Penetrant

[MarineScott]

Has anyone else, tried this. I bought some the other day, and tried it on a strap style hinge, that I could not open by hand. I sprayed the hinge, and in a few seconds, I could open it. An hour later it would open smoothly.

 

[Dirt Guy]

I've used it a lot in the shop. CRC makes good products. I use a lot of their brake cleaner on parts, Their contact cleaner on electrical things, works good. Check out all their products. I have found the best prices for CRC Products, is on Amazon. I buy the brake cleaner by the case, use a lot of it.

 

[MarineScott]

I've used it a lot in the shop. CRC makes good products. I use a lot of their brake cleaner on parts, Their contact cleaner on electrical things, works good. Check out all their products. I have found the best prices for CRC Products, is on Amazon. I buy the brake cleaner by the case, use a lot of it.

Got to check out all their stuff.This was something new.

 

[Bearskinner]

A good penetrating spray lube works so much better than something like WD40. It gets into all the deep corroded places, not just a surface spray.

 

[sonny580]

wd-40 has always been a joke!

 

[Bearskinner]

Actually WD40 is great for spraying the underside of your SxS or Quad fenders, to help the mud and yuk to fall off.

 

[CA_Bgrwldr]

Haven't tried the CRC stuff yet, have been using PB Blaster for years now, and have had pretty good luck with it freeing up rusty bolts.

 

[sonny580]

neighbor uses some sort of foamy stuff ---- dont do any good that I can see!

 

[Gary Fowler]

I have used lots of CRC products while in the construction trades. Dont see any in the local stores around here. They have very good products though if you can find them. For my area, it is PB blaster for penetrant. I still keep W(ater) D(isplacement)-40 around for use as a solvent mostly to clean my guns. Much cheaper than Hoppe and does just as good. A good coating of gun oil afterwards is necessary otherwise you have no anti-rust coating and WD40 seems to promote rusting if left on bare metal.
WD-40 is good for spraying under a distributor cap if the motor wont fire. We used a lot of it on the magnetos of old Lincoln gas welding machines on those foggy mornings.

 

[Bearskinner]

WD is good on the black plastic fender flares that get dry and turn kinda grey. Spray with WD40 rub it in with a soft rag, they shine nicely.

 

[sonny580]

used wd-40 on my 3-wheeler one time --- first rain and plastic was grey again!

 

[Bearskinner]

It is not the best for sure, but it works as a one use application. It’s good underneath as the spray on is simple to apply. I have a plastic restorer called Restore 2001, that does a remarkable job keeping the plastic looking wet.

 

[Gary Fowler]

It is not the best for sure, but it works as a one use application. It’s good underneath as the spray on is simple to apply. I have a plastic restorer called Restore 2001, that does a remarkable job keeping the plastic looking wet.

Much cheaper is just a light spray with diesel mixed with a bit of oil. It makes everything shine for a while but it isnt waterproof.

 

[PILOON]

My favorite WD use is to remove sticky residue, like from labels.
Dissolves the goo and wipes away clean.

 

[Gary Fowler]

My favorite WD use is to remove sticky residue, like from labels.
Dissolves the goo and wipes away clean.

True, best glue dissolver ever made. Best paint stripper is mosquito repellant but dont get it on plastic or wiring insulation if you dont want it dissolved also.

 

[California]

A friend gave me an old but unopened gallon of ATF, type DexronIII/Mercon. I've read that ATF + Acetone makes excellent penetrant. Is this the right stuff, and is it worthwhile to make up a small batch? Proportions?

While I'm at it, is this ATF similar enough to the UTF in my backhoe that I can use it as make-up, or perhaps as a flush? Anybody know?

 

[PILOON]

Another penetrant trick I read about but not tried (but makes sense) is to heat and add paraffin (candle wax).
Heat will melt the wax and draw it into the rusty threads and wax is another form of lubricant.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Any ATF and acetone is best penetrant. Hot paraffin works somewhat but not nearly as well as plain motor oil. Check out the youtube video by "Project Farm" on the subject.

I keep some ATF and Acetone in an oil can for penetrant use, also some PB Blaster.

 

[harleyron74]

A friend gave me an old but unopened gallon of ATF, type DexronIII/Mercon. I've read that ATF + Acetone makes excellent penetrant. Is this the right stuff, and is it worthwhile to make up a small batch? Proportions?

While I'm at it, is this ATF similar enough to the UTF in my backhoe that I can use it as make-up, or perhaps as a flush? Anybody know?

I see this is an old post but I ran across it and saw that you didn't get an answer so I thought you might still be interested in a recipe for a penetrating oil using ATF as a base.
I have used versions of this for many years and it works quite well but it is kind of nasty and extremely flammable so be very careful using it! This stuff is commonly called Ed's Red and was invented by a fellow that was a gunsmith as I understand. The recipe is as below.
1 part ATF. Dexron II, IIe, III ( any of these can be used)
1part Aliphatic mineral spirits ( this is also known as Stoddard solvent or Varsol).
1part K-1kerosene.
1 part acetone.
Mix outdoors in a well ventilated area. This mix should also be used in a well ventilated area!
I have a metal pan that will hold just over a gallon. I pour the ATF in and use the empty bottle to add the other ingredients. Stir it up well and drain into a clean, metal gallon can. You can then transfer some into a pump oil can for use. Cap the metal can tightly as the acetone will evaporate quite quickly.
Some plastic cans can be used but other plastic cans will be attacked by the acetone and eventually eat holes in the plastic so I use only metal cans.
You can find other formulas for this concoction on the internet by googling Ed's Red formulas. Many YouTube videos exist as well.
Ed's Red is also an excellent bore cleaner for black powder guns and was originally made by this Ed fellow for that purpose. I have not used it myself as I don't shoot black powder weapons.
I hope you find this useful.

 

[California]

I see this is an old post but I ran across it and saw that you didn't get an answer so I thought you might still be interested in a recipe for a penetrating oil using ATF as a base.
I have used versions of this for many years and it works quite well but it is kind of nasty and extremely flammable so be very careful using it! This stuff is commonly called Ed's Red and was invented by a fellow that was a gunsmith as I understand. The recipe is as below.
1 part ATF. Dexron II, IIe, III ( any of these can be used)
1part Aliphatic mineral spirits ( this is also known as Stoddard solvent or Varsol).
1part K-1kerosene.
1 part acetone.
Mix outdoors in a well ventilated area. This mix should also be used in a well ventilated area!
I have a metal pan that will hold just over a gallon. I pour the ATF in and use the empty bottle to add the other ingredients. Stir it up well and drain into a clean, metal gallon can. You can then transfer some into a pump oil can for use. Cap the metal can tightly as the acetone will evaporate quite quickly.
Some plastic cans can be used but other plastic cans will be attacked by the acetone and eventually eat holes in the plastic so I use only metal cans.
You can find other formulas for this concoction on the internet by googling Ed's Red formulas. Many YouTube videos exist as well.
Ed's Red is also an excellent bore cleaner for black powder guns and was originally made by this Ed fellow for that purpose. I have not used it myself as I don't shoot black powder weapons.
I hope you find this useful.

Thanks.

Coleman camp stove fuel is very similar to Stoddard Solvent, maybe the same thing, so easy to find. I wonder if Diesel (K-2) would work just as well as K-1. Come to think of it, Tiki Torch fuel is K-1 so that's easy to find too.

I'll have to mix up a small batch.