Since its invention in 1953, WD-40 has been the go-to solution for many garage problems. Over the years, other companies have come up with their own penetrant solutions such as Liquid Wrench and Kano Kroil.
Others have tried their own home-brewed concoctions in the never-ending battle against rusted nuts and bolts.
Our favorite is a 50/50 mix of acetone and Dexron/Mercon Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF).
Simply mix one part acetone and one part ATF in a re-fillable spray bottle and go to town.
The idea is to thin the ATF with the acetone so it will penetrate and seep into and between surfaces. The acetone will evaporate, leaving the oil to do its job. Because the acetone evaporates so quickly, it’s a good idea to mix this potion in small batches.
Skeptical? We were too. Then we did some poking around on Google and found that in the April 2007 issue of Machinist Workshop Magazine, they performed subjective independent testing of penetrating oils using a single steel bar with 1/2″ x 20 nuts torqued to 50 ft/lbs and treated with a 10% salt water solution that was allowed to rust.
| None | 516 pounds |
| WD-40 | 238 pounds |
| PB Blaster | 214 pounds |
| Liquid Wrench | 127 pounds |
| Kano Kroil | 106 pounds |
| 50/50 Acetone/ATF | 53 pounds |
Pole Barn Garage bought back the 1959 Dodge D-300 truck that I learned to drive… Read More
Merricks Garage offers a comprehensive guide to efficient and effective electrical wire labeling techniques. [More...] Read More
This is a game-changing product from Speedway Motors: the bolt-in OBS Chevy 9-inch housing designed… Read More
Watch a checkered flag shift knob is made! There's no CNC machine or 3D Printer… Read More
Tackle the task of polishing and removing scratches from clear plastics quickly and easily. [More...] Read More
Witness the captivating journey of Model A Ford production from raw materials to finished cars… Read More