Finally stopped using penetrating oil on everything after 12 years

Used to soak every seized bolt in PB Blaster for half an hour before even touching a wrench. Then a old timer at a shop in Bakersfield showed me his trick with a torch and candle wax that works in 5 minutes flat. Has anyone else found a specific method that saves them time on rusted fasteners?

3 comments

3 Comments

carr.lee1mo ago

I actually read about this trick on a hot rod forum a few years back. The guy claimed it worked way better than any spray because the heat pulls the wax deep into the threads. Have you ever tried using a mix of acetone and ATF instead of the candle wax?

smith.anna1mo ago

Admit I used to think that acetone and ATF was the holy grail of penetrating oils. I was all over those hot rod forum threads a couple years ago, even mixed up a big batch myself. But honestly, after reading what you just said about the rubber seals and paint damage, I gotta change my tune. I never really thought about the long term effects, I was just focused on getting bolts loose in the moment. You make a solid point about the wax being way more gentle and not attacking anything else. I think I need to give the candle wax trick a real shot next time I get stuck on something rusty.

black.jake1mo ago

Nah man I gotta push back hard on that mix. Acetone and ATF sounds like a recipe for disaster on modern stuff. The acetone will eat through rubber gaskets and seals in no time, not to mention any paint it touches. Candle wax is way more gentle, it just melts and flows without attacking anything else. Plus that ATF leaves a nasty film that can actually attract dirt and grit over time, making things worse. I've seen guys wreck valve covers with that acetone mix, it's not worth the risk just to save a buck on a can of PB Blaster.