PB Blaster is Snake Oil
- SteveHGraham
- Posts: 7788
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- Location: Florida
Re: PB Blaster is Snake Oil
Is there something better than WD-40 for turning and milling aluminum?
Every hard-fried egg began life sunny-side up.
Re: PB Blaster is Snake Oil
I use WD40 for general metal cleaning, and as aluminum cutting fluid.
Being 40% very light oil and 60% solvent, I consider it a solvent.
~RN
Being 40% very light oil and 60% solvent, I consider it a solvent.
~RN
- liveaboard
- Posts: 1961
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Re: PB Blaster is Snake Oil
My Indian machinist told me to use kerosene, which is cheap. He used to brush it on the turning part.
WD40 smells better.
WD40 smells better.
Re: PB Blaster is Snake Oil
Not anymore, not here in the US. And it's not easy to find, either. But I agree. Kerosene was the recommended fluid for aluminum. Not so much these days, although it certainly does a great job.liveaboard wrote: ↑Sat Nov 24, 2018 7:20 am My Indian machinist told me to use kerosene, which is cheap.
Yep! Common practice. You can always tell when you're in the shop of an old school machinist, where one can observe a few small cans of cutting fluids of various descriptions, each with one or more acid brushes protruding from the cans.He used to brush it on the turning part.
Indeed it does! In fact, if I have a prolonged machining project in aluminum, that's what I use, and for that reason, although I keep a can of used solvent at the ready for those little quickies, as that's one way I dispose of used solvent. It, too, does an excellent job on aluminum. If, by chance, I happen to have a large volume of dirty solvent, it's dumped in my heating oil after being filtered. Might as well recoup a little of my investment by heating the shop and house.WD40 smells better.
H
Wise people talk because they have something to say. Fools talk because they have to say something.
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Re: PB Blaster is Snake Oil
By the way, has anyone ever tried snake oil? Where would one get some? The Everglades perhaps?
Re: PB Blaster is Snake Oil
Wonder what snakes use for (Ahem) personal lubricants?
- warmstrong1955
- Posts: 3568
- Joined: Thu Mar 18, 2010 2:05 pm
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Re: PB Blaster is Snake Oil
You’re confused.LIALLEGHENY wrote: ↑Sat Nov 24, 2018 6:17 pm By the way, has anyone ever tried snake oil? Where would one get some? The Everglades perhaps?
Snake oil isn’t made out of snakes, it’s made for squeaky snakes.
Today's solutions are tomorrow's problems.
Re: PB Blaster is Snake Oil
It can be found under their snake pits.LIALLEGHENY wrote: ↑Sat Nov 24, 2018 6:17 pm By the way, has anyone ever tried snake oil? Where would one get some? The Everglades perhaps?
~RN
- neanderman
- Posts: 896
- Joined: Mon Jan 09, 2012 7:15 pm
- Location: Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
Re: PB Blaster is Snake Oil
Ed
LeBlond Dual Drive, 15x30
US-Burke Millrite MVI
Atlas 618
Files, snips and cold chisels
Proud denizen of the former "Machine Tool Capitol of the World"
LeBlond Dual Drive, 15x30
US-Burke Millrite MVI
Atlas 618
Files, snips and cold chisels
Proud denizen of the former "Machine Tool Capitol of the World"
Re: PB Blaster is Snake Oil
Yep! Like Stoddard solvent, or mineral spirits. Once it's been used to clean a few things, it contains enough oil to lubricate the tool, which prevents chip welding. I started doing that when I ran out of kerosene and didn't have a means to get more immediately. Been doing it ever since, and don't see a need to buy kerosene at current prices. I sure miss the "good ol' days".
H
Wise people talk because they have something to say. Fools talk because they have to say something.
- neanderman
- Posts: 896
- Joined: Mon Jan 09, 2012 7:15 pm
- Location: Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
Re: PB Blaster is Snake Oil
Thanks for clarifying, Harold!
Ed
LeBlond Dual Drive, 15x30
US-Burke Millrite MVI
Atlas 618
Files, snips and cold chisels
Proud denizen of the former "Machine Tool Capitol of the World"
LeBlond Dual Drive, 15x30
US-Burke Millrite MVI
Atlas 618
Files, snips and cold chisels
Proud denizen of the former "Machine Tool Capitol of the World"
- liveaboard
- Posts: 1961
- Joined: Sun Dec 08, 2013 1:40 pm
- Location: southern Portugal
- Contact:
Re: PB Blaster is Snake Oil
When I was growing up in Maine, we used to heat the house with kerosene. In India it's still available everywhere, people use it for lamps and kitchen stoves. Stinky, cheap stuff.
Would diesel or heating oil work as well as kerosene for cutting aluminum? Only slightly different I'm told.