Singing the praises of Kroil penetrant

[Duck]

Here's one for 'ya to try, next time you're bored, Bri- From an old machinist/ long time customer. He swears by it: Equal parts of Acetone and transmission fluid. I've always had good luck w/ it myself, and it's hard to beat the price..

 

[momo608]

I think an affection for a certain brand of penetrating oil is based on the luck of the draw rather than any one brand being better than another. Whatever you were using at the time of success becomes your highly recommended go to source because it worked on the last frozen fastener you encountered. I have used many brands and find no measurable difference between them.

 

[willswares1220]

How does PB Blaster compare?

 

[Boris]

How does PB Blaster compare?

I found this on another site, although I believe it's been posted here as well.

"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. *

The "Home brew" stuff has worked well for me several times."

 

[momo608]

I found this on another site, although I believe it's been posted here as well.

"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. *

The "Home brew" stuff has worked well for me several times."

I saw this but since I couldn't find the test I gave it a thumbs down. The skeptic should ask.

How do you "scientifically rust" fasteners and know they are all corroded equally down in the threads of the fasteners? I'm sure most of us have encountered multiple fasteners of the same size on the same object and find that some come out easily and others are hopelessly stuck. When they did the test did they come to their conclusions based on one or two fasteners for the torque ratings for each type of penetrating oil? I would expect to see at least several rusted fasteners for each type of penetrating oil used and then average out the torque required to remove it.

The most complete references to this test quote it as saying

"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."

"subjective" REALLY!
"based on or influenced by personal feelings, tastes, or opinions."
"his views are highly subjective"
synonyms: personal, individual, emotional, instinctive, intuitive
"a subjective analysis"

 

[Duck]

Ace Hardware used to carry what was essentially the pre-packaged "homebrew" concoction with the addition of something that inhibited rust, but it was discontinued some years back. I have no idea as to why, however it sold well, so I'd suspect some sort of EPA ruling.

 

[Boris]

I saw this but since I couldn't find the test I gave it a thumbs down. The skeptic should ask..............................

Fair enough. I agree with you. Results of "test" should be taken with a grain of salt.

 

[bricycle]

How does PB Blaster compare?

Better than WD-40 or Liquid wrench but not as good as Kroil.

 

[bricycle]

Gibbs is supposed to be good also... never tried it. I've been taking apart rusted stuff for 40 years plus, so I know what I'm talking about. Tried Coke, the "Molasses" treatment (works but dead slow), CRC, Kerosene, turpentine, thinners, etc.

 

[schwinnbikebobb]

Wouldn't the acetone/trans mix damage paint? First thing I do when I get a bike is spray down all the fasteners, stem etc. which gets on the paint.