Homemade Penetrating Oil

Updated: Jul. 05, 2019

Can’t find the rust penetrant? Try this home brew for penetrating fluid.

FH14FEB_RUSTPE_01-2Family Handyman
Modern rust penetrants work great, but if you're all out and don't want to make a trip to the hardware store, this homemade penetrating oil will do the trick.

You might also like: TBD

How to make your own penetrating oil spray

Rust penetrant manufacturers are constantly working to improve their products. The latest formulations work better than previous brews. So if you’re still using a 10-year-old can of penetrant, you might want to upgrade to the latest formulas from Liquid Wrench or the Specialist Rust Release Penetrant from WD-40.

Penetrating oil spray ingredients

As great as those new products are, occasionally you can get by with a home brew—a 50/50 mixture of acetone and automatic transmission fluid. Pour it into a spray bottle and you’re good to go. It has a strong smell and is far more flammable than commercial products, so when creating your own penetrating oil spray, make sure you use it outdoors and away from flames. It doesn’t work as fast as the commercial products, but if you need rust penetrant in a hurry, it will work.

Required Materials for this Project

Avoid last-minute shopping trips by having all your materials ready ahead of time. Here’s a list.

  • Acetone
  • Automatic transmission fluid