I have personally experienced this; but in WD40's defence, it depends _how_ it is used. If you spray it on lightly, and wipe off the excess (leaving the item feeling only very slightly 'oily' to the touch, but that's all), it is indeed a great preservative. If, on the other hand, you leave great pools of the stuff on something, and let the thing sit for a long time, that _will_ create rust. BTW, WD-40 was actually invented to protect the un-painted metal skin of the Atlas ICBM. I believe that the details are in: John L. Chapman, "Atlas: The Story of a Missile" (a great book in its own right). NOel