You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
ATF as a cleaning agent for tools?
- Thread starter LSU
- Start date
I've had good luck with Varsol sprayed with a trigger type bottle. Have also found that "used" Varsol works best........that is the type that has been left to sit (after cleaning brushes, etc) and cleared itself by gravity.
38Chevy454
Well-known member
ATF has a fairly good ability to soften up old grease. But diesel is cheaper
ATF has a fairly good ability to soften up old grease. But diesel is cheaper
I like jet fuel (Kerosene) personally
Most of what I'm cleaning is dirt/crude.
Not really grease - just looks like these tools rolled around in the back of a contrator's truck.
I'm going to give it a shot with the ATF and then finish up with some Simple Green.
Last time I had access to JP4 around I was riding on a Huey a long time ago.
Not really grease - just looks like these tools rolled around in the back of a contrator's truck.
I'm going to give it a shot with the ATF and then finish up with some Simple Green.
Last time I had access to JP4 around I was riding on a Huey a long time ago.
DARKSCOPE001
Well-known member
nah. atf not so good for cleaning save it for transmissions and freeing up old ratchets. I would use it for dipping the end of gearwrenches in and similar non serviceable ratchets.
But there are better more powerfull solvents out there. I like wd-40 for light grease. alcohol for the medium stuff and mek for tough stuff (sealant/ ect)
One time was opening the sumps on jet and still had some fuel on my hands and picked up my alen key holder. took that logo clean off. Whoops! lol yes jet fuel is good stuff too. Maybe a little more powerfull than alcohol but less harmfull for you than mek. But it stays on your hands FOREVER!
Thanks
Sean Scott
But there are better more powerfull solvents out there. I like wd-40 for light grease. alcohol for the medium stuff and mek for tough stuff (sealant/ ect)
One time was opening the sumps on jet and still had some fuel on my hands and picked up my alen key holder. took that logo clean off. Whoops! lol yes jet fuel is good stuff too. Maybe a little more powerfull than alcohol but less harmfull for you than mek. But it stays on your hands FOREVER!
Thanks
Sean Scott
38Chevy454
Well-known member
I like jet fuel (Kerosene) personally
Kerosene is nicer if you have it available. Diesel is everywhere.
I use mineral spirits in my personal parts cleaner. However price of MS has gotten a lot higher than it used to be. Kerosene would be cheaper.
Anybody got a good source for a scrub brush for tools?
I've got in mind a stiff brush with a wooden handle but all I can find are cheap nylon bristle brushes with plastic handles.
I'm going to try NAPA.
I used to have one and it is now "gone".
I've got in mind a stiff brush with a wooden handle but all I can find are cheap nylon bristle brushes with plastic handles.
I'm going to try NAPA.
I used to have one and it is now "gone".
Outlawmws
Well-known member
Anybody got a good source for a scrub brush for tools?
I've got in mind a stiff brush with a wooden handle but all I can find are cheap nylon bristle brushes with plastic handles.
I'm going to try NAPA.
I used to have one and it is now "gone".
Try the grocery store. Then have (had???) smaller scrub brushes (often double sided; 3x1??) with short stiff bristles and often one side is a bit concave for scrubbing ground in grease out of your knuckles.
HandyManny
Well-known member
I like jet fuel (Kerosene) personally
That's what I recommend for any metal or steel parts. I typically have a bottle of Hoppes #9 for gun cleaning, and that's basically 65%-70% kerosene anyway. I don't recommend Hoppes #9 for use on anything of nickle,copper, bronze, or brass though, it has a small amount of ammonia that tends to attack those metals. Diesel fuel is another option, basically kerosene with additives, unless it's biodiesel. You can buy plain Kero at most hardware stores and also a some sporting goods stores that sell kerosene backpack stoves.
What you recommend as a good "scrub" brush for these tools?
Something tougher than a toothbrush??
A few years back I read a post on a gun forum where I guy mentioned using a denture cleaning brush for cleaning parts. I bought one and use it and a small brass brush in conjunction with the parts washer solvent nozzle brush to do most of my cleaning in the parts washer.
ATF is an amazing lubricant. I have mixed up a number of homemade cleaning/lubrication recipes using ATF over the years that I saw mentioned in forums. Using ATF with mineral spirits (parts cleaning solvent with a lower flash point that leaves a lube behind), halved with kerosene ( a light oil for guns), with STP oil treatment and motor oil (sticky lubricant with the viscosity of chain saw bar oil), and with Berryman B-12 Chemtool and kerosene to make a cleaner/penetrant/lubricant.
TAW
Something tougher than a toothbrush??
A few years back I read a post on a gun forum where I guy mentioned using a denture cleaning brush for cleaning parts. I bought one and use it and a small brass brush in conjunction with the parts washer solvent nozzle brush to do most of my cleaning in the parts washer.
ATF is an amazing lubricant. I have mixed up a number of homemade cleaning/lubrication recipes using ATF over the years that I saw mentioned in forums. Using ATF with mineral spirits (parts cleaning solvent with a lower flash point that leaves a lube behind), halved with kerosene ( a light oil for guns), with STP oil treatment and motor oil (sticky lubricant with the viscosity of chain saw bar oil), and with Berryman B-12 Chemtool and kerosene to make a cleaner/penetrant/lubricant.
TAW
nelstomlinson
Well-known member
I like equal quantities by volume of ATF, mineral spirits, kerosene and acetone. Google up Ed's Red. I use that to clean and lubricate my guns, and almost anything else that's metal. You can add about 1 pound of anhydrous lanolin per gallon, according to the recipe, but I haven't tried that. Even without the lanolin, it's good stuff.
The following works as a bore cleaner (in guns) and as a tool cleaner:
"Ed's Red"
1 part Dexron II, IIe or III ATF, GM Spec. D-20265 or later.
1 part Kerosene - deodorized, K1
1 part Aliphatic Mineral Spirits, Fed. Spec. TT-T-2981F, CAS
#64741-49-9, or may substitute "Stoddard Solvent", CAS #8052-41-3, or
equivalent, (aka "Varsol")
1 part Acetone, CAS #67-64-1.
(Optional up to 1 lb. of Lanolin, Anhydrous, USP per gallon, OK to
substitute Lanolin, Modified, Topical Lubricant, from the drug store)
MIXING INSTRUCTIONS FOR "ER" BORE CLEANER:
Mix outdoors, in good ventilation. Use a clean 1 gallon metal,
chemical-resistant, heavy gage PET or PVC plastic container. NFPA
approved plastic gasoline storage containers are also OK. Do NOT use
HDPE, which is permeable, because the acetone will eventually evaporate.
The acetone in ER will also attack HDPE, causing the container to
collapse, making a heck of a mess!
Add the ATF first. Use the empty container to measure the other
components, so that it is thoroughly rinsed. If you incorporate the
lanolin into the mixture, melt this carefully in a double boiler, taking
precautions against fire. Pour the melted lanolin it into a larger
container, rinsing the lanolin container with the bore cleaner mix, and
stirring until it is all dissolved.
I recommend diverting a small quantity, up to 4 ozs. per quart of the
50-50 ATF/kerosene mix for optional use as an "ER-compatible" gun oil.
This can be done without impairing the effectiveness of the remaining
mix.
"Ed's Red"
1 part Dexron II, IIe or III ATF, GM Spec. D-20265 or later.
1 part Kerosene - deodorized, K1
1 part Aliphatic Mineral Spirits, Fed. Spec. TT-T-2981F, CAS
#64741-49-9, or may substitute "Stoddard Solvent", CAS #8052-41-3, or
equivalent, (aka "Varsol")
1 part Acetone, CAS #67-64-1.
(Optional up to 1 lb. of Lanolin, Anhydrous, USP per gallon, OK to
substitute Lanolin, Modified, Topical Lubricant, from the drug store)
MIXING INSTRUCTIONS FOR "ER" BORE CLEANER:
Mix outdoors, in good ventilation. Use a clean 1 gallon metal,
chemical-resistant, heavy gage PET or PVC plastic container. NFPA
approved plastic gasoline storage containers are also OK. Do NOT use
HDPE, which is permeable, because the acetone will eventually evaporate.
The acetone in ER will also attack HDPE, causing the container to
collapse, making a heck of a mess!
Add the ATF first. Use the empty container to measure the other
components, so that it is thoroughly rinsed. If you incorporate the
lanolin into the mixture, melt this carefully in a double boiler, taking
precautions against fire. Pour the melted lanolin it into a larger
container, rinsing the lanolin container with the bore cleaner mix, and
stirring until it is all dissolved.
I recommend diverting a small quantity, up to 4 ozs. per quart of the
50-50 ATF/kerosene mix for optional use as an "ER-compatible" gun oil.
This can be done without impairing the effectiveness of the remaining
mix.