Penetrating Oils
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
Liquid wrench is the best value.
Kroil is best but very expensive compared to Liquid Wrench.
WD40 is the lousiest “penetrating oil” ever. Dog piss would work as good.
We called CRC penetrating oil "Squirrel Piss".