BLUE WORKS® Frequently Asked Questions
What is BLUE WORKS?
BLUE WORKS is a new line of Industrial Grade, specialty maintenance products from WD-40 Company. The line includes: High-Performance PTFE Lubricant, White Lithium Grease, Contact Cleaner, Silicone, Penetrant, Multi-Purpose Lubricant, Degreaser, and Dry Lube PTFE Formula.
BLUE WORKS offers a line of specialty maintenance products designed to meet the specific needs of industrial, manufacturing and auto professionals. BLUE WORKS has been proven effective by multiple independent lab tests and outperforms the leading competitors in standard ASTM performance tests. BLUE WORKS is also 50-State VOC compliant.
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What is BLUE WORKS' association with WD-40 Company?
BLUE WORKS is a new brand from WD-40 Company. Its formulas were designed for maximum performance, and to help industrial workers get the job done right. WD-40 Company realizes that the industrial work environment involves tough jobs that require products designed for specific applications (i.e., high-performing specialty lubricants, penetrants, contact cleaners and degreasers). BLUE WORKS is a line of specialty maintenance products with formulas that outperform the competition in key performance areas.
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How is BLUE WORKS different from the 3-IN-ONE® Professional line of products that is also from WD-40 Company?
Unlike the 3-IN-ONE Professional line, the BLUE WORKS line of products was created and designed specifically to meet the needs of the Industrial user. It has industrial strength formulas that are NSF registered.
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Where can I buy BLUE WORKS?
BLUE WORKS is only available in the Industrial supply channel. It can be sourced through both local and national industrial distributors such as Grainger, Fastenal, MSC and Hagemeyer. For assistance sourcing BLUE WORKS please contact your JDF, CLARK or Surpless Dunn Manufacturer's Rep. You can also call (800) 448-9340 x1168.
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Is BLUE WORKS sold in retail stores?
BLUE WORKS is not available in retail stores; however it may be available in Industrial Outlets such as Grainger, Fastenal, etc.
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Is BLUE WORKS sold internationally?
Currently BLUE WORKS from WD-40 Company is only available in the USA.
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What is NSF?
NSF: The National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) is a non-profit organization which focuses on public health, safety, and environmental protection. This is achieved by development of industry standards, education and by providing third party conformity assessments. NSF is the only third party product certifier to be fully accredited by ANSI (American National Standards Institute) in the U.S., and is widely recognized for its scientific and technical expertise in the health and environmental sciences.
NSF registration assures inspection officials, consumers and end users that products are safe to use in and around food processing and storage. The evaluation process includes a toxicological review of the ingredients, accuracy of labeling and Material Safety Data Sheet. Most importantly, it ensures that each product meets all of the requirements of a specific standard and that the manufacturers' claims are true.
ALL BLUE WORKS PRODUCTS ARE NSF CERTIFIED.
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How is NSF different than USDA?
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is the federal executive body responsible for all U.S. policy pertaining to agriculture, food and farming. The department of agriculture is primarily responsible for keeping the food sources safe, without diseases than can make people sick. They also protect the food source like inspecting fruits and plants brought in from foreign countries and preventing these from polluting the crops growing in the US. There are USDA agents who work at certain airports that actually inspect baggage for plants and fruits and stop them from getting into the USA. Dogs are specially trained to smell these products in packages and baggage.
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What are the different NSF Categories?
NSF has developed over 50 voluntary American National Standards under the scope of public health and safety. NSF/ANSI Standards are developed through involvement of those who are directly and materially affected by the scope of the standard. The process ensures balanced input from industry representatives, public health/regulatory officials, and users/consumer representatives. NSF is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) to develop American National Standards. ANSI's accreditation verifies that NSF develops standards in a manner to ensure openness and due process allowing for equity and fair play. Simply put, the many categories NSF has developed tell you where it is safe to use products, mainly in reference to food contact surfaces. To see the complete list, visit NSF.org.
BLUE WORKS Products are all NSF Certified as shown below:
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What is an ASTM test?
ASTM International (ASTM), originally known as the American Society for Testing and Materials, is an international standards organization that develops and publishes voluntary consensus technical standards for a wide range of materials, products, systems, and services. A standard test method defines the way a test is performed and is developed in conjunction with a specific industry membership, so industry members agree on a way a product is to be tested. Therefore, it brings fairness and agreement across the scientific community when one product is tested against another.
All BLUE WORKS products have undergone rigorous ASTM testing by independent laboratories and have been proven superior in key product performance areas versus the competition. For BLUE WORKS test results visit our ASTM page.
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What is VOC and why is it important?
VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) are defined as material in formulation that have high levels of vaporization. This means they vaporize in the atmosphere quickly.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency, as well as The California Air Resource Board (CARB), The Ozone Transport Commission (OTC), and the Lake Michigan Air Directors Consortium (LADCO), regulate the amount of VOC in consumer products. In an effort to reduce the amount of "greenhouse" gasses in the atmosphere, the federal government has limited the amount of highly volatile material manufacturers may use in their formulations. The standard allowable amount is different for each product category (i.e,. laundry products, floor cleaners, automobile gasoline, lubricating materials, and many others).
All BLUE WORKS formulas are 50-state VOC compliant and can be sold in all 50 states, and have been formulated to meet the requirements of CARB, The OTC and LADCO.
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BLUE WORKS Silicone is both NSF H1 & H2 certified. What does that mean?
This heavy-duty formula withstands high pressure and is NSF H1 food grade certified, yet doesn't sacrifice all the power and strength of an H2 formula.
H2 Certification:
These products are used on equipment and machine parts in locations where there is no possibility of the lubricant or lubricated part contacting edible products.
H1 Certification:
Preparations permitted for use as lubricants and anti-rust agents, or as release agents on gaskets or seals of tank closures, where there is possibility of incidental food contact must be formulated in compliance with 21 CFR, Section 178.3570 and other sections referenced therein. The amount used should be the minimum required to accomplish the required technical effect on the equipment so treated. When a product is used as an anti-rust film, it shall be removed by washing or wiping before putting the equipment back into service.
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How is BLUE WORKS Multi-Purpose Lubricant different from WD-40®?
Unlike WD-40, BLUE WORKS Multi-Purpose Lubricant contains PTFE and is also NSF® H2 certified.
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When should I use a Silicone lubricant?
Use BLUE WORKS Silicone when a colorless, non-staining film that lubricates, protects and is safe for most rubbers and plastics is desired. This is a good quality lubricant that performs well across a wide temperature range and offers good moisture resistance.
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When should I use a High-Performance PTFE Lubricant?
Use when maximum lubrication and heavy load applications are needed.
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When should I use White Lithium Grease?
Use it where a thick lubricant film must cling and remain in place on horizontal and vertical surfaces.
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When should I use a Penetrant?
Use it to quickly loosen frozen, bound, and rusted nuts, bolts, clips, locks, etc. Good for any hard to move, remove, or loosen material.
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When should I use a Dry Lube?
Use where cleanliness and maximum performance are required. Won't attract dirt and dust. Ideal for use on blades and bits, door and window tracks, slides, conveyor belts, rollers, chains, cables, hinges, power tools and equipment.
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When should I use a Multi-Purpose Lubricant?
For more general applications that requires a wider variety of benefits like lubrication, penetration, grease removal, water displacement, and rust protection.
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When should I use a Contact Cleaner?
Use to remove heavy soils such as grease, grime, or oil from electrical equipment, including, but not limited to, electric motors, armatures, relays, electric panels, or generators. Good for removal of dirt, moisture, dust, flux, or oxides from the internal components of electronic or precision equipment such as circuit boards, and the internal components of electronic devices, including but not limited to, radios, compact disc (CD) players, digital video disc (DVD) players, and computers.
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When should I use a Degreaser?
Use to quickly reduce and remove grease, dirt and soil.
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Is BLUE WORKS available in bulk sizes?
No. At this time BLUE WORKS is available in the following sizes:
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What does dielectric strength and Kb value mean for your Contact Cleaner?
The Kauri-Butanol value ( Kb Value) is an international, standardized measure of solvent power for a hydrocarbon solvent. The higher Kb value means that the solvent is more aggressive or active in the ability to desolve certain materials. Mild solvents have low scores in the tens or twenties; powerful solvents have ratings that are in the low hundreds.
Dielectric strength or dielectric breakdown is a measurement of the voltage required to cause a spark to form between two closely spaced electrodes; important for products used around wiring and circuit boards because you don't want to short them out. The dielectric breakdown voltage of a liquid is of importance as a measure of the liquid's ability to withstand electric stress without failure. High DS indicates a poor conductor of electricity.
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What is PTFE? What BLUE WORKS Product(s) Contain PTFE?
Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is a synthetic fluoropolymer of tetrafluoroethylene which finds numerous applications. PTFE is most well known by the DuPontTM brand name Teflon®. Due to its low friction, it is used for applications where sliding action (lubrication) of parts is needed. BLUE WORKS Industrial Grade Dry Lube, Multi-Purpose Lubricant, and High-Performance Lubricant contain PTFE.
DuPont and Teflon are registered trademarks and trademarks of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company or its affiliates.
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What products in the BLUE WORKS line contain silicone?
The only product that contains silicone is BLUE WORKS Industrial Grade Silicone. Products containing silicone should never be used on or near surfaces that are going to be painted.
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