Penetrating Oils Compared

Machinist's Workshop magazine is reported to have tested penetrants for break
out torque on rusted nuts. (I'm waiting for vevrification)

Significant results! 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. A local machinist group mixed up a batch and 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.

Shop tour of the Crower open house

http://crower.com/ for everything from camshafts, crankshafts, con rods either popular specs or custom work

Also check out: http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2009/06/dragsters-at-crower-1st-open-house-and.html and http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2009/06/1st-open-house-and-customer-car-show-at.html

More machine shop wallpaper

The Craftsman tool shows how a machine can either be improved, or repaired, to better than original with a bit of tool know how. That center punch wouldn't be there if the machine's design had been adequate, and it's still there because it can handle the job.

http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2009/02/high-performance-engine-building.html for the wallpaper quality photos I thought you might like, and thanks to J Bittle for the open house tour of the JBA machine shop!

http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2009/02/open-house-tour-for-mustang-club-at-jba.html and for last summer's open house at the Convoy St car shop: http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/search?q=jba+open+house+

http://www.jbaracing.com/