Good Parts Washer

[Vicegrip]

I too found that solvent worked better than water based. Hot water based systems on the other hand can work as well as solvent and has less remaining film issues.
This one heats the water based solvent to 160 deg. You can wash parts inside the compartment, in the top tray or roll it under the car on a lift and wash the parts while still on the car. the solvent pumps through the brush and runs back into the 20 gal sump under the top tray. Good for brake service.

 

[Danglerb]

If I had the storage room ....

Thats just it, all out of space. I need something I can use, drain so its safe, and put away. HF doesn't sell the little 3.5 gallon right now, but they turn up cheap at the swap meet, so I may grab one and play around with it.

I've also considered the McCulloch MC1275 steamer.

I've EVEN considered throwing out some of my junk ... yipes.

 

[RAYJAY]

If I had the storage room ....

Thats just it, all out of space. I need something I can use, drain so its safe, and put away. HF doesn't sell the little 3.5 gallon right now, but they turn up cheap at the swap meet, so I may grab one and play around with it.

I've also considered the McCulloch MC1275 steamer.

I've EVEN considered throwing out some of my junk ... yipes.

my wife just bought me the 3.5 gallon one for tis year

and looking at there web site there also coming out with a 30 gallon drum model

 

[nissan_crawler]

If I had the storage room ....

Thats just it, all out of space. I need something I can use, drain so its safe, and put away. HF doesn't sell the little 3.5 gallon right now, but they turn up cheap at the swap meet, so I may grab one and play around with it.

I've also considered the McCulloch MC1275 steamer.

I've EVEN considered throwing out some of my junk ... yipes.

http://search.ebay.com/3-gallon-washer_W0QQ_trksidZm37QQdfspZ1QQfromZR40QQssPageNameZRC0021?_trksid=p1638.m120

 

[goodfellow]

+2 on the HF partswasher. I have mine 16 + years never a problem

Jeff

Sorry to bump this thread again, but all you guys with the 20 gal. HF washer, what are you using for cleaning fluid? Is it rated for solvent based fluids or just water based solutions.

 

[RAYJAY]

Sorry to bump this thread again, but all you guys with the 20 gal. HF washer, what are you using for cleaning fluid? Is it rated for solvent based fluids or just water based solutions.

mineral spirit is all i ever use and got 5 years out of my first pump and yes the pumps do wear out on the usa made washers also

Jeff

 

[Sticky]

mineral spirits smell wicked bad

 

[chavist93]

mineral spirits smell wicked bad

No it doesnt

 

[ImportTuner]

They sell an odorless mineral spirit at the local hardware store ...

 

[bmwpower]

Just found out a friend of mine works at a container supply place. I asked him if I could get a lined 30 gallon drum for making a parts washer. I got one on the way.

 

[RAYJAY]

mineral spirits smell wicked bad

been using it for 27 years as press wash and never a smell

Jeff

 

[83diesel]

The mineral spirits has a slight smell to it, but with a good parts washer the lid should be almost air tight. If you are going to wash small parts such as carbs, internal engine parts, get the cheaper ones at TSC, Northern, or HF. If you are going to wash big parts such as cranks, blocks and heads, get the mid range priced ones from online stores and northern (name brands).

The parts washer solvent they sell at the stores is just refined more than mineral spirits, but the fist time you put somehting oily in it it will be just like mineral spirits, and the high end fluid smells just the same.

I would stay away from the water based cleaners, the heaters and temp controls constantly go out, the filters and solvent can't be purchased easily, the parts washers take forever to heat up, they clean just as well when the are working but take longer to get the part clean. We used them at Cummins for a short time, then we went back to the solvent based tanks.

If you are not going to use a parts washer that often, you should do the same as the others and get a container filled with solvent, small pump rated for solvents and a brush and put the solvent into a gas can when you are done to keep your garage from burning down, the small solvent tanks 3.5 gallon are almost useless unless you are working on a lawn mower engine.

I would stay away from the air powered washers from northern. I purchased one a while back and I spent more time fixing it than using it, very noisy and not much flow.
T

 

[dxdexter]

Mine is a Safety-Kleen unit Link: http://www.safety-kleen.com/SKInternet/SKShoppingDetailParts.aspx?ItemCode=6520

This washer was new in 1984 and as you can see has been used and abused for nearly 25 years (8 years in professional use). I have used almost anything you can image (except gasoline) as a cleaner. It hasn't had the cloth sediment filter in it for 20 years and yet the pump continues to work like the day it was made. This is a testament to the quality of the product. It is well worth the money to buy a quality product.

 

[RAYJAY]

Mine is a Safety-Kleen unit Link: http://www.safety-kleen.com/SKInternet/SKShoppingDetailParts.aspx?ItemCode=6520

This washer was new in 1984 and as you can see has been used and abused for nearly 25 years (8 years in professional use). I have used almost anything you can image (except gasoline) as a cleaner. It hasn't had the cloth sediment filter in it for 20 years and yet the pump continues to work like the day it was made. This is a testament to the quality of the product. It is well worth the money to buy a quality product.

you been very lucky we had the same unit at work and 2 to 3 pumps a year they used to replace, the cost of having safety clean come in got to high so we just bought a washer ourself, because we have solvent waste going out anyways we just do our own solvent (press wash )to service it

 

[dxdexter]

you been very lucky we had the same unit at work and 2 to 3 pumps a year they used to replace, the cost of having safety clean come in got to high so we just bought a washer ourself, because we have solvent waste going out anyways we just do our own solvent (press wash )to service it

Wow. I would be looking at an electrical supply issue if I was going through that many pumps per year. I've never even had to change the cord much less 2 or 3 pumps per year.

 

[RAYJAY]

Wow. I would be looking at an electrical supply issue if I was going through that many pumps per year. I've never even had to change the cord much less 2 or 3 pumps per year.

no we just use it that much and we deal with a lot of paper dust (wood fiber )

it just wears the pumps right out you got to rember i don't do automotive at work

Jeff

 

[MXRACER]

These are the Best, all hand fabricated units made in the USA.

http://build-all.com/

 

[bbpanel]

Well, I'll start. I have a Clarke parts washer from Tractor Supply, which is your basic made in China ... Uses a fish tank / watergarden motor for a pump ... The one I have is a 12 gallon fluid working capacity, but I only put 10 in it and it works fine. Supposedly you can "top off" with water, and the water will sink to the bottom (petroleum based washer fluid will float).

If you go with petroleum based solvents, be sure to get some nitrile gloves. I have a box right next to the washer. That stuff is kinda nasty.

And standard fire and ventilation precautions apply. I unplug mine after each use.

My Clarke documentation does not recommend using flammable solvents - is this just a CYA and either aqueous or solvent based can be used? I sent them an email asking if it is rated for solvents and they just gave me the run-around about how they have never tested the impeller in a solvent-based system.

 

[bigjmcconnell]

Found this thread during a search. I need to add a washer to my collection. Leaning towards the HF because I have one local and its on sale for $100.

As with all HF, it seems to need modification, casters and a flow through brush would be good.
Edit, this is the one I was looking at: http://www.harborfreight.com/20-gallon-parts-washer-with-general-purpose-pump-7340.html

Then there is this one that seems almost the same: http://www.harborfreight.com/20-gallon-parts-washer-with-general-purpose-pump-94702.html

Bump for a good topic.