Best Penetrating Oil

[pezzonovante88]

What are your favorite penetrating products for unsticking old, rusty nuts/bolts/studs?

[Cory W]

A 50/50 mix of Acetone and ATF in a metal oil squirt can.

[Mark D]

I use PB Blaster... I haven't had a bolt that I haven't been able to get unstuck, but sometimes it takes a little heat from a torch to really make it work.

If you've got a lot of rusty parts and want to do things cheap I've heard of people making their own by buying bulk WD-40 in the big gallon cans and mixing it 50-50 with ATF.

EDIT:
Cory beat me to the punch with the home made recipe. Acetone might be even cheaper than WD-40

[jackb]

I never heard of that 50/50 mix. I've been a huge fan of PB blaster since the first time I was introduced to it. My garage has consistently had a can of it in there since 2004, and I've used it exclusively since then.

[DeCobra]

Kroil hands down. It's a bit pricey, but worth every penny. Makes PB look like water.

http://www.kanolabs.com/

Cheers!

[DMCTek]

We prefer Torq "cb" at the shop.

https://www.kimballmidwest.com/Catalog/CatalogIndex.aspx?dn=80544c

[dmc6960]

I'll second the 50/50.

[DavidProehl]

I'll second the 50/50.

I'll 3rd the 50/50 mix. Jim's 50/50 mix insured a clean removal of my y-pipe without a single broken bolt.

[Mike C.]

Im intrigued by the mix. Will definitely make up a batch and try it out. Thanks!

[Farrar]

A 50/50 mix of Acetone and ATF in a metal oil squirt can.

+1

Hands down the best I've ever used.

Caution: Use in a well-ventilated area!

Farrar

[jmettee]

+1

Hands down the best I've ever used.

Caution: Use in a well-ventilated area!

Farrar

Ditto. 50/50 works nice.....just don't get it on any plastics/rubbers! Acetone eats stuff like that!


PB Blaster....don't see the hype. IMO, WD40 works same as or better. I saw a comparison before & Liquid Wrench was pretty good, & much better than PB. I can't find the full article, but Google pointed me to the text listed on various websites. Shows my experience closely matches my perceived "hype" about PB.

Penetrating oil comparison
Machinist’s Workshop magazine actually tested penetrants for break out torque on rusted nuts. Significant results! They are below, as forwarded by an ex-student and professional machinist, Bud Baker. Don’t forget the April 2007 “Machinist’s Workshop” magazine comparison test.

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. Your experience may vary, etc., etc.

[DeCobra]

Wow that's brilliant! Thanks for sharing. Going to give the home brew method a try. If it eats through plastics, how do you guys recommend applying? Via brush?

I was going to use a spray bottle, but sounds like it would destroy it.

[dvonk]

If it eats through plastics, how do you guys recommend applying?


...a metal oil squirt can.

:smile:

[Farrar]

I used cotton swabs to apply it to hard-to-reach areas where I didn't want to risk dripping it on anything.

Farrar