Removing Rusted Bolts

[bucksaw]

From "Ask the Builder" by Tim Carter

Blog discussing the test (http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net/showthread.php?t=27429&highlight=penetrating+fluid+test)

Removing Rusted Bolts

Mike Cyr, of Presque Isle, Maine, wrote to me about an email he'd
received from a relative. Evidently there was a study done by
Machinist's Workshop magazine in their April 2007 issue. The story
looked at the different penetrating oils to see which one did the
best job of removing a rusted bolt by measuring the pounds of
torque required to loosen the bolt once treated. If the study was
scientifically accurate, it turns out a home brew works best!
Here's the summary of the test results:

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 is an acronym for automatic transmission fluid. You can
readily get acetone and ATF, so mix some yourself and see if you
can get the same results. Thanks for sharing this, Mike!

I believe the test actually used Power Steering Fluid, not ATF.

[heathicus]

Very interesting. Thanks for sharing!

[mickyd]

From "Ask the Builder" by Tim Carter

Blog discussing the test (http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net/showthread.php?t=27429&highlight=penetrating+fluid+test)

I believe the test actually used Power Steering Fluid, not ATF.
Wow. Interesting post assuming accurate!! Would have liked to seen kerosene on the list. (just for you jpg..:D ). Sure wish I had some rusty fasteners left to test on. Can't wait to find me another rust bucket ShopSmith sometime in the future.

[Ed in Tampa]

The forgot one on the chart.
Dynamite - zero pounds
:D

[robinson46176]

The forgot one on the chart.
Dynamite - zero pounds
:D



On bigger stuff I like a "Smoke wrench". :D

[tom_k/mo]

On bigger stuff I like a "Smoke wrench". :D

I've occasionally used a Sparkle Wrench with great success too. A little judicially applied heat can work wonders at times. FWIW, if you're working on something that can't support the heat of a torch, going the other direction with a can of Freon directed at the bolt can work as well.

[pennview]

Over on the Machinist's Workshop forum, in a discussion on the subject, the author is reported to say the mix was power steering fluid and acetone and that the items were immersed in the penetrating oils for eight hours to produced those results, adding this is probably not representative of a quick squirt just before a wrench is applied. He had intended to use ATF, but got power steering fluid by mistake.

Art in Western Pennsylvania

[bffulgham]

I've had really good luck with PB Blaster on the rusty old farm equipment I work with.



Course, a good Hot Wrench works on most of that stuff too.