Penetrating oils comparison

[superquag]

This came up on my Hovercraft forum, - thought it interesting, especially the homebrew...

In fairness, WD-40 is not designed as a penetrator/rust release agent, it just gets used for 'everything'.


Machinist's Workshop Mag 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 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

*** ATF=Automatic Transmission Fluid

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.

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, (this actually works well). Power-steering fluid also works as well as ATF!

[uninformed]

I would like to see how Inox compared to WD40, CRC etc. I feel it is better, but have no proof

[Don 130]

It's been doing the rounds, and has been here before. I sent the ATF/acetone recipe over to my neighbour who restores old australian diesel tractors. He used the brew to remove a piston frozen in a Mc Donald superdiesel block. he said the results were amazing as he'd been soaking it in diesel and whatever else he had for months, but the application of the new brew brought it undone quite quickly after it was applied.

[Pickles2]

How does the ATF/Acetone Mix affect paintwork, if it sits for a while?
Cheers, Pickles.

[incisor]

How does the ATF/Acetone Mix affect paintwork, if it sits for a while?
Cheers, Pickles.

what paintwork [bigwhistle]

[gruntfuttock]

Eucalyptus oil also works very well, but is rather expensive

[robbotd5]

What about Penetrene? I use it a lot at work (Aluminium smelter) and it is good at releasing all types of fixtures. Needs time to soak though.
Interesting, who would have thought Acetone and ATF.????
Regards
Robbo.

[d@rk51d3]

Interesting, who would have thought Acetone and ATF.????
Regards
Robbo.

With the addition of equal parts of Mineral turps and Kero, it is also a military grade gun cleaner, known as Ed's Red. (some also add a touch of lanolin)

Used some on a handfull of gunked up nuts and bolts. After a quick swish around the tin, they came out looking like new. Once the acetone evaporates, the residual oils lubricate and protect.

[Collins]

The best commercially available penetrant I have experienced ( NQ only it appears) is a product called Bolt-Off, made in Mackay.
Unfortunately, unable to find it in sunny Victoria.

I came across this product when I worked in the Cairns region. It was by far better than any other penetrant available.

[Homestar]

X2 for Penetrene. It is a thin red coloured stuff - wonder what the ingredients are...:D

Will be trying the home brew mix as well - nice and easy and cheap.:)

[Sprint]

The best commercially available penetrant I have experienced ( NQ only it appears) is a product called Bolt-Off, made in Mackay.
Unfortunately, unable to find it in sunny Victoria.

I came across this product when I worked in the Cairns region. It was by far better than any other penetrant available.

When i read the thread title i was hoping to see someone mention bolt-off..... god alone knows whats in it, but its magic stuff!

[superquag]

The best commercially available penetrant I have experienced ( NQ only it appears) is a product called Bolt-Off, made in Mackay.
Unfortunately, unable to find it in sunny Victoria.

I came across this product when I worked in the Cairns region. It was by far better than any other penetrant available.

The article was lifted from another US publication... hence the odd names...

We'd all like to hear feedback on how well these homebrews work.

[superquag]

Apparantly vegetable oil can work equally well when mixed with acetone.

https://www.engineeringforchange.org/news/2012/08/14/how_to_make_penetrating_oil.html

[bob10]

A fisherman mate of mine had a lobster boat shipped up to Brisbane, with the intention of turning it into a crabbing boat for the Bay. Needed work, I volunteered to work on the engine , a Perkins. Fair amount of rust, not wanting to create more work than necessary, we discussed how to approach the job. He produced a product that worked better than penetrene, or any other product I'd used - Ti Tree oil. Amazed me, Bob

[Davehoos]

bolt-off,--the tail I was told---little old lady with the home brew.:)

magic stuff used it to get alloy a/c hoses apart.

[Tank]

The article was lifted from another US publication... hence the odd names...

We'd all like to hear feedback on how well these homebrews work.
I used my home brew of ATF and Acetone on the exhaust manifold off the 300TDi the other week.
I had to dismantle the manifold out of my old Turbo, one side almost fell out, but the other was stuck fast, some vigorous banging with a brass drift failed, WD-40 was next to useless as always the last 1/8th of the contents refused to come out of the can, Oxy torch and more banging wouldn't budge it.
So went searching for my spray bottle of ATF/Acetone, sprayed it liberally around outside of joint and waited an hour. Checked inside manifold and you could see the stuff had worked its way through (about an inch and a bit).
Anyway while carrying turbo and stuck manifold log over to the vice the manifold log fell out, good ****, Regards Frank.

[jazzaD1]

just a regular spray bottle? I want to try some but wasn't sure if the acetone would affect the plastic or seals or whatever

[superquag]

X2 for Penetrene. It is a thin red coloured stuff - wonder what the ingredients are...:D

Will be trying the home brew mix as well - nice and easy and cheap.:)

Try here...

PENETRENE BULK (http://www.docstoc.com/docs/71017965/PENETRENE-BULK)

:D

[Hoges]

Bought a litre of "Diggers" acetone recently and the bottle appears to be made from polythene. I wouldn't normally spray the stuff in any event. I mix a small amount of the brew enough for the job in a tin can and use an appropriate size paint brush...

[Tank]

just a regular spray bottle? I want to try some but wasn't sure if the acetone would affect the plastic or seals or whatever
Just an old Febreeze spray bottle, works well, Regards Frank.

[Collins]

Most of the brews mentioned involve the use of a carrier solvent, such as Acetone, which is Highly Inflammable, and has a relatively low limit on its flammability range. So be cautious with use and ensure area is well ventilated and no ignition sources nearby.