Home-brew penetrating oil

[Ronbo]

A buddy of mine emailed this to me, came from some friends of his that are restoring a B-25 that have tried it and said it worked really well on some corroded antenna mounts they were fighting with...

Penetrating Oils Compared

Machinist's Workshop magazine actually tested penetrates for break out
torque on rusted nuts. Significant results! 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. A local machinist group mixed up a batch and 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.

Anyone ever heard of this? Thought I'd share it with ya'll. Since it involves using Acetone I'd keep it away from paint or plastic stuff.

[DAVID GAGNARD]

I've used ATF and Marvel Mystery Oil for many years with good results.........

To me anyway,ATF just seems to get down in the threads better than most anything else.....I've used it to free up old siezed junkyard engines before teardown,if left overnight, it works even better.....

Most times, I just use what I have close by.........

David

[strictlypersonl]

They didn't test what I've been using (forever): Zepreserve, AKA Skunk P*ss. Smells bad, works great.

[vector1]

i've used something similiar for shotgun barrel cleaning. the acetone does real well on plastic wad fouling.



Ed's Red Bore Cleaner

1 part Dexron II, IIe or III ATF, GM Spec. D-20265 or later.

1 part Kerosene - deodorized, K1

1 part Aliphatic Mineral Spirits, Fed. Spec. TT-T-2981F, CAS
#64741-49-9, or may substitute "Stoddard Solvent", CAS #8052-41-3, or
equivalent, (aka "Varsol")

1 part Acetone, CAS #67-64-1.

(Optional up to 1 lb. of Lanolin, Anhydrous, USP per gallon, OK to
substitute Lanolin, Modified, Topical Lubricant, from the drug store)

[Maurice Butler]

brake fluid - dot 3 or 4 works quite well - just keep it away from the paint - then clean it all off properly afterwards

[sllib]

I've used Kroil for years to remove copper and lead fouling from rifle barrels. Many old military rifle barrels look shot-out, but a over-night soak in Kroil can make them look new.
Bill Stradtner

[kitcarbp]

Thanks that is really useful. I am surprised to see how well the tried-and- true low cost Liquid wrench works. Do results vary based on what types of metals we are talking about here aluminum versus steel corrosion ?