheel Bearings
  • Router Bit Bearings
  • Router work on wood and other solid surfaces
  • Casters
  • Hinges

What is WD-40?

WD-40 makes more sense when you know WD stands for water displacement, 40th formula. WD-40 uses aliphatic hydrocarbons, anti-corrosion agents, water displacement compounds, and soil removal additives in an aerosol can to help clean rust and other grimy and greasy buildup. There’s nothing about lubricating in the name because WD-40 is not a true lubricant. WD-40 is designed to dissolve rust or act as a solvent against greasy buildup.

Why isn’t WD-40 a good long-term lubricant? It seems like a lubricant when you apply it, right? WD-40 gives the appearances of a lubricant immediately after application because it dissolves greasy buildup into simpler oils that act as temporary lubricants. Why is not a true lubricant? Because WD-40 lacks antioxidative additives. Without the additives WD-40 quickly oxidizes, leaving behind gunk and more grease than before. WD-40 also has a low viscosity that makes it impractical for low-speed lubricant applications like door hinges or casters. Without the proper additives and viscosity, WD-40 makes for a poor long-term lubricant.

When to Use WD-40

Because WD-40 lacks the antioxidative additives that keep it from gumming up, it’s best used in cleaning situations or if you need to degrease something before applying a lubricant. If you have a door hinge that’s caked with years of dust and oil, you can use WD-40 to dissolve the gunk and wipe it down before applying a lubricant like Bostik Bearing Lubricant.

Bostik Bearing and Lubricant and WD-40 are both excellent products, but there are significant differences is when you use them. You use bearing lubricant to serve as a true lubricant and WD-40 as a solvent for greasy buildup. Use the two for their respective applications, and you’ll get the best from both products.