Hello. I was wondering if its safe to use an equal parts mixture of auto tranny fluid, acetone, kerosene and mineral spirits known as Ed's Red for cleaning a brass stove up? This combination is often used by firearms owners for cleaning their gun pieces. I was also hoping this mixture would help dissolve the nrv valve threads on my Primus 51 that are frozen up down the pump tube. Obviously the kerosene, tranny fluid and mineral spirits are safe, but would the acetone harm the brass or the combination? Any other suggestions for soaking the nrv? Right now I'm soaking it in a common penetrating oil. thank you
Sounds good. There is most likely a washer on the nrv, so take time to let the penetrating oil get past the washer. Unless you can get some to the nrv from inside. Difficult, yes, but I do not imagine impossible.
Olive, I see you are acquainted with Ed's Red, but have you been introduced to Kroil? (for that NRV) http://www.kanolabs.com/ https://www.amazon.com/Kano-Kroil-Penetrating-liquid-KROIL/dp/B000F09CF4
I like Kano Kroil. Some reviews and polls have said that the 50/50 mix of acetone and ATF is better. I have tried both. Kano works for me, and making the other requires a container. So I make a few drops at a time when I need it. I use Kano mostly. I have not used the mix for cleaning, but I am not a guy that polishes my stoves. Ken
Kano Kroil is my first choice. It's the only stuff I've found that works reliably on copper alloys. Learned about it while working at the bronze foundry. Alex
After just one night of soaking the Ed's Red mixture I got the nrv out without boogering up the brass. I did the old turn right to tighten a little, then a firm turn left to release. It made a quiet snap sound and came right out. I used the long T wrench from Julians primus maintenance kit. I'd guess the wrenches arent made by Sweden/ Primus as they are not precise fitting. Probably China or India make? The knuckle wrench worked well though for the jet removal. Pretty sloppy fitting wrenches for the most part, so I was concerned at first, but the Ed's Red did all the hard work. Thanks for all the help guys!
Until I read this thread yesterday, and having used 1:1 ATF : acetone for a few years, I’d never heard the term Ed’s Red. Who is/was Ed? Tony
Ed Harris is the name I recall. Some old timer firearms expert who made a great gun cleaner? Brownell's gun supply in Iowa sells it commerially I believe. The original formula was a little different. Like sperm whale oil and some other similar chemicals that are harder to come by today. Equal parts of kerosene, mineral spirits, acetone & car tranny fluid(Dexron 2 or 3) is the current popular mix. Some put lanolin(sheep oil) in as well.
I've used both, Kroil is great stuff, Ed's Red is no slouch, either. Upside, I can make Ed's Red out in the field if needed.
Other ATF things that don't fit with acetone are: Advanced Tactical Fighter Alabama Track& Field Acceptance Test Facility Allied Tactical Force All Time Finest After the Fact Automatic Terrain Following
I have used this but actually a 50/50 mix of acetone and power steering fluid, not ATF. The ATF seems to be often misrepresented. The original source of the test was April 2007 "Machinist's Workshop" magazine. Sorry I don't have a link at the moment.
Initial search results. http://www.machinistsworkshop.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/MW-Article-Index-7.pdf "Testing Different Types of Penetrating Oils Lloyd Bender General Machining Knowledge MW Vol. 20 No. 2 Apr-May 2007 35 [page?]" http://www.antiquemodeler.org/sam_new/news_letters/assets/wham_2011_07.pdf http://bmwmotorcycletech.info/chemicalsetc.htm [Scroll down to find image of article] https://forums.24hoursoflemons.com/viewtopic.php?id=12446 [Scroll down to post #7] "There was a followup to that article in the February/March 2010 issue of Machinist's Workshop. A reader complained that acetone and ATF do not mix. They actually form an emulsion that quickly separates. The editor then pointed out that the photo with the original article showed a bottle of power steering fluid, not ATF. So the reader tried PSF and got the same results. The editor then contacted the author (Lloyd Bender) of the original article (April/May 2007 Machinist's Workshop), who admitted that the original solvent was not acetone, but trichloroethelyne! He said that he substituted acetone in the article because he didn't want want to be recommending the use of TCE." Some of the posts go off topic. Unsubstantiated claims, the test was done with TCE, the verification test was done with power steering fluid. I use kano, and have used/mixed a few drops of acetone and ATF [auto tranny fluid]. I have not measured the torque, nor did I note the time in immersion. I assume a day is a minimum. Ken in NC
