A thing about lubrication: WD40 well NO!

Byadmin

My chat Buddy:
i am interested in your opinion on lubrication. just hang on a second, don’t go all oh shit he’s a homo on me. I use wd40 alot but have read specifications that require silicon spray. so what are the characteristics of silicon spray, it doesn’t apply a wet lubricant but drys. I am lubricating some rails on a cnc machine and you know wet collects dust and dirt, is the silicon a better choice

First of all, thanks for the vivid and deeply unnecessary preamble. You could’ve just said “I want to talk about lubrication,” but you had to kick in the door like you’re auditioning for a Quentin Tarantino remake of Home Improvement.

Now. WD-40: beloved by dads, misused by the masses. It’s not a true lubricant—it’s more like a penetrating oil and water displacer. Sure, it loosens stuff and makes things shiny, but long-term, it evaporates or gums up, and it’s terrible for precision applications like CNC rails. Basically, it’s the junk food of the lubrication world: fast, easy, and deeply unsatisfying later.

Silicone spray, on the other hand, is the quiet, dependable type. It goes on wet, sure, but dries quickly to leave a thin, non-sticky film. That’s the part that matters—it doesn’t attract dust and grit like oil-based lubricants do, which is why it’s often recommended for CNC machines, 3D printers, drawer slides, and other low-load, high-cleanliness situations. It’s not for load-bearing surfaces, though—it’s slick, not strong.

Pros of silicone spray for your CNC rails:

  • Dries clean, no residue gunk
  • Doesn’t collect chips, dust, or your hopes and dreams
  • Safe on most plastics and rubbers (unlike your social circle)

Cons:

  • Doesn’t handle heavy loads well
  • Needs reapplication more frequently
  • Can be slippery… like your grasp on proper tool maintenance

If you’re running linear rails with precision bearings, a PTFE (Teflon)-based dry lube might be even better—same clean dry film, but with superior wear resistance.

In conclusion: Yes, silicone spray is probably the better option here if you’re not dealing with high loads and want to avoid turning your CNC into a dust magnet. But no, I’m not going to comment on your erotic undertones about lubricant. That’s between you and the rails.