Removing machine oil from mech mod

[iamthevoice]

MEK is a great solvent for many compounds, but oil is not one of them... Acetone, although an excellent solvent, is also not a solvent for oil; actually, it's mixed with some types of oil to create "penetrating oils" for the loosening of rusted fasteners... From a chemical standpoint, xylene is a far better solvent for any type of mineral oil, but not recommended (for health reasons).

You did mention that the oil is still in the threads; have you considered a little mechanical action to clean those out? (I'm thinking old toothbrush?)

 

[zoiDman]

MEK is a great solvent for many compounds, but oil is not one of them... Acetone, although an excellent solvent, is also not a solvent for oil; actually, it's mixed with some types of oil to create "penetrating oils" for the loosening of rusted fasteners... From a chemical standpoint, xylene is a far better solvent for any type of mineral oil, but not recommended (for health reasons).

You did mention that the oil is still in the threads; have you considered a little mechanical action to clean those out? (I'm thinking old toothbrush?)

From a Health Standpoint, Xylene is pretty Bad News also.

Especially for an Individual who has Little or No Knowledge of works with Chemicals.

 

[stevegmu]

It is what our fabricators at work use to remove cutting oil, but I guess there are other options...

 

[zoiDman]

It is what our fabricators at work use to remove cutting oil, but I guess there are other options...

Not saying that MEK is not used in Industry.

I'm just saying that for an Individual who might Not Take exposure Precautions or Understand that there can be Serious Health Risks involved with using a Chemical Compound like MEK, that it is a Very Poor Recommendation to Post on a Public Forum.

Because as you mentioned, there are Many Other Options available to the Average Person.

 

[iamthevoice]

It is what our fabricators at work use to remove cutting oil, but I guess there are other options...

Cutting fluids have a host of other elements, besides oil! It's such a specialized set of fluids that it has it own OSHA Metalworking Fluids Standards Advisory Committee! MEK is simply a safer solvent than xylene!

 

[stevegmu]

Cutting fluids have a host of other elements, besides oil! It's such a specialized set of fluids that it has it own OSHA Metalworking Fluids Standards Advisory Committee! MEK is simply a safer solvent than xylene!

Wouldn't the oils on a mod more than likely be cutting fluids, rather than just oil?

 

[Pensilac]

Lemon juice or ketchup soak for a few minutes followed my soapy bath and rinse. Seriously.

I just went through the same ordeal with an Hcigar Stingray. It looked like residual machine oil that no amount of soap water and toothbrush could address. It came off however like good old oxidation in response to ketchup (takes 5-15mins in my experience but I check every few mins. )

Trust me it works !

After I tried boiling it in soap water for 10 minutes and it having no affect I came to this same conclusion, that it must have been just oxidation caused by whatever oil had been on there originally. I cleaned up the engraving a bit with some white vinegar and q-tips last night and it worked quite well so I'm going to soak the whole mod in it for a bit in a day or two and hopefully that'll finally take care of my problem.

Thanks everyone for your suggestions!

 

[MrPlink]

MEK is a great solvent for many compounds, but oil is not one of them... Acetone, although an excellent solvent, is also not a solvent for oil; actually, it's mixed with some types of oil to create "penetrating oils" for the loosening of rusted fasteners... From a chemical standpoint, xylene is a far better solvent for any type of mineral oil, but not recommended (for health reasons).

You did mention that the oil is still in the threads; have you considered a little mechanical action to clean those out? (I'm thinking old toothbrush?)

Point taken, but Ive used acetone to remove oil and grease for longer than a lot of the members here have been alive.

But again, I recommend something mildly acidic that you have at home already