rusted toilet bolts

I read a question about loosening rusted toilet seats, and 3 people recommended WD-40. Finally the last person wrote "I use WD-40 all the time, but for loosening bolts, I think you should use Liquid Wrench or penetrating oil. They are made for this purpose, not general purpose. And control your urge to try WD-40 first, because it will fill what cracks it can reach and IMVSO make it harder for the Liquid Wrench to get past there to where the serious corrosion is. Finally, let sit for 30 minutes, tapping occasionally on the bolts (though maybe tap less hard than with a car, because the toilet can break.) "

Is there a difference between wd-40 and the other two? Is there a difference between Liquid Wrench and penetrating oil? Is the last poster correct?

Reply to
Micky
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Yes Yes I don't know . Try Ed's Red , a homemade concoction . Formula here :

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Not only a great bore cleaner , but also an excellent penetrating oil .

Reply to
Terry Coombs

Yes.

Yes and No. "Liquid Wrench" is a product line, not a specific product.

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BTW, also consider the B'Laster line of similar products. Their penetrating oil is commonly known as PB Blaster. Ask for it by that name and most retailers will know what you are asking for.

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I don't know. I've tried WD-40 first and then a penetrating oil. The penetrating oil still worked, but I have no idea if the WD-40 inhibited it in any way. You might need a controlled environment to determine if the WD-40 inhibited the penetrating oil, i.e. same amount of "stuck", same amount of penetrating oil, same about of loosening torque, etc.

I think getting the exact same amount of "stuck" would be the hardest part.

Reply to
DerbyDad03

This a related question:

I have an oak toilet seat with brass hardware. The brass has turned green. I bought a new seat, plastic, matches the bathroom color, and I plan to take the old seat off and wash it with the garden hose. Is the jet spray enough or will I have to use a brush, and more importantly can I give this away to someone or has it reached a certain age where it will turn green much more quickly? Anyone have experience, or guesses?? I never scratched or scoured my brass, just a sponge or rag.

Curious, I found that oak seats sell for up to $75, maybe more. So I looked and one said, in abridged form "-PVD brass hinges -Stainless steel hinge screws eliminate rust.-Clean with warm soapy water.-PVD plated hinges for corrosion resistance.-

From the Manufacturer: It is corrosion proof. "

What is PVD and does this mean the brass really won't turn green?

I just checked and the threads on my seat are rusted. Plastic nuts so I guess I can still get them off.

Reply to
Micky

Well I see that what I meant, the original product, is now labeled "penetrating oil", so I guess that settles that. I don't remember seeing that on previous containers.

Other than my toilet seat, no special need now..... Oh, there's that garden hose sprayer I can't get off. The LWrench ad mentioned that. OK.

You're right. Maybe the National Bureau of Standards would provide standardized rusted test bolts.

Reply to
Micky

No it means the brass was put on with vapor deposition and is about 10 microns thick. In all fairness the process often produces a more durable product than electroplating.

Reply to
rbowman

The green is a copper oxide. Washing won't take it off, a mild acid or steel wool will. Once off it will return sooner or later (piss makes it return fast). A lacquer coat will slow down the return.

Reply to
dadiOH

On my last truck, I could not turn the headlight adjuster screw. Steel screw, goes into plastic headlight assembly. I tried a variety of different lubes, including WD, PB, and a couple others. Finally, I noticed an old can of Castle Thrust, from Nu-Way Auto Parts. It did the trick for me. Soaked into the threads. I was able to turn the screw a little with Vise Grips, and after some back and forth, the adjuster was loose enough for me to adjust the headlight beam.

Reply to
Stormin Mormon

Did the Thrust "do the trick" on its own or did all three substances do a little? In other words, had the order of application been reversed, would the screw still have loosened up?

Something to ponder and something that will forever remain a mystery.

Reply to
DerbyDad03

"A difference which makes no difference, is no difference." Spock.

Of course, we'll never know. When I did more heating and AC, my boss used to tell me that the last person who touched the unit owns it. Any future problems will be blamed on the last tech. And so, I give Castle Thrust the credit for the headlight aimer threads.

Reply to
Stormin Mormon

The bolts on our toilet were brass and I hacksawed them off. The problem was the flange on the waste pipe rusted away to nothing after 28 years. A metal flange on a 3 inch black plastic waste pipe. Home Depot had a replacement w piece flange that was a good solution for my situation.

Steve

Reply to
Steve Stone

Without writing anything down, it seemed of the 7 or so brass hardware seats on Paypal, the more expensive ones had the PVD. Maybe one of them would have done better than mine. I may have the box in the basement. If so I'll check if it claims PVD, but I'll bet not.

BTW, do you all know what BVD stands for? The underwear.

Reply to
Micky

That's good. I haven't faced that problem yet, and I don't know how I would get a hacksaw on the toilet seat bolts. On the bottom the toilet is in the way and on the top, it woudl be hard to avoid scratching. Amazon had tools for taking off plastic toilets for 6 and

10 dollars respectively, but I think I can just put needle-nose vice grips on the plastic and get it.

BTW, Bemis has a new style, at least on their expensive seats, the ones that pop off for easy cleaning. The top part is plastic and is meant to be take the place of the top rubber gasket. There are little wings to keep the screw centered in the hole. The bottom part has a built in softer washer, and the nut is surrounded by plastic that is about 2 inches high. The end is meant to be tightened with maybe a

1/2" end or socket wrench until it snaps off, and that is meant to happen at the proper tightness. After part snaps off there is still 1 1/2" of the same dimensions, to be used to remove the bolt later.

Frankly, after I easily snapped the bolt heads into the seat, I couldn't get them out, but I'm sure when they are attached to the toilet and I'm using the seat as a lever, everything will come apart as intended, for easy washing of the whole seat, minus little stubby things that can be cleaned without the seat being in the way.

Reply to
Micky

Well, I'm not going to to go that much trouble, frankly not either of those processes, for a seat I'm giving away, and I guess I should be tasteful enough not to give it or even offer it when I've just spray washed it. Right? I think no one would want it anyhow, on the freecycle list that I'm supposed to use based on where I live. There's a wide range of incomes that area, ... oh yeah, there are some who are very poor, but based on what's offerred at least, they are not offering. They may be taking, but I still think it would be tasteless and potentially humiliating for someone to accept my offer if it's still green and I describe it accurately. ?? Why would anyone want it if it's going to turn green again.

The cheapest plastic would be better. The cheapest plastic on Amazon is $16, and it even has the easy-clean feature I described i another post. I could have bought that but I need one for heavy people and in a particular color.

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Reply to
Micky

You are gifting a used toilet seat? LOL.

Reply to
Thomas

He's saving it for Xmas. If I had such a thing, if it looked like it would still be usable to someone, I wouldn't be cleaning it up. I'd just put it at the curb a day or two before trash pickup. If someone takes it, fine. If not, it goes.

Reply to
trader_4

So you think it's too personal or something to be given away even in good, clean condition?

That would work, and I'd do it if I lived on a more public street, but the only ones who would drive by my house are the 20 or so families and their occasional visitors or deliverymen who live beyond me but not closer to the other entrance. And because I live in the outside corner house and put my trash where 2 other families do. they'd see it and I'd look bad for not cleaning it, even the green part. And especially the one guy who is mad at me for some reason he wouldn't say.

On second thought, I don't think anyone around here would take a seat that needs cleaning, which is why I thought of cleaning it in the first place. It took 2 years or maybe 10 to turn green for me, and other than that, it's still in good condition. I'll try (non-power) water jetting it and maybe I'll get lucky.

Thanks for all the helpful answers.

Reply to
Micky

I've already spend more time thinking about this than that seat was worth when it was shiny and new.

Reply to
trader_4

Only to you. And he's a Democrat too.

Reply to
Micky

And you are one of the few so obsessed with it that you'd mix your politics with toilet seats.

Reply to
Micky

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