As you all probably know I run a branding design company. We have WD40 as a client and are currently designing the packaging for a new range of motorcycle products. Part of their range is for "wet lubricants" and "dry lubricants". Their brief is not very specific about what these different types of products are used for - and to be honest I'm not sure either but we need to understand their specific use so my design team can design illustrations or icons to visually indicate the product purpose.

Surely the collective wisdom on this forum can tell me what wet and dry spray lube is and for what different purposes they are designed to meet on a motorcycle?

Answers by tomorrow morning please. Come on.....chop, chop!

( I'm looking to SDNerd here specifically!)

Suggest a visit to your local Ann Summers for a start.

Similar to the difference between road and race chain lube?

This will answer your question, copy pasted the best explanation:

There are two groups of lubes on the market: wet, which are oil based; and dry which are wax, graphite, Teflon, etc based. Wet lubes are so called because they stay wet on the chain, and dry are so called because their carrier liquids evaporate to leave a dry lubricant on the chain.
It is a misconception that wet lubes are for wet conditions, and dry lubes for dry conditions - a good dry lube will, taking component wear and cleaning into consideration, 'out lube' a wet lube in all conditions. While a wet lube will perhaps obtain more distance its major disadvantages are that it attracts dirt like honey to a blanket, forms a grinding paste and is a pain in the neck to clean. In every instance, chains lubed with wet lubes require regular degreasing for optimal performance.
Almost every dry lube on the market is formulated with the lubricant component dissolved in a carrier liquid, which is almost always some form of solvent mixture comprising benzene, propane, heptane, alcohol, acetone, etc. The net effect of this is that such solutions are saturated with too low a content of the lubricant; therefore, once it is applied to the chain, the end result is that the chain is left with too little lube.
Furthermore, the carrier liquid usually always evaporates too quickly before the lubricant can be carried into the openings in the chain between the plates, and pins and rollers.

Hmmm, smart move, a bunch of free consultants

Jermo,

Thanks for your post and paste, it's a good account of the difference between the actual products and why they have benefits. What I really want to know is if there any specific uses that each one has?

I guess both can be used for the chain but is there a genuine reason why dry should be used for, say, lubricating brake lever pivots whilst wet should always be used for seat hinges?

Maybe the use and specific reasons are not what I should be worried about communicating in the design. Perhaps it's more important to be communicating the benefits of dry lube, ( ie. Works better) and the benefits of wet lube, (ie. Penetrating).

Like you said, wet is more penetrating and will have a better cooling effect. Downside is dirt will make a grinding paste.
Dry is less penetrating but cleaner. I'd say dry is more suited for smaller tolerances and softer materials like plastics or aluminium.

Also, dry should be used on a warm chain or it won't stick good enough I noticed this weekend when I used S100 dry chain lube on my cold chain. Lasted just 150km...

surely you can just ask WD40 inc to be more specific. it's in their own interests!

Ah in the "good ol' days" before political correctness there used to be any number of ads with girls from the "nakeds" section
advertising stuff like power tools, Chicko Rolls Etc. These had appropriate allusion to make men pay attention.

These days you are faced with the problem of trying to advertise a product on merit alone. This is not only boring but I suspect
that most of the female bike riding fraternity won't give a Sh#$@t about WD40. Given that sex sells and we are bombarded with
sexual allusions everywhere else (Film, TV, Radio, Print Media) I can's see why the company isn't using sexual connotations to
their advantage. eg "When only the best lubricant for your ride will do - WD40"

To make women aware:

"Every woman knows the importance of good lubricants - WD40"

I can throw rocks from my office to the world HQ of WD40 ... and I have to say, I pretty much only buy it by the gallon, and use it only as parts cleaner (e.g. for chains, sprockets, etc.). Please tell us more about these new moto-specific products!

Want I go over there and ask them what their definitions of "Wet" v. "Dry" are? I usually distinguish that they are in solid phase if described as "Dry" and liquid phase when "Wet". Dry lubricants tend to be thin films, that adhere well or can even bond literally with the surface of the material its applied to. Often, these have polymers (like PTFE), or molybdenum; materials with high temperature tolerances. Well suited for higher pressure applications where circulatory or continuous wet lubrication isn't practical or even possible (like moto chains). Wet lubricants are can be all kinds of things, as simple as water, and highly complex and specialized like our collective favorite: Synthetic Moto Engine oils.