penetrating oils...
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Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: in the woods of MA
penetrating oils...
I posted this in a spark plug thread over in the super duty forum, but I figured it might be of some general interest as well:
Here's something that a friend of mine emailed to me a few days ago. (I don't know what the "soak time" was...)
(I don't have a direct link to this, so I hope this is enough attribution for the mods!)
Machinist's Workshop magazine actually tested penetrants for break out torque on rusted nuts. Significant results! They are below, as forwarded by an ex-student and professional machinist, Bud Baker.
*Don't forget the April 2007 "Machinist's Workshop" magazine comparison test.***
*They arranged a subjective test of all the popular penetrants with the control being the torque required to remove the nut from a "scientifically rusted" environment. ***
*Penetrating oil ..... Average load*
None ............ ......... 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 was a "home brew" mix of 50 - 50 automatic transmission fluid and acetone.*
*Note the "home brew" was 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 about as good as "Kroil" for about 20% of the price. ***
Here's something that a friend of mine emailed to me a few days ago. (I don't know what the "soak time" was...)
(I don't have a direct link to this, so I hope this is enough attribution for the mods!)
Machinist's Workshop magazine actually tested penetrants for break out torque on rusted nuts. Significant results! They are below, as forwarded by an ex-student and professional machinist, Bud Baker.
*Don't forget the April 2007 "Machinist's Workshop" magazine comparison test.***
*They arranged a subjective test of all the popular penetrants with the control being the torque required to remove the nut from a "scientifically rusted" environment. ***
*Penetrating oil ..... Average load*
None ............ ......... 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 was a "home brew" mix of 50 - 50 automatic transmission fluid and acetone.*
*Note the "home brew" was 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 about as good as "Kroil" for about 20% of the price. ***
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: North of Boston MA
I've been swearing by Kroil for years - still using the last pint or so of a gallon my father got in the late 80's or early 90's before he retired. I use it sparingly because it is THAT good but also expensive to replace.
I may have to replace it with the home-brew mix. I wonder if the ATF they used was Dexron V or plain old Dexron. I wonder if the old bottle of Type F I have would work?
Thanks for the info, Jim.
I may have to replace it with the home-brew mix. I wonder if the ATF they used was Dexron V or plain old Dexron. I wonder if the old bottle of Type F I have would work?
Thanks for the info, Jim.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: in the woods of MA
I'm guessing that just about any light oil such as a machine/hydraulic oil would do... Can you buy acetone at the hw store? I like to try this, but I don't want to be buying 150 bottles of nail polish remover and pouring them into a gallon jug... 
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: North of Boston MA
I'm pretty sure that acetone is available in the hardware store. If not, I think that Goof-Off stuff is acetone based. But it probably isn't any cheaper than Kroil which is around $40 a gallon IIRC. But, a gallon lasts a long time since it only takes a few drops of the stuff.
The only thing I would miss making my own is I actually LIKE the smell of Kroil. Not in a "huffing it out of a bag" like but it is a pleasant scent. That and it reminds me of all those summers ago tinkering on VW Beetles and my old Ford Maverick......
The only thing I would miss making my own is I actually LIKE the smell of Kroil. Not in a "huffing it out of a bag" like but it is a pleasant scent. That and it reminds me of all those summers ago tinkering on VW Beetles and my old Ford Maverick......
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,476
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From: Frequently frozen MN
I've used liquid wrench a lot, but I've never seen it mentioned in previous threads about freeing bolts. So I was surprised by this test. I thought that I'd been using the wrong stuff all along.
Did the article mention technique, soak time etc?
Did the article mention technique, soak time etc?
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From: Renton, WA
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Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: in the woods of MA
No 'possum, as I said in the OP, what I posted was emailed to me and I don't have a link. I googled "Machinist's Workshop magazine" and found some links to subscription information, but it doesn't appear to be published online. Maybe someone here on FTE is a subscriber and has that April 2007 issue, and can fill in some of the holes in what was posted...
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Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: in the woods of MA
I agree, I alway felt PB Blaster worked better than Liquid Wrench... but at least in this test it would appear otherwise...
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Central, MA
I'm going to mix a 50/50 batch of this stuff and see how it works.
Good point!
According to this website, we are likely looking at a thread in the 1-inch catagory.
Bolt strengths
According to this website, we are likely looking at a thread in the 1-inch catagory.
Bolt strengths
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Lafayette, IN
Acetone's available all over the place. At the BORGs it's usually about $10-15/gallon.
Goof-off has a couple different formulas, but I think the more potent one is xylene-based (if it smells like the permanent markers of yesteryear, then it's xylene).
Interesting info--thanks, Jim!
Jason
Goof-off has a couple different formulas, but I think the more potent one is xylene-based (if it smells like the permanent markers of yesteryear, then it's xylene).
Interesting info--thanks, Jim!
Jason