Article: “Testing Penetrating oils”
This reports a test of penetrating oils where they measured
the force required to loosen rusty test devices. The
details reported here were validated by the original
article author. He also added some details on the methods.
You must buy the issue if you want to see how they did the
test. The back issue is available for purchase.
The table below extracts the results table The lower the
number of pounds the better. Interesting that a simple mix
of acetone and power steering fluid (PSF) works the best!
Penetrating oil - Average load -Price per fluid ounce
None ...............516 pounds -- 0
WD-40 ..............238 pounds --$0.25
PB Blaster..........214 pounds --$0.35
Liquid Wrench ......127 pounds --$0.21
Kano Kroil .........106 pounds --$0.75
PSF-Acetone mix ....53 pounds ---$0.10 (50/50 mix)
Note from original article author:
1) These are loads required to free the test piece after
8 hours of immersion in penetrating oil. This is
probably not representative of a quick squirt just
before a wrench is applied.
2) The original article states ATF was used in the DIY
mix. It was actually PSF.Penetrating Oils
The Machinist's Workshop magazine (I don’t know how recent) recently published some information on various penetrating oils that I found very interesting and just wanted to pass it along.
Some of you might appreciate this. The magazine reports they tested
penetrates for break out (or break away) torque on rusted nuts.
They results are listed 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 (break away torque) 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
This reports a test of penetrating oils where they measured
the force required to loosen rusty test devices. The
details reported here were validated by the original
article author. He also added some details on the methods.
You must buy the issue if you want to see how they did the
test. The back issue is available for purchase.
The table below extracts the results table The lower the
number of pounds the better. Interesting that a simple mix
of acetone and power steering fluid (PSF) works the best!
Penetrating oil - Average load -Price per fluid ounce
None ...............516 pounds -- 0
WD-40 ..............238 pounds --$0.25
PB Blaster..........214 pounds --$0.35
Liquid Wrench ......127 pounds --$0.21
Kano Kroil .........106 pounds --$0.75
PSF-Acetone mix ....53 pounds ---$0.10 (50/50 mix)
Note from original article author:
1) These are loads required to free the test piece after
8 hours of immersion in penetrating oil. This is
probably not representative of a quick squirt just
before a wrench is applied.
2) The original article states ATF was used in the DIY
mix. It was actually PSF.Penetrating Oils
The Machinist's Workshop magazine (I don’t know how recent) recently published some information on various penetrating oils that I found very interesting and just wanted to pass it along.
Some of you might appreciate this. The magazine reports they tested
penetrates for break out (or break away) torque on rusted nuts.
They results are listed 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 (break away torque) 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
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