Subject: Penetrating Oils

Penetrating Oils
Machinist's Workshop MagT recently published some information on various penetrating oils that I found very interesting. Some of you might appreciate this. The magazine reports they tested penetrants 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 penetrants 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

A 50/50 mix of kerosene and ATF also works well.

That's good to know, thanks.

ATF by itself is better than nothing, I always keep a squirt bottle handy at my metal lathe. It also works great for a wet sanding agent when polishing acrylic, plastic or Delrin.

Interesting....

My question is how can this be accurate. Obviously they had to use seperate bolts and nuts for each lubricant and how can u compare accurately using different items. Seems that the outcome should be good enough to base a decision about which to use but no where near absolute proof.

I would guess they did multiple tests many bolts and nuts of the same size for each lubricant and allowed them all to rust in the same conditions. The measurements are probably an average. We use liquid wrench at work, but that is good to know about the acetone ATF fluid mix.

It works, I have been using it for years. If you can find one of those small bottles that you air up to put it in, it is like having an aerosol can of it.

Thanks for the info

I have used wasp & hornet spray when I didnt have anything else and it worked pretty good

The AFT-acetone is similar to Ed's Red with some kerosene and synthetic oil if I remember correctly. On rusty farm/ranch tools I have also used brake fluid, very helpful with a rusty cranky hi-lift jack. I am sure you fellows know to use the acetone only outside or in very well ventilated areas.

Very interesting thread, thank you all for sharing your experiences; I'm sure I'll use it in the near future.

good to know, I used kroil at a previous job and was wanting to get some for my present work. May try the 50/50 now.

I have heard that you can use ATF for fixing dull headlights on your car. Never tried myself but thats what I have been told. Anybody else hear of this??

Thanks I will try the ATF-Acetone mix. I have used Kroil for many years and it is awesome stuff. It lifts fouling from the metals in guns also and is used widely for gun cleaning. I would not try the acetone mix on any fire arm though.

Man everytime I mix chemicals the ATF shows up at my door.

i use a mix of ATF and brake fluid on rusted bolts

heck if atf works I would assume doing the same with just about any old bottle of motor oil would do the same as well

^^^^ No, motor oil will not do the same as well.

Thanks for the tip