Thread: What did you learn today?

Originally Posted by Gammaboy

Yes, Auto Trans Fluid.
ATF/Acetone is an excellent penetrant - beats the daylights out of commercially available things like Penetrene. ATF/Kero I imagine is a less volatile, more lubey, slightly less penatratey variant.

Well I guess that is what I learnt today! I mentioned this to a bloke I work with who was a spray painter a a large car dealership. He siad he has heard of ATF and lacquer thinner being used as a better alternative for armorall!

Originally Posted by Paul M D

He siad he has heard of ATF and lacquer thinner being used as a better alternative for armorall!

Jesus, I wouldn't let that mix near anything i owned.

I have been using a rolling toolbox next to my lathe.

Last night I learned that there is a very finite balance point on these units relative to having the drawers open and holding tools I have been using on the lathe.

I dropped something and it rolled behind the tool box. i walked around behind and retrieved it. As I started to rise gain I just touched the box and over it went.

One of the extension slides has unhooked from the main body and it and the drawer frame is bent.

I am lucky I didn't drop the tool in front of the box, I could have been under it.

Originally Posted by Grahame Collins

I have been using a rolling toolbox next to my lathe.

Last night I learned that there is a very finite balance point on these units relative to having the drawers open and holding tools I have been using on the lathe.

I dropped something and it rolled behind the tool box. i walked around behind and retrieved it. As I started to rise gain I just touched the box and over it went.

One of the extension slides has unhooked from the main body and it and the drawer frame is bent.

I am lucky I didn't drop the tool in front of the box, I could have been under it.

Grahame the slides depending on type can be replaced I have a White International I had to replace slides on last year and they have old stock. McJings have a selection and I think H&F also have spares.

I figured out a use for the holes in my vice parallels. I can stop them sliding out of the tilting vice.

Ta Mate!

Originally Posted by matthew_g

You too....

When I was a lad my teacher did the same demonstration - and he warned me that battery gases are explosive, so I never applied a naked flame to an open lead-acid battery

Originally Posted by Grahame Collins

I am lucky I didn't drop the tool in front of the box, I could have been under it.

Not a tool box but a filing cabinet. A couple of days before he was due to get married, my brother and a friend were carrying a full 4 drawer filing cabinet up some narrow stairs. About half way up ta drawer came open tipping the cabinet and it smashed my brothers arm up against a wall and broke it in a couple of places. It happens so quickly.

A question regarding the ATF & kero mix as a penetrating oil - is any particular grade/type of ATF preferred? thanks

Originally Posted by Paul M D

A question regarding the ATF & kero mix as a penetrating oil - is any particular grade/type of ATF preferred? thanks

Whatever's cheapest. Dex III is the usual.

Supplementary question, what sort of ratio ATF to Kero? 50:50?

Originally Posted by Match_1

Supplementary question, what sort of ratio ATF to Kero? 50:50?

It is not critical. The solvent is just there to thin the ATF and help it to wick into crevices. The solvent is then meant to evaporate leaving the ATF inside to lubricate. I use acetone, not kero. It will work better and evaporate quicker.

Dean

Originally Posted by KBs PensNmore

Thanks for that tip. Now to find aluminium flat bar 12mm thick. Would make instant raising blocks at the same time.
Kryn

try direct aluminium deloraine rd edwardstown

Originally Posted by Oldneweng

It is not critical. The solvent is just there to thin the ATF and help it to wick into crevices. The solvent is then meant to evaporate leaving the ATF inside to lubricate. I use acetone, not kero. It will work better and evaporate quicker.

Dean

I's be a bit worried about spreading too much acetone around as can make a bit of a mess of paintwork?

When I tried it acetone and ATF would not mix. Having tried it I am still skeptical that it is that good. Using diesel on it's own would probably be just as good.