Penetrating Oils

[theperfessor]

Our lab tech sent this to me in an email. I'm posting it for the information, I have no idea if it's right:"".

Penetrating Oils

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 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 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 almost as good as "Kroil" for about
20% of the price.

Steve from Godwin-Singer says that ATF-Acetone mix is the best and you
can also use ATF- lacquer thinner 50 - 50 mix.

ATF=Automatic Transmission Fluid

[jonas302]

I had seen that before and started using the atf acetone mix in the automotive business everyday we fight rust I also add some syn oil with moly it really keeps it together when you apply to a hot bolt so it doesn't smoke off instantly

[13Echo]

Ed's Red bore solvent is equal parts of acetone, ATF, deodorized kerosene, and mineral spirits. It also works well as a penetrating oil as well as bore solvent.

Jerry Liles

[Gliden07]

I read this article also that is an awsome result!! Who would have known!!

[enfield]

not just because I work at a ford dealer but the ford motorcraft penetrating fluid sure is good stuff ( we use a lot on rusty fords up here in salty nova scotia ). had a torsion bar that would not move no matter how much air hammering we did, sprayed with p/t fluid and let sit overnight and 30 seconds later it was apart. good stuff.

[nanuk]

the discussion of ATF/Acetone has been making its way around recently

I have used it for years on my farm stuff, as well as a good soak in diesel oil.

ATF/Acetone really softens rust up good

[Shiloh]

Ed's Red bore solvent is equal parts of acetone, ATF, deodorized kerosene, and mineral spirits. It also works well as a penetrating oil as well as bore solvent.

Jerry Liles

Been using it for years now.
I have some in a lab bottle on the workbench that has Kroil in it. According to your stats, it is un-necessary.

Shiloh

[Shiloh]

ATF/Acetone really softens rust up good

Put some on a little used Russian M-44 that had a spot of rust the size of a small bean.
Took off the spot with some stainless wool. Not even a hint that there was rust there.

Shiloh

[S.R.Custom]

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.

Something that works even better:

I did a little investigating into solvents and their ability to penetrate, and sparing you the chemistry lesson, I found that MEK is actually better than acetone. The easiest source for MEK is the solvent sold to 'thin' plastic wood filler. The particular brand I use is FamoWood. According to the MSDS, it's actually a mix of MEK and acetone.

Mixed three parts solvent to one part ATF, it penetrates better than anything in the above list, and even dissolves the thread glue/sealant that Remington and Winchester apply to their barrel threads.


.

[MtGun44]

ATF/acetone is good stuff, I will have to mix up some with MEK.

Bill

[shotman]

cant use atf on molds kroil you can LOL

[uscra112]

Just be sure to store acetone/MEK mixes in containers that will not either dissolve or let the stuff leach thru the plastic. Metal is best, but for a pint of Ed's Red I use a bottle that originally contained nail polish remover. Tightly capped. A pump-can will let the acetone escape pretty quickly.

[dragon813gt]

So what is a proper container for the
ATF/Acetone mix, I routinely have to break rusted parts free at work, HVAC, and have sworn by PB Blaster for years. It needs to ride around on the truck with me so the container needs to take some punishment.


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[nanuk]

cant use atf on molds kroil you can LOL

I read somewhere that Kroil is a mix of Kerosene and Oil... not sure which oil but ATF was mentioned

[Suo Gan]

This is good info, thanks.

[Moonie]

I keep my Eds Red in a sealed Mason jar, figure nothing is evaporating out of that.

[13Echo]

For storing my Ed's Red I reuse the metal cans the Acetone, Kerosene, and Mineral spirits came it plus a salvage one of the same. I just relable as Ed's Red. For my kit I reuse an old Hoppe's bottle also suitably relabeled.

Jerry Liles