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.
Kick the tires and light the fires, problem ofaficilly solved!