Don't wanna sound like a crazy sales guy, but I prefer Kano Kroil as a penetrating oil. A few drops of the stuff on any rusted bolt and it's friggin amazing. http://www.kanolabs.com/

I wouldn't use it as a lubricant though past getting seized bolts freed up, but really it's 100% replaced WD-40 for me when working on rusted and old equipment.

Transmission fluid plus acetone is excellent for seized bolts. I wonder why.

Project Farm tested 7 penetrating oils. ATF/Acetone ranked 2nd place above many specifically designed fluids.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUEob2oAKVs

If you're looking for a lubricant, silicone based ones are awesome for many tasks. The brand WD40 (which now makes several different products) even makes them.

If you spray a lock with WD-40, it will lubricate it and loosen it up immediately, but then dust will stick to it overtime and he will end up worse than where you started. Silicone doesn't do that.

PSA: "silicone" lubricants usually contain various hydrocarbons instead of silicone and are more health risky than the name would lead you to believe, see eg. https://files.wd40.com/pdf/sds/specialist/wd-40-specialist-w...

I'm assuming it contains silicone too and just doesn't have to mention it in the MSDS, but that's good to know. Thanks!

>> it will lubricate it and loosen it up immediately, but then dust will stick to it overtime

I learned this the hard way when I started lockpicking. Bought a huge box of old locks, some were really sticky and I asked online and people said, "Use WD40, it will loosen the pins right up for yah!"

Sure did and then about three months later, they were all gummed up from dust and other particles that stuck to the WD40 like velcro.

It was a good lesson to learn though.

Do people still like graphite? My dad worked in a metal shop his whole like and that was his go-to for most of these jobs.

Tri-Flow. It's a lightweight oil + teflon, and doesn't evaporate like WD-40. It's marketed primarily to the cycling community, but I tend to use it where most people would use WD-40 (fixing squeaky hinges, loosening bolts, etc.)

Tri-Flow is awesome. I think it gets the teflon bits into the right places. Put it on a bike chain and it become silent.

Yikes, teflon is not a great chemical to get near your body - or into the environment.

Teflon is inert - you are probably thinking of PFOA, a chemical that used to be used in making Teflon.

PFAS are found in the blood of every human on this planet. Google "sources of PFAS" and you'll learn Teflon products are a primary source.

For example[1]

> the main route of PFAS exposure for most Americans:

> Teflon and other brands of nonstick cookware are still produced with new PFAS that may be no safer.

[1] https://www.ewg.org/pfaschemicals/what-are-forever-chemicals...

Your link is mixing up the two molecules by calling PFAS "The Teflon chemical". "Teflon", the non-stick final product, is PTFE with a very strong fluorine chemical bond and no chance of reacting with the human body at normal temperatures (That's why nothing manages to stick to it, basically). PFAS were used by DuPont in the manufacture of Teflon (and recklessly dumped into the environment).

PFAS are an ecological disaster; Teflon itself is not a concern.

Birds have fragile high performance lungs.

Using teflon cookware around a pet parrot is a well-known way to kill the pet.

Teflon frying pans are supposed to be safe if you never let them overheat, but in practice they're not safe if you have birds in the house.

PTFE is toxic for humans too, but human lungs are more robust than bird lungs.

Sure polymer fumes are bad, but this is about oiling a bike chain.

"Normal temperatures" is the key thing, "unattended frying pan temperature" is different altogether...

How much is enough to be harmful? According to the MSDS[1], the stuff I use is < 3% teflon, and a 6 oz bottle lasts me the better part of a decade.

[1]https://www.paintdocs.com/docs/webPDF.jsp?SITEID=TRIFLOW&pro...

That is good to hear. There is no safe amount

That brand seems to be available only in the US.

Ballistol (non-toxic as well).

As a lubricant I prefer white lithium grease.

T9 if you’re good with paraffin based product.