Rusted bolts

[RalphVa]

Found on Smokstak - antique tractor and engine web site:
Machinist's Workshop magazine actually tested penetrants for break outtorque on rusted nuts. Significant results! They are below, as forwarded by anprofessional 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 "scientificallyrusted" 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 batchand 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

 

[yomax4]

Do you have to re - add Acetone to the mix over time? Seems like it would evaporate quickly.
Thanks..

 

[spruce Deere]

Thats interesting, Acetone and ATF..... I have used kroil for years and saved the lives who knows how many nuts and bolts and screws.

 

[Scooby074]

Kroil is probably the best ive used. Never had much luck with Liquid Wrench. Second best would be the Zep penetrant im using now.

I havent tried the Acetone ATF thing yet, but ive seen that same test published lots of places. Theres another version (perhaps the original) of that recipe that has lanolin in it.Maybe one of these days ill get motivated and give it a try.

But i do agree with the test....WD40 is crap

 

[DieselPower]

But WD40 was engineered to be a water displacer, that's where the WD comes from. The 40 is that it was the 40th blend or try that was chosen.

 

[Scooby074]

But WD40 was engineered to be a water displacer, that's where the WD comes from. The 40 is that it was the 40th blend or try that was chosen.

Yep. I knew that... But look at their advertising.... not a wet thing in sight... Lots of rusted bolts and squeeky hinges though

 

[toivo1037]

Too bad they didn't test Marvin's Magic Mystery Oil. I like that stuff!

 

[nunyabinis]

This is the best rusted bolt remover I've ever used:



Tractor Supply Company - 500K BTU/Hour All Purpose Propane Torch Kit



And it lights charcoal in a jiffy with no accelerate after-taste. I use it all the time.



.

 

[Kays Supply]

I am going to try it as soon aas I can find something to keep it in. I put the mixture in a plastic bottle that had stain remover in it. I found it the next morning melted down into a gooy glob. I am going to try a steel oil can. I hope it doesn't eat the seals out of the pump.

 

[pat32rf]

Did they happen to mention which type of ATF? Acetone is nasty stuff around plastic and paint finishes but good for removing nail polish....,. I've also heard that a few oz of it in a tank of gas reduces the surface tension of the fuel and promotes a LOT better fuel mileage. I guess its possible that it does the same thing with the atf allowing better penetration....

 

[Wis Bang]

Did they happen to mention which type of ATF? Acetone is nasty stuff around plastic and paint finishes but good for removing nail polish....,. I've also heard that a few oz of it in a tank of gas reduces the surface tension of the fuel and promotes a LOT better fuel mileage. I guess its possible that it does the same thing with the atf allowing better penetration....

Be careful adding Acetone to fuel. I worked at a Chem Hauler w/ 6 owned tractors and a dozen owner operators. All of a sudden the Lease Operators stopped using the fuel pump and within a week we had two company tractors down w/ holes melted thru pistons.

I found out later that a Lease Operator who was POed at the boss dropped an Acetone 'heel' down into the fuel tank and warned everyone to stop fueling at the terminal 'cept the company drivers.

You can increase octane adding either Xylene or Toluene to gas; that's what is in most octane boosters...

 

[Kays Supply]

Well, the metal oil can lasted a day before the seal on the spout went and left oil on my work bench.

 

[/pine]

look for this designation on the bottom of containers...if it has this mark it will safely hold acetone

High-density polyethylene (HDPE)

 

[2manyrocks]

I thought acetone was bad if your breathe the vapors and can be absorbed through the skin. I don't doubt that you could homebrew a good working penetrating solution with it, but I'm not so sure I want to use it everyday.

I don't think the price of Kroil oil is that bad when you buy it on sale compared to actually being able to get things that are stuck loose.

 

[Opti-Mist]

I'd like to have seen results for straight ATF as its been used as penetrant for years.

 

[/pine]

acetone is great for cauterizing cuts and scratches...it hurts like heck for a second but in a pinch it works a lot better than the "cowboy Way" (smearing gun powder and ignighting it)...

Caution is paramount when using any keytones...be sure to keep a tight lid on acetone cans or the next time you need some the can may be dry...

Also if there is a fiberglass supply store in your area you may find it much cheaper than a quart from Home depot etc...

 

[Scooby074]

The thing i like about Kroil, compared to all the other penetrants ive used, is that it will wick itself into the threads of seized things. You can actually watch it climb up the threads!!! THats its secret i think.

Most of the other things ive tried, have been more viscous than Kroil, and i think thats why they dont work as well.

I wonder if the ATF/Acetone mix will have those same properties? I imagine it will be thin enough?

 

[/pine]

it will wick itself into the threads of seized things. You can actually watch it climb up the threads!!! THats its secret i think.

it is the lack of "surface tension" in acetone (as previously mentioned by another member) that gives it that ability

FWIW...adding a drop of liquid soap to water greatly reduces the surface tension...i.e., you can make a (double edge) razor blade float in hard water due to surface tension...add a drop of soap and forget it...
This is the same reason soap is often added to oil sprays for fruit trees (it make it stick to the leaves)

 

[carpenter383]

1. Heat rusted bolt/adjacent area with torch
2. Pour cold water on rusted bolt/adjacent area
3. Loosen rusted bolt
4. Hopefully nothing cracked, but it works!