$13/Gal for Mineral Spirits?!?!

[Goobzilla]

Got the trusty HF parts washer assembled today, this is my 2nd one I gave my 1st one away when I moved from WA last year. Went to HD to get some mineral spirits to fill it and saw it was $12.98/Gallon!

Hoping to call some paint supply places tomorrow to see if they might have 5 gal pails or see if there's a petroleum distributor nearby that might be able to provide it bulk.

I also saw advance auto parts has 5 gal pails of parts washer solvent but it's $80. Agitene is also available at Grainger for about the same price. Looking for ideas that won't bust the budget however.

 

[Wanna Ride]

Personally, I wouldn't do it, but alot of folks use diesel fuel.

 

[trbomax]

K-1 white kerosene.

 

[mmhouse]

Buying it in bulk through a distributor would be the way to go. I used to buy Stoddard Solvent that way. I don't know if you can do that any more though...hopefully so.

I'm no expert on this but I think Stoddard Solvent will do much the same job as a solvent with a much higher flash point...so safer.

 

[nate379]

Little expensive but not crazy. It's usually $40-50 for a 5 gal pail. Cost me around $250 to fill mine this summer.

Doesn't make sense to use diesel... that would be using oil to clean off oil. Mineral Spirits you clean, dry and can paint it. Would need to clean the diesel off to be able to paint... or not have it oily.

 

[Wanna Ride]

The ones that I know of using, aren't using it for parts that need to be painted, they're using it on parts they are rebuilding. Gear-box internals, pumps and components, valves, etc.

 

[thingadmin]

I bought a 5 gal of solvent at Tractor supply 6 months ago for $55.00

 

[AMCguy]

Mineral spirits, Varsol and regular paint thinner are the exact same product. They are simply labeled differently. It's a marketing thing. Price out paint thinner. You'll see it's half the price.

 

[BlindViper]

I bought a 5 gal of solvent at Tractor supply 6 months ago for $55.00

I bought mine from tractor supply to but i paid 39.99 for 5 gallons?

 

[Goobzilla]

Found a place in Fort Collins (Team Petroleum) @ $5.79/gal bulk. Time to throw my 30 gal drum in the back of the truck.

 

[James E]

Paint stores sell it for $35-$40 per 5 gallon can. Better if you know a painter and can put it on his account so you get his discount.

The small cans you buy at HD or Lowe's are just marked way up. Just remember the smaller the container, the more you're paying. I did the math on a tiny bottle of Testor's model paint I bought awhile back. The price for the tiny bottle worked out to over $800 per gallon.

 

[Graymills - Craig]

Mineral spirits, Varsol and regular paint thinner are the exact same product. They are simply labeled differently. It's a marketing thing. Price out paint thinner. You'll see it's half the price.

Careful. "Paint thinner" is a very broad category and includes such nasty solvents as MEK and Toluene. It's typically the cheapest **** they can find. You might be thinking of mineral turpentine, but even that's not the same as cleaning solvents; for one, the flash point is MUCH lower (low 90s).

I'd love to have a cheaper solution for solvent, since we could then sell it for less, but there aren't easy substitutes.

Cheers;
Craig
Graymills

 

[nate379]

No that is not correct.

Paint Thinner is a cheaper grade and has more fumes. I had filled my tank with paint thinner a few years ago. Could harldy walk in teh garage after it being closed up for a day or two.

Same garage with Stoddard and you hardly notice the parts washer is there.

Mineral spirits, Varsol and regular paint thinner are the exact same product. They are simply labeled differently. It's a marketing thing. Price out paint thinner. You'll see it's half the price.

 

[Ramblur]

I bought mine from tractor supply to but i paid 39.99 for 5 gallons?

Same here I just bought another 5gal at Tractor Supply a couple weeks ago
for $38.88

 

[fflintstone]

Got the trusty HF parts washer assembled .

will the pump in a HF parts washer stand up to solvents? my china sams club parts washer pump did not.

 

[Goobzilla]

will the pump in a HF parts washer stand up to solvents? my china sams club parts washer pump did not.

If it does it does, if it doesn't I'll just use it as a soak tank. I'd rather have no pump and good solvent than a pump that works with that wussy water based stuff.

 

[nate379]

Mine has been working fine for about 2 years. I took it apart a few months ago when I refilled my tank and no wear that I could see other than the part of the power cord the is in the solvent was stiffer then a 12 yr old finding Dad's magazine collection.

 

[Keep]

So I guess $80 for 5 gal of safety solvent is out of line?

I figured it was worth it since the garage is under a couple bedrooms.

 

[Graymills - Craig]

will the pump in a HF parts washer stand up to solvents? my china sams club parts washer pump did not.

I hate to speak well of the competition......but yeah it should. "Should" is the key word on these imports. We've tested that unit, and it ran with solvent over the short run (we didn't do life testing on it).

Typically, these are submersible pumps, so the bigger issue is grit attacking the seals - assuming that they put in a seal that stands up to normal solvent.

 

[shovel]

will the pump in a HF parts washer stand up to solvents? my china sams club parts washer pump did not.

I agree with nate379. I've had solvent in mine for 2+ years with no problem, however, failure is imminent. I'm already keeping my eyes open for a replacement pump.

 

[oldtractors]

Mine is 6-7 years old on the original pump. I used to run mineral spirits but currently have diesel fuel in it because of cost. One advantage is the diesel doesn't evaporate like mineral spirits does. I think the best "cheap" solvent would be 100% biodiesel if you can find it. I do have a spare pump on the shelf just in case. They are about $15.

 

[BriggsBodied28]

Agitene! I also have the HF parts washer. It really helps if you install a rubber gasket between the lid and the tub to minimize evaporation...it also makes it sound like a more expensive purchase when you slam the lid closed!

Agitene is worth the money for sooo many reasons.

 

[BD1]

hi, any body try vinegar ??? I let rusted tools soak in it ,then wire wheel or scotch brite them with a shot of oil or wd 40. really works well.

 

[Goobzilla]

Agitene! I also have the HF parts washer. It really helps if you install a rubber gasket between the lid and the tub to minimize evaporation...it also makes it sound like a more expensive purchase when you slam the lid closed!

Agitene is worth the money for sooo many reasons.

I did do weather stripping around the lid. Plus I have a couple extra gallons in a sealed barrel to top it off for the next couple of years.

 

[Graymills - Craig]

Agitene! I also have the HF parts washer. It really helps if you install a rubber gasket between the lid and the tub to minimize evaporation...it also makes it sound like a more expensive purchase when you slam the lid closed!

Agitene is worth the money for sooo many reasons.

You warm my heart.

 

[never enuf time]

Mineral Spirits is 6 something a gallon at the Do it centers around here.