penetrating oil - a report

Grant Erwin · 2007-04-19T00:13:39+00:00

I picked up this double roller chain the other day. It had sat undercoverbut outdoors for several years in Eastern Washington, a place that getshot and dry in the summer and cold and snowy in the winter. It was't 100%frozen, but very close. This chain is essential to the machine - anintegral part of the setup for ferrous cutting - and I decided to trythe latest thing in penetrating oil. I took a coffee can and put about 5/8"of automatic transmission fluid in, and matched that amount (roughly) withacetone, and submerged the chain and left it overnight. The next day itwas better, still unmovable in several spots, so back in it went. Thenext day (today) it's nearly all broken free. Most of it is swingingloose like a new chain. I'm guessing that by tomorrow it will do thetrick.I read about this in a recent "Machinist's Workshop" article. Says thisstuff works better than Kroil, P.B. Blaster, Liquid Wrench, or any other,and for a tiny fraction of the cost per unit volume. I can't verify thatit works better, but I'm sure glad I didn't have to come up with about 2cups of Kroil for a one-off job like this!Grant Erwin

Apr 19, 2007 41 Replies

Rate this thread:

* 19 years ago

I just don't believe that it's good practice to use things such as high-pressure storage tanks as tools......that's all.

Why not tap out a curved piece of sheet metal on an o2 tank?

How about a piece of 3/8" rod?

How about a foot-long piece of 11 guage?

Where does one draw the line?

Or would it be better to simply NEVER use a high-pressure tank as an anvil/tool in the first place?

Vote

Nick Mueller 19 years ago

Thanks for that tip! I passed it to a friend who had to repair his car but didn't get lose a screw. Well, the head went lose, verrry lose! :-) Mixed him the recipe and two days later, he could screw out the bolt with his bare hands!

Great stuff, great tip!

Nick

Vote

Join the Discussion

Have something to add? Share your thoughts — no account required.

Didn't find your answer?

Ask the community — no account required