Brake Cleaner Fluid

[dragonle87]

so at my job, my manager doesnt order brake cleaner since they are expensive and we use portable part washer. I suggest him to buy a barrel/drum of brake cleaner fluid (since its cheaper than aerosol cans) & the technicians buy their own pressurized spray can, but he declined....
so im thinking of buying the brake cleaner for myself only. though I cant afford a drum of brake cleaner...I found a couple of local auto part store sells 1 gallon for $25-$30....

are there any other places that I should look?

 

[Wesley B]

What kinda manager is he??? So you're going to leave undercarriges half oily after an oil change/trans service? I like your suggestion to him, what kinda sprayer where you going to get?

 

[t100]

look for a local Zep rep. for the cleaner fluid and spray can. he/she probably will cut a deal if you can get few other guys to join for a group buy. corporate sales people love new accounts, doesn't matter how much you buy, it makes them look good on paper.

they carry the re-branded Milwaukee Sureshot sprayers.

 

[wreckercologist]

We get brake cleaner by the pallet at work. That's **** that they won't support you. I hope you're hourly too.

Look at the "Hotshot" brand I think it's called?

EDIT: T100 got it. "Sureshot".

 

[dragonle87]

well I work for Firestone....so its not surprising to me. They just want to increase their bonus. well if the undercarriage is oily we use the Smart Washer (SW-23)
though it still cant get to tight spaces, so the Smart Washer is useless, inconvenient & time consuming (since you gotta push the damn thing around & hook it up to a nearest outlook...good thing the shop have extension cord)

I was thinking of getting the SureShot nothing fancy
http://www.tooltopia.com/search.aspx?manufacturer=767

 

[scott37300]

so at my job, my manager doesnt order brake cleaner since they are expensive and we use portable part washer. I suggest him to buy a barrel/drum of brake cleaner fluid (since its cheaper than aerosol cans) & the technicians buy their own pressurized spray can, but he declined....
so im thinking of buying the brake cleaner for myself only. though I cant afford a drum of brake cleaner...I found a couple of local auto part store sells 1 gallon for $25-$30....

are there any other places that I should look?

Go here, http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product__7041659-P_N3227_T|GRP2012____ and add to your cart making sure your local store has it in stock since they can't ship it, mine did. Then enter promo code BIG35 which gives you 35 bucks off 85. This makes it 54.99 for 5 gallons of brake cleaner. Chose in store pick up. Then you just go pick it up in the store.

 

[dragonle87]

look for a local Zep rep. for the cleaner fluid and spray can. he/she probably will cut a deal if you can get few other guys to join for a group buy. corporate sales people love new accounts, doesn't matter how much you buy, it makes them look good on paper.

they carry the re-branded Milwaukee Sureshot sprayers.

yea i heard about Zep & the other guys arent gonna pitch in since it should be a shop "necessity" & no i get paid by flat-rate

 

[dragonle87]

Go here, http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product__7041659-P_N3227_T|GRP2012____ and add to your cart making sure your local store has it in stock since they can't ship it, mine did. Then enter promo code BIG35 which gives you 35 bucks off 85. This makes it 54.99 for 5 gallons of brake cleaner. Chose in store pick up. Then you just go pick it up in the store.

nice!!! when does the promo code expires? & where did you get the promo code?

 

[Wesley B]

I kinda like this 5gallon pail setup, have you crunched the numbers to see how much you would save over buying the cans?

 

[scott37300]

nice!!! when does the promo code expires? & where did you get the promo code?

I'm not sure when it expires, it doesn't have a date. They change codes every so often. I just google advance auto codes and you will find a bunch of them to fit the price of whatever you are ordering. I use them all the time to get parts and consumables like fluids and cleaners. Just can't use them for engine oil but they work on ****** fluid and most anything else.

Saturday I ordered 2 trico neoform wipers for the malibu and then 3 ACdelco oil filters for it which was just over 50 bucks, used code ES123 for 20 bucks off and paid 33 dollars after taxes.

 

[scott37300]

I kinda like this 5gallon pail setup, have you crunched the numbers to see how much you would save over buying the cans?

128 ounces in a gallon times 5 equals 640 ounces. Divided by 20(number of ounces in a can of same CRC cleaner) equals 32 cans in a 5 gallon pail. 32 cans times 4.19 a can is 134.08 dollars compared to 89.99 for the 5 gallon pail, using original prices. So with codes it is 55 dollars for 5 gallons vs. 100 for 32 cans.

 

[Fedwrench]

A five gallon pail is the way to go. bear with me but, there are 640 ounces in 5 gallons. Depending on price, it'll work out to about 10 cents an ounce. Where you gain over spray cans is the wasted propellant and less trash. Your brake cleaner goes further because you're using compressed air in the sureshot to spray the brake clean. The average $2 spray can only has 15-16 ounces of brake clean with propellant in it.
However, there's no way in hell I would buy my own again. It gets expensive and it should be provided by the shop. I bought my own when I worked for the city. The enviromental nazis forbid the purchase of brake clean for health and environmental concerns. However, there were some jobs that made it worthwhile. CRC, Zep, and others all sell brake clean in % gallon containers.

 

[Wesley B]

128 ounces in a gallon times 5 equals 640 ounces. Divided by 20(number of ounces in a can of same CRC cleaner) equals 32 cans in a 5 gallon pail. 32 cans times 4.19 a can is 134.08 dollars compared to 89.99 for the 5 gallon pail, using original prices. So with codes it is 55 dollars for 5 gallons vs. 100 for 32 cans.

Thanks for doing the math, finding out ounces, etc.!! Thanks for the codes also.

 

[bgott]

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000COTXEI/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Buy this and use solvent out of the parts washer. You can also mix up some Simple Green and water with a water rinse. It makes a mess, oh well. We used to use laquer thinner. That is dangerous as hell, but, it works great!

 

[Wesley B]

A five gallon pail is the way to go. bear with me but, there are 640 ounces in 5 gallons. Depending on price, it'll work out to about 10 cents an ounce. Where you gain over spray cans is the wasted propellant and less trash. Your brake cleaner goes further because you're using compressed air in the sureshot to spray the brake clean. The average $2 spray can only has 15-16 ounces of brake clean with propellant in it.
However, there's no way in hell I would buy my own again. It gets expensive and it should be provided by the shop. I bought my own when I worked for the city. The enviromental nazis forbid the purchase of brake clean for health and environmental concerns. However, there were some jobs that made it worthwhile. CRC, Zep, and others all sell brake clean in % gallon containers.

I can't believe they wouldn't supply the shop with these things! How are you supposed to do clean work without brake clean, lol.

 

[mtkst19]

i buy 4 cases of cleaner at advance at a clip and use the big 35 coupon with in store pickup. comes out to 1.3x a can. i have bought 8 cases total so far. bill it out to customers at retail of 4 a can. so for once i make money instead of breaking even on it when regarding shop supplies. as i bill shop supplies just to cover the cost to replace.

 

[jeffk14]

There is No. Way. In. Hell. I'd buy CONSUMABLES for an employer that was too friggin' cheap to buy them for the shop. Just leave the **** dirty.

 

[shampoop]

There is No. Way. In. Hell. I'd buy CONSUMABLES for an employer that was too friggin' cheap to buy them for the shop. Just leave the **** dirty.

+1 I've been struggling with similar issues at my most recent job. The main manager has never turned a wrench in his life so there are a lot of things he just doesn't understand. Things got a lot better when he hired a shop manager that deals with these kinds of things. He used to be a tech and knows how important these basic things really are.

 

[durallymax]

we buy it by the 5 gallon pail. Use sure shot cans.

 

[ptschram]

One problem with the drums is the risk of leaks and fire. A friend of mine lost a three bay shop and declared bankruptcy when a drum exploded and burned his shop down, caught a neighbor's house on fire and melted his siding.

An employee didn't notice the drum leaking when he filled his sprayer and when the water heater kicked on, BOOM!

 

[cortez]

In this bad economy many retail stores are selling their "stolen" (reported as stolen) goods at the flea markets!!!. I have gotten break cleaner (the big can) for $1.00.

This is only the tip of the ice burg as just about every thing from Siding to medical supplies, tools, assorted hardware, tee shirts (4X for only $1.00-the cheapest rags you will find), paint, varnish, all sorts of solvents by the gallon ( like MEK, Acetone ect.). The list includes just about everything including delivery for large orders!!.

As my priest said a long time ago "if you cannot prove it is stolen you must assume it is not".

 

[Ohio Auto]

There is No. Way. In. Hell. I'd buy CONSUMABLES for an employer that was too friggin' cheap to buy them for the shop. Just leave the **** dirty.

^^^ This^^^

Especially when the customer is probably getting hit with a 'shop materials' charge on his repair order.

 

[williaty]

Go here, http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product__7041659-P_N3227_T|GRP2012____ and add to your cart making sure your local store has it in stock since they can't ship it, mine did. Then enter promo code BIG35 which gives you 35 bucks off 85. This makes it 54.99 for 5 gallons of brake cleaner. Chose in store pick up. Then you just go pick it up in the store.

That's what I use. I've got a SureShot sprayer and a 5gal can of the non-chloro CRC Brakeclean. Wonderful setup, saves a lot of money.

 

[Wesley B]

As far as the cans, how does the vavoline and wearever brands stack up to crc? I only use crc and have wondered how the cheaper brands work?

 

[williaty]

They're all fairly equally effective so long as you're comparing chloro-to-chloro and non-chloro-to-no-chloro. The issues is availability. I went 10 rounds with nearly every distributor on earth trying to find someone who would sell me a single 5gal can of brake cleaner. Pickup, ship, I didn't care. I thought I was going to be out of luck until it turned out that Advance had that can of CRC.

 

[t100]

That's what I use. I've got a SureShot sprayer and a 5gal can of the non-chloro CRC Brakeclean. Wonderful setup, saves a lot of money.

with a sureshot sprayer, you have very little waste specially with a fine mist nozzle. compare to an aerosol can, which you have a lot of over spray.

friend of mine is in shock repair business, they runs a quart(the sureshot holds) about two weeks. an aerosol can won't last him for 1 morning.

 

[Wesley B]

How powerful is the stream with the sure shot?

And which one is better the black or green one?

http://www.tooltopia.com/search.aspx?manufacturer=767

 

[williaty]

How powerful is the stream with the sure shot?

And which one is better the black or green one?

The power of the spray depends on the pressure in the can. Keep it in the 150-200psi range, and it'll just about strip your skin off.

Those two sprayers are the same except for color.

 

[dragonle87]

The power of the spray depends on the pressure in the can. Keep it in the 150-200psi range, and it'll just about strip your skin off.

Those two sprayers are the same except for color.

damn...150-200psi in a can. thats freaking awesome. Though how will i know i reach 150-200psi?

 

[Wesley B]

The power of the spray depends on the pressure in the can. Keep it in the 150-200psi range, and it'll just about strip your skin off.

Those two sprayers are the same except for color.

Cool, I always think the pressure of brake klean helps with cleaning gunk.

 

[williaty]

damn...150-200psi in a can. thats freaking awesome. Though how will i know i reach 150-200psi?

It fills from an air compressor with a Schrader Valve (like a car tire).

 

[Wesley B]

The power of the spray depends on the pressure in the can. Keep it in the 150-200psi range, and it'll just about strip your skin off.

Those two sprayers are the same except for color.

What kind of sprayer/can do you use? I didn't notice the can sized ones.

http://www.tooltopia.com/sure-shot-8000.aspx

 

[williaty]

I use one of the 32oz ones.

 

[outcast]

interesting thread.

i try not to waist the break cleaner at work. but my boss, who pays for the stuff, keeps telling me to use it more.

 

[Lotek]

Charge it out on the repair order, problem solved, it isn't a consumable, it's a part to be marked up just like oil and washer fluid, you don't give that stuff away do you?

 

[fordbroncodave]

part number CCM 1013 at carquest is $1.99 a can and you can buy it by the box of 12 or a pallet if you wanted to

 

[outcast]

interesting thread.

i try not to waist the break cleaner at work. but my boss, who pays for the stuff, keeps telling me to use it more.

Charge it out on the repair order, problem solved, it isn't a consumable, it's a part to be marked up just like oil and washer fluid, you don't give that stuff away do you?

if you are talking to me :
idk what he does. its none of my business.
he tells me to use it = i use it !!!

 

[WRX/Z28]

I wouldn't buy any consumables for my workplace. If they don't want to buy it, and it's needed for the job, i'd have the customers call back and complain that their car was filthy after it was worked on...

 

[Wesley B]

Still on the fence, not sure if I should get the can sprayers or the 32oz one's. Anyone used the canned sprayers?

 

[Lotek]

if you are talking to me :
idk what he does. its none of my business.
he tells me to use it = i use it !!!

Talking to the OP and the whole point of the thread. If you use it on a customer's car it should get charged on the R/O. Business 101