Kerosene doesn't really evaporate. So, like Jon said, it'll stink…and for a long time. What about using acetone and then wiping on & off a little oil?

Kerosene will work but doesn't smell very nice and isn't good for your health. Wipe it off and apply a thine fim of oil.

Thor

I've used kerosene with mineral oil added (about 90% kero) to clean and wipe down my lathe and mill for as long as I can remember – there's a bottle by the lathe right now. Personally I do not find the 'smell' offensive – hardly notice it and it certainly doesn't degrade into an offensive aroma. It's an ideal lubricant for lapping too. And a wipe over tools with some on a cloth doesn't leave them 'oily'. I should add I never have any issue with rust either.

BTW acetone – or any other similar lacquer solvent for that matter should be used with caution as it will attack any painted surfaces very quickly indeed.

It is far less 'toxic' in the atmosphere than WD 40 which can cause respiratory effects if used in a closed environment.

At my last place of work WD40 was used excessively on the lathe – it did not take long for the hot fumes to effect my lungs for sure – paraffin (kero) is far less noxious

Tug

Edited By Ramon Wilson on 24/03/2022 08:11:03

Why not use something intended for the job?

An aerosol of brake or carb cleaner from your nearest motor factor, used with some workshop tissue will work efficiently. It will also get the cutting oil off your parts when you've finished machining them.

Brake and clutch cleaner is HIGHLY INFLAMABLE, DO NOT use in an enclosed space but ideal for starting small petrol engines, quick squirt and a little choke, even for 2 strokes. Noel.

I actually use spray can degreaser from the car parts shop for all my workshop degreasing. But I do it outside which may be more viable in the tropics than UK in January etc. Then WD40 sprayed to prevent rust. But lately since WD40 is now about $14 or 7 Quid a can, I have gone back to the traditional squirt of oil from the oil can and wipe with a clean rag after said degreasing. I think it actually works better.

Meths is ethyl alcohol with a small amount of methyl to make it poisonous and some blue dye. White spirit is derived from oil and quite different.

Edited By John Haine on 24/03/2022 11:29:02

I would think acetone is rather more difficult to get nowadays (in the uk). Although white spirit is more expensive than paraffin one should be using such small quantities that that is a minor consideration.
I use it in quantities of half an eggcup at a time when cleaning say a chuck with a toothbrush only drying it off with a bit of industrial tissue. That then provides a damp tissue to start the cleaning on something else and eventually goes into a sealed jamjar for later use as a fire lighter. Then the remaining oily white spirit goes into another jar to be used as the first stage of cleaning something bigger/messier. A well used ie oily jar provides a fluid that I know will evaporate to leave a thin film of oil for minor protection when appropriate.

Carb cleaner is a much stronger solvent and expensive which I only use if white spirit is not shifting the gunge, old oil or coolant stains. Sometimes on oily painted things, benches etc rather than tools i just use kitchen creme cleaner.

White spirit is a major constituent of many household paints and varnishes, as well as brush cleaners. It is used because (inter alia) it does indeed evaporate. But it does no go as quickly as petrol (gasoline) or alcohol. Patience is, I was told by my grandmother, a virtue, but I never stood around long enough to find out.

Cheers, Tim

I would think acetone is rather more difficult to get nowadays (in the uk).

Readily available on Ebay – around a fiver for 250ml delivered. Widely used as nail varnish remover, apparently.

I use GT85 aerosol rather than WD40 for cleaning greasy grime from parts that require subsequent light corrosion protection, as it is frequently on offer in Aldi during cycling promotions.

I bulk buy aerosol brake cleaner to clean parts where no residue is required – worked out at around £1.50 per 500ml tin for a case of 12 delivered last time I bought some. A quick look on Ebay suggests that prices have risen, but still possible to get 12 x 500ml tins for £21.50 delivered.

Nigel B.

Knowing a bit of chemistry might clear some fog.

The Paraffins were a family of chemicals containing only Hydrogen and Carbon in single chain molecules. In modern Chemical parlance, they are called Alkanes.

The chains can be very long, and although the chemistry of all the members is similar, as the weight of the molecules increases, they go from gases to solids, via vapours, light liquids, heavy liquids, greases, sticky goo and waxes.

The first 4 are all fuel gases, delivered as compressed liquids in cylinders.

The heaviest alkane listed by Wikipedia is Tetrapentacontane (C₅₄H₁₁₀), a solid which boils at just under 600°C. Might find it in Bitumen.

Heavy Alkanes dissolve in lighter Alkanes, so the lighter liquid mixtures are often used as solvents.

Petrol, Naptha, White Spirit, Paraffin, Jet Fuel and Heating Oils are all mixtures of nearby Alkanes, where each group is heavier than the one below.

Petrol contains, amongst other things, mostly very light easily vaporised alkanes like Octane. An excellent solvent, but best avoided because the fumes are poisonous and a serious explosion risk, easily ignited by a static spark.

White Spirit is a mixture of Alkanes between Nonane (9 carbon atoms) and Dodecane (12 carbon atoms). The members are still light Alkanes, but much less easily vaporised than petrol. White Spirit is safer! The heaviest member (Dodecane) boils at -9.6C, so White Spirit shouldn't leave much residue behind.

Paraffin (aka Kerosene) is some mixture of the 14 Alkanes between Hexane (6 carbon atoms) and Icosame (20 carbon atoms). Hexane is highly volatile, making paraffin easier to light, but otherwise Paraffin's Alkanes are heavy, making Paraffin unlikely to be an explosion hazard in normal circumstances. Jet Fuel and Heating Oil are heavy paraffins, a tad safer again.

As all three are imprecise mixtures, there's no reason to assume that two different brands or even batches from the same maker will be identical. Also, because of the way they're made, it's like as not that a proportion of heavier Alkanes will also be dissolved in the mix as well. Mixtures like White Spirit which are intended to be used as solvents should be much cleaner, but there's no reason for Fuel Oils to be particularly fussy – used as a fuel, any heavier alkanes dissolved just get burnt with the rest. If paraffin is used as a cleaner, no surprise to find it leaves a greasy mess behind. Diesel fuel is even worse.

Bottom line, Paraffin is OK for a cheap rough clean, but White Spirit is a better, cleaner, solvent when performance matters, but it has no anti-rust properties.

WD40 is a more sophisticated mix: alkanes are only one member of the Hydrocarbon family, and chemists use them and other additives to tune products to particular goals.

Dave

Edited By SillyOldDuffer on 24/03/2022 16:39:21