An excellent penetrant. Last summer I picked up a complete South Bend lathe tailstock that had been out in the weather about 10 years. Like you'd think, it was seriously rusty and nothing would move. After getting a little advice on the guys from a machinist board to soak it in kerosene I did just that. If I remember right, they recommended a week or two. I dunked it in a sealed can with about 2-3 gallons of kerosene and left it there for a year. Didn't mean to leave it in for so long, it just worked out that way. Last winter I gave some thought to removing it, but figured the thermal cycles the garage was going through with cold nights and sunny days would help the kerosene to penetrate. I looked at it a couple of times and was surprised to see quite a few rust flecks had fallen off and were lying in the bottom of the container. Couple of days back, I pulled it out, let it drain and after a couple gentle taps with a yellow plastic hammer on the locking screw for the quill it let go. As did the locking screws for adjusting the tailstock to center or whatever is desired. They almost fell out after a light twist with a screwdriver. Same deal with the quill handwheel. It freed up and cranking it all the way so the quill could be removed along with some light taps on the quill with the yellow plastic hammer as the handwheel was turned. I may be calling the "quill" by an incorrect name. It's the piece with graduated measurements engraved on it and the Morse Taper arbors go into it for holding drill chucks, live and dead centers etc. I shot it with a little PB Blaster and it's running even freer. I did try PB Blaster before I soaked it in kerosene, but it was pretty much frozen together. I know, what the heck am I going to do with a South Bend tailstock, but it's a good part for someone once all the rust is off. (I did look for the lathe proper, but didn't see it.) To that end, the de-rusting of the disasembled pieces will probably be done with white vinegar. I have a lightly rusted 6" caliper that looks like a Lufkin, but is stamped Craftsman soaking in white vinegar right now. This afternoon it will have been in 48 hours as recommended by one of the vinegar soaker HAMB'rs here on the board. I'll let you know how that works out.
The Jalopy Journal
