I picked up a parts washer a couple weeks ago for free Problem is what to fill it with. The best stuff I know of is Chem Dip sold at the local parts place...but at $20 a gallon filling the 12 gallon tank isn't realistic. I know a tool place locally that sells 2 kinds, one aqueous detergent and one mineral spirits. They're $35 per 5 gallons, still steep but I tried the aqueous one and it dosen't work for ****. I don't know if I wanna risk $35 just to try the mineral spirits one. I've also heard I should just use diesel fuel. What do y'all think I should use?

 

Actually that chem dip stuff works really good, I think its called B12 or something. You can always jsut try different degreasers. Simple green works amazingly well for cutting grease, and mineral spirits works good. Greased lightning works good too. Just about any degreaser, whether its automotive or household will work.

 

the tractor supply store here has 5 gallons of parts washer solvent for 20 or 30 dollars. says it has high flash point, something i think you'd want. if the pump was ok with water the castorl purple cleaner is great stuff, 5 dollars a gallon at my wal mart. it sure sucks the oil out of your hands if you use it very strong mix.

 

I'd use mineral spirits.
The tractor supply store here sells it for $2.50/gal.
I've been using it to clean parts (and my shop floor) for years.
Mix in some 100% IPA. (alcohol) and parts will dry faster.

 

I think you can buy Simple Green in gallons from Home Depot, and http://www.eastwoodcompany.com has another type of environment-friendly parts cleaner jug.

 

The washer I use has some type of mineral spirits. Sure does work nice.

 

We have a Chevron bulk station here that sells solvent from the pump for about $2.00 a gallon. Great stuff!

 

ditto, i've been using mineral spirits in mine and it works just fine... gas does good too .. though i dont think you wanna put it in a parts washer

 

I'm thinking about getting a 20 gallon one on Sunday.

Can you guys tell me if the solvant is filtered in any form, or is it just recycled over & over till it's black?

Personly I've been thinking about what to feel it in, and I like the simple green for the fact that your can handle parts without gloves...Stuff works good cold, I can't imagine how well it would work at 150 degrees.

Ron

 

I read somewhere that someone used half and half solvent and water - the solvent sat on top of the water. They adjusted the pickup tube so that it was sitting in the solvent, and only squirted out solvent when running. As the stuff was used, the particles, dirt, etc. would fall through the solvent eventually (being heavier than the solvent and water) and end up in the water down below. When the water got particularly dirty, they'd just drain the water (and accumulated gunk), then refill with water.

I'm not sure what solvent they were using that was lighter than water, I'll try to locate the article. I'm gonna try this as soon as I get a parts cleaner.

S.

 

Mineral spirits work great. I highly recomend spirits. And it's pretty cheap.

Brad...

 

That really depends on the parts washer, the cheaper ones are less likely to have a filter.

 

I'd go with diesel, that what I use at home. Diesel seems to work better then the stuff that Safety Clean puts in the tank at the shop, that stuff is worthless. I know that Sam's club was selling 5 gallon buckets of solevent but I dont know anyone who has used it. That B12 is good but it evaporates quickly.

 

we have safety clean parts washers at work too, and they work great. i think the stuuf we use is called barsol or something like that .

 

Varsol, mineral spirits based.

 

yep, thats it. that stuff works like a charm!!

 

Where I work we use some **** called Dyna Blue. Works awesome. But I can't find it anywhere. Maybe I'll try Grainger.

Brad...

 

Check here http://northerntool.com/ and do a search for "parts washer" and it will return a bunch of stuff. Their washing fluids are most all concentrates that you just add water to.

 

Just go to Menards and buy mineral spirits. That's the easiest to work with, easiest to find, and the easiest odor to handle.

Detail shops use it to remove wax on cars, or cars that have been vandalized with spray paint, and they use it to clean engine bays. It's totally safe for the environment to. It's great stuff. There isn't anything on a car that I haven't been able to clean with it, short of the brakes. I leave that to brake cleaner.


AJ

 

Wear gloves if using mineral spirits, it can be absorbed through the skin and has been known to do kidney damage with repeted long term exposure.

 

...yea, that B9 Chem Dip is bad at that.
It soaks in your skin quick, and will make you feel sick in no time.
Thats why I've got a pair of those MECHANIX rubber gloves. They've got to be the strongest on the market!!! To bad I've put hole in mine, stripping paint


Ron

 

I picked up the parts washer today for $89 bucks, and the only thing I really found at Home Depot was this stuff called Industrial Purple. I picked up a 5 gallon container that makes 36 gallons for $28 bucks.
I'll see how well it performs...

Great Feed back on this thread

Ron

 

industrial purple works GREAT, but it eats away your skin with extended exposure..... and be really carefull not to breathe too much of the vapor, it burns like hell..... but other than that is is great... it has sodium hydroxide in it, which naturaly breaks down oils (and animal fats... like skin

 

I dont know anyone who likes that stuff. I know that SC was did have some killer solvent back in the 80's but it caused too many health problems. The stuff they put in the carb cleaning machine works fairly well but I still stick with my opinion on the regular solevent they put in the GPW IT SUCKS! I think the power clean purple would probably work better but you would have to wash it with water afterward.

 

No Kidding, I got a little on my skin & it started burning like hell after a few minutes. No worry, I have a NEW set of gloves

Thats brings up another good question. Can I wash the part & than let air dry, or do I need to flush the part with water after cleaning ? no double sink here

Ron