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Subject: Penetrating
Oil
"Machinist's Workshop" recently
published information on various penetrating oils. The magazine reports they
tested these products for "break out torque" on rusted nuts and bolts. A
subjective test was made of popular penetrating oils, with the unit of
measurement being the torque required to remove the nut from a "scientifically
rusted" bolt.
Average torque load to loosen
nut:
No Oil used
.........................516 foot pounds
WD-40
...............................238 foot pounds
PB Blaster
..........................214 foot pounds
Liquid Wrench
.......................127 foot pounds
Kano Kroil
..........................106 foot pounds
*ATF/Acetone mix
.....................53 foot 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.
ATF/Acetone mix is best, but
you can also use ATF and lacquer thinner in a 50/50 mix.
ATF = Automatic Transmission
Fluid