Penetrating Oils

[HL117]

For all of you with rusty knuckles:



Machinist's Workshop magazine

recently published some information on various penetrating oils that I found very interesting.
Some of you might appreciate this. The magazine reports they tested penetrates for break out torque on rusted nuts.

They are below, as forwarded by an ex-student and professional machinist.

They arranged a subjective test of all the popular penetrates with the control being the torque required to remove the nut from a

"scientifically rusted" environment.

*Penetrating oils ........... Average torque load to loosen*

No Oil used ................... 516 pounds
WD-40 ..................... ... 238 pounds
PB Blaster .................... 214 pounds
Liquid Wrench ...............127 pounds
Kano Kroil .................... 106 pounds
ATF*-Acetone mix............53 pounds

The ATF-Acetone mix is a "home brew" mix of 50 - 50 automatic transmission fluid and acetone.

Note this "home brew" released bolts better than any commercial product in this one particular test.

Our local machinist group mixed up a batch and we all now use it with equally good results.
Note also that "Liquid Wrench" is almost as good as "Kroil"
for about 20% of the price.

Steve from Godwin-Singer says that ATF-Acetone mix is best, but you can also use ATF and lacquer thinner in a 50-50 mix.
*ATF=Automatic Transmission Fluid

 

HL

[TopGear]

ATF and acetone is really good. It was suggested to me about a year ago. It did eat a hole through one container I had it in. Also it does separate so you need to give it a shake before using.  I don't like wd-40 it is pretty much useless. 

[caldera]

Thought this thread was about something else.   

[CAP1]

no one tested freeze off?

[Reaper90]

ATF and acetone is really good. It was suggested to me about a year ago. It did eat a hole through one container I had it in. Also it does separate so you need to give it a shake before using.  I don't like wd-40 it is pretty much useless. 

because WD-40 isn't a penetrating oil..... 

WD-40 is a corrosion preventative product.... my understanding growing up using it, Liquid Wrench, and PB Blaster, is that the "WD" stands for "water displacer" or something like that.... like a good sprayable light machine oil that will give moving assemblies a good coating of oil to prevent corrosion. Properly used it's more for protecting and lightly lubricating things that aren't rusty yet, definitely not for freeing up frozen-up and heavily rusted components.

[Bodhi]

The acetone mixture has been around a long time.  The only problem I see, is the flammability is very high.

[pembquist]

Now just get somebody to put ATF mix in a spray can. Like kroil, what about just using ATF straight?

[GScholz]

Acetone is a powerful solvent, so more care must be taken with spills etc. Especially around fiberglass and other resin based materials.

[Rob52240]

They should have done their test on rusty nuts and bolts, instead of just nuts and bolts.

I go with PB blaster when something's rusty.  I haven't had to look for a better product yet.

[phatzo]

no one tested freeze off?

some of the best results I've had have been with the Loctite Freeze and Release, if that doesn't work a small local product called Bolt Off does and vice versa. between the two of them I'm usually undone.

[SilverZ06]

Corrosion X works awesome as well.

[Groth]

 A 'water displacer' is useful when you have an ignition system wet to the point of not working. Turn off power, spray with WD-40, wait just a bit, then try starting. I used this very successfully on my 125cc Kawa after crossing streams and a Ford pick-up with distributors at front of engine that would quit working in heavy rain(kept can behind pick-ups seat). Even was a small bit preventative if used before hand, but only to a point. It is terrible as lubricant, and will remove any oil/grease from a bicycle chain leading to its early demise. The original formula was pretty flammable, to the point of being used as a 'starting fluid', but they changed the formula and do not try that now. Here in the 'Old South' some swear it works on arthritis... I do not. Your milage may vary.
 JGroth

[morfiend]

 Have been using ATF for this purpose for years now but never thought to cut it with acetone!

      Wonder if methalhydrate works as well as the acetone,going to give both a try next time I need to use some ATF!   We've even used ATF in a hotplate to loosen real stuborn pieces.



   




 

[Volron]

no one tested freeze off?

What would you recommend?  This is under the assumption that ye have tested out more than your fair share of products of course.

[cattb]

one of my favorites for rusted nuts and bolts

otherwise I use liquid wrench or PB Blaster. WD40 seems to be more alcohol then anything else