The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Tool Chest Homemade penetrating oil

Replacing the wooden handles on one of our wheelbarrows and them bolts and nuts were really rusty and stuck together. I knew I had come commercial stuff but totally forgot the can of homemade pen oil which is 50/50 of ATF (Automatic Transmission Fluid) and Acetone. Later in the day I tried breaking loose the rusty nuts and they all gave in to me. So if you ever run out of your commercial stuff......

I ran out of PB blaster this week and didn’t feel like running to the store and paying $8 or whatever it is now.

Mixed up the same concoction, and have been pleased with the results. My only complain is that it’s a bit messy compared to an aerosol can. I might need to try a different squirt bottle.

I've heard that before as well, but with acetone pushing $60/gallon in some places up here, it sounds pretty pricey.

How much is PB Blaster by the gallon? You don't really mix more than a couple ounces at a time for normal use.

Wow $60. It’s 18 a gallon here at menards

I've only used it once on front axle king pins and it didn't help but then neither did anything else. But I did notice that after a week or so it separated into two layers that you have to look at closely to see. Does every one re-mix before using?

Probably just me but I've had such miserable results from PT Barnum blaster I avoid it. The last can I bought dribbled out the air pressure, became flat and I poured the stuff into a glass jar. It still didn't work. I'm not certain I could have coaxed it into penetrating a dry sponge. Until about 10 years ago there was a company in East Texas that made the best penetrating oil I've ever seen. It was sold at HVAC contractor supply stores and for stuck fittings it was magic. A couple of drops and by the time you got the cap back on the fitting could be unscrewed as if it was new. But from what I have been told someone in the tree-hugging crowd had a dream some ingredient caused acne in vampire bats and forced the guys out of business.

I have found that almost anything in an aerosol can nowadays᠁runs out of propellant well before it runs out of liquid. I have recently taken to recharging cans with compressed air. Not ideal, but it works.

Aside from that, PB Blaster works OK for me. I do think the Acetone/ATF works as well or better. Tough thing to prove.

I have learned that any penetrating oil without some application of heat is nearly worthless. I’m thus far been too cheap to try Kroil. Supposedly that is pretty good stuff.

Thanks all for the replies. The best aerosol penetrator I've used is Pentron but is apparently no longer produced. Thus why I bought a few cans of it, in case I need a spray. Until then.....back to Acetone/ATF which I always shake well before using.

SUPCO isn't too bad. You can get it at Grainger for $5 (seems like it might be a 6 oz bottle). Has a little tube that pulls out to reach places. HVAC guys I know now use Nu-Calgon mostly...not cheap. Kroil used to be very good, but it isn't the same today. Something changed around 2019 and the price went right through the roof. And it doesn't seem to work as well. The HVAC guys I know don't use it any more. Another one is Mouse Milk. Aviation guys use it a lot but from what I have been told you have to leave it on for a while to let it work.

I've been using Seafoam Deep Creep. It foams when you spray it and penetrates well. Better results than Kroil.