Best lube for penetration

[rayray086]

Misleading title I know

Didn't know where else to put this and I know this section is dedicated for other types of lube but oh well. Got this from another thread:

Some of you might appreciate this. Machinist's Workshop magazine tested penetrants for break out torque on rusted nuts.

They are below, as forwarded by an ex-student and professional machinist, Bud Baker.

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.

As for what to use to store/apply this mix:

As for application, getting a good chemical resistant spray bottle and have at it.




Or buy one of these bad boys.

I've seen the above "Sprayer" bottles at Pep Boys and also Bunnings IIRC.

And some precautions:

According to Canada, acetone on the skin is not so bad. Canadians are never wrong.

http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/chemi...ealth_ace.html

What happens when acetone comes into contact with my skin?

Acetone is either slightly irritating or not irritating, based on animal and limited human information. Application of 1 mL of acetone in a small glass tube to six male volunteers for 30 or 90 minutes resulted in only mild redness and swelling at 90 minutes.

The risk of developing health effects following the absorption of acetone through unbroken skin is very slight. There are several reports of people, usually young children, becoming ill following skin exposure to acetone while lightweight casts were being put on broken limbs. The symptoms experienced were similar to those described following high inhalation exposures. In all cases, a large amount of acetone came into contact with the skin for several hours and inhalation exposure may also have occurred. These reports are not considered relevant to people exposed to acetone at work.

one minor problem with the homebrew mix is the most common rusted-on part i've experienced is the lug-nut. shortly followed by the brake/suspension components.
the problem with the lugnut is the painted wheel next to it (and acetone does eat paint...)

[Jace]

WD40 has another 1000 uses though, am I right?!
Very interesting, I'll definitely try ATF with Acetone.

And yes, I was hoping for sexually based content.

[Preen59]

I posted that on Euro Evo ages ago.. Thought i'd posted it here too..

Anyways.. I reckon ZEP 45 is the best stuff going around. It's magic and comes in a HUUUUUGE can too. My old man and every other mechanic i know that has used it swears by the stuff.

[gldgti]

you will all laugh, but Biodiesel is also a great penetrant. works every time, i just put a little in a spray bottle.

[Transporter]

So far I found out that this is the best penetrating oil for corroded bolts and nuts. Rust OFF Plus. It also makes squeaky clutch pedals the thing of the past and very happy customers.