<VV> VV> Metal question, not necessarily Corvair

[ScottyGrover at aol.com]

In a message dated 8/11/2008 9:01:35 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time,  
dkdewald at pasty.net writes:

At 21:20  8/10/2008 -0400, Marc Sheridan wrote:

>>snip<<
>My  bicycle has an aluminum seat post in a steel seat tube. While looking 
for  a
>creaking noise, I discovered that I forgot to use anti-seize in  this
>situation, because the seat post won't budge
>
>Has  anyone found a way or a chemical that will break that bond? I've  been
>shooting PB Blaster on it everyday for weeks and it still won't  move. Heat
>is out of the question because it would ruin the paint and I  can still ride
>it the way it is. I'd just like to get it freed in case  I do want to adjust
>it for some reason.

You may want to try  cold.  Since aluminum has a greater thermal expansion 
coefficient it  will shrink more than the steel tube when chilled.

Maybe you could try  a can of circuit cooler from an electronics supply 
house, but this might  not get it cold enough. However, the ideal chill 
could be made with liquid  nitrogen.  Maybe you could get the left over LN2 
from your doctor's  office at the end of the day when they have it available 
to freeze  warts.

If you get some, make a dish or cup like mold out of styrofoam  to contain 
the LN2 around the seat post.  LN2 will boil and spatter  on contact with 
anything warm. Wear heavy gloves and eye protection  [goggles].  LN2 on the 
skin causes almost instant frostbite  burns--painful, but will heal. LN2 in 
the eyes will cause permanent  damage.

If you end up trying this, please let us know how it works  out.

Dale Dewald
Hancock, MI




Dry ice in acetone (fingernail polish remover) might be easier to  find; the 
same safety precautions should apply.
 
Scotty from Hollyweird



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