Heating parts washer

[Bigblockyeti]

I'm getting a small parts washer soon and I want to be able to heat whatever non-combustible degreaser I pour in quickly and only occasionally. I suspect an immersion heater would take a while but I have a 120V induction burner that can boil 2 quarts of water very quickly in the right pot. Since the body of the parts washer is ferrous metal, albeit thin, it stands to reason it could do a good job of heating it quickly too. Has anyone ever tried heating a parts washer inductively? I'm not seeing anything that could go wrong provided a safe degreaser was used.

 

[matt_i]

Is the paint on the parts washer going to be able to handle the induction heating?

Also if you had localized boiling, I don't know if that negatively affects the solvent. I never got it that hot in my old aqueous parts washer. I was using immersion heat and gave it a couple hours to warmup.

 

[Negen]

Why not use a small tank less water heater ?

Although may need more research for chemicals depending on which type of chemical you use.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0789DTY5L/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Bigblockyeti]

I'm not planning on boiling, at least for very long, 180-190 should be plenty. The paint shouldn't get hotter than the solvent temperature, I'd hope it would handle under 200 degrees. A tankless might work but would certainly take up more room, I already have the inductive plate so not having to spend any more is attractive to me.

 

[vpd66]

I built a hot tank style parts washer for engine blocks and transmission cases. It is a simple 55 gallon steel drum with a 220 volt water heater element installed in it about 3" off the bottom of the barrel. I made an expanded metal false bottom about 6" off the bottom for the blocks and transmission cases to sit on. I use a small air pump with a piece of cpvc tubing with holes in to agitate the solvent. I can get the solvent up to 165-170 degrees. It does a fairly decent job of degreasing. I use Simple Green Pro and have used a detergent called Blue Hurricane I got from an online supplier and both seem to work about the same. The Simple Green I can get from Home Depot and is cheaper . Plus it is safe to use on aluminum.

 

[nadogail]

I built a hot tank style parts washer for engine blocks and transmission cases. It is a simple 55 gallon steel drum with a 220 volt water heater element installed in it about 3" off the bottom of the barrel. I made an expanded metal false bottom about 6" off the bottom for the blocks and transmission cases to sit on. I use a small air pump with a piece of cpvc tubing with holes in to agitate the solvent. I can get the solvent up to 165-170 degrees. It does a fairly decent job of degreasing. I use Simple Green Pro and have used a detergent called Blue Hurricane I got from an online supplier and both seem to work about the same. The Simple Green I can get from Home Depot and is cheaper . Plus it is safe to use on aluminum.

That sounds like a good idea that many intelligent DIY types might copy.

 

[Abeo]

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B072VFMPKH/?tag=atomicindus04-20

Have this, heats perfect in my 3.5 gal washer. Self regulated heat.

 

[Bigblockyeti]

The bucket heater looks like it would work but doesn't allow the temperature I'm looking for, ideally over 160 degrees.

 

[Abeo]

Ahhh... then I suggest a magnetic block heater and temperature controlled outlet. I was looking at those before getting the bucket heater

 

[vpd66]

You haven't stated the solvent capacity of your parts washer and your intended use. If you plan on handling parts while cleaning or even having your washer pump the solvent that is heated then you going to be limited on the temperature the you can heat your solvent too. Any temperature over 120-125 degrees is going to be to hot for you to handle. My 55 gallon heated dunk tank gets up to 165 degrees and I have to wear thick gloves to handle the parts. I mostly use a cherry picker to load and unload the parts.

 

[Bigblockyeti]

2-2.5 gallons, not sure of what solvent I'll be using, I'm only certain it will be available in 5 gallon buckets and it will be non-combustible. Cleaning will be mostly aluminum die castings and sand castings with an assortment of greases and oils compacted on with dirt. I won't be touching anything directly, I'm quite aware my desired 180-190 degrees would be beyond uncomfortable. Tongs and stiff nylon bristle brushes will be holding/brushing the castings clean.

 

[david3921]

The bucket heater looks like it would work but doesn't allow the temperature I'm looking for, ideally over 160 degrees.

There's this style that goes higher;
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07S95WHXB/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Bigblockyeti]

There's this style that goes higher;
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07S95WHXB/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I saved it in my lists in case the inductive plate that I already have doesn't do what I'm hoping it will do. The temperature and warm up time are what I'm looking for with that immersion heater.

 

[vpd66]

If your only using 2-2.5 gallons of cleaning solvent then why not just get a stainless steel cooking pot and an electric stove top heating element? Use an emersion type cooking thermometer. An afternoon search at some resale shops, rummage sales, or flea markets and everything could be had very cheaply. If your only cleaning aluminum then I recommend Simple Green HD Pro. It is only available at Home Depot and is purple in color.

 

[Bigblockyeti]

If your only using 2-2.5 gallons of cleaning solvent then why not just get a stainless steel cooking pot and an electric stove top heating element? Use an emersion type cooking thermometer. An afternoon search at some resale shops, rummage sales, or flea markets and everything could be had very cheaply. If your only cleaning aluminum then I recommend Simple Green HD Pro. It is only available at Home Depot and is purple in color.

I've done the pot method and it's made me miss the parts washer I had access to at work that much more. I already have the induction plate, I'm a big fan of seeing if I can make what currently have work before spending more. I'm not only cleaning aluminum, I'm mostly cleaning aluminum and anything else that comes along needing to be cleaned. I've used various Simple Green products and nothing, except combustibles, is yet off the table.

 

[maxpat82]

I put a 120v 1500w water heater element in mine. Just plug it in a wall outlet(GCFI protected).
Run the pump with the hose so the fluid move around while heating.

take about 20min to heat up what waterbased degrease is in my 20g washer(~7ish gallon I would say). it doesn't need to be super hot..just hot enough for the degreaser to act as it should (40C is enough)

 

[Hammer1963]

I know this may sound goofy, but how about a large oval crockpot and use an oven bag for cooking turkeys? You could probably find a used crockpot at a second hand store. Just a thought.

 

[Bigblockyeti]

Well, the inductive method worked. I have 2 gallons of Purple Power in it and it heated from 65° to 140° in ~9 minutes. The inductive plate has preset temperatures at 140, 160, 180, 200, 220, 240 & 260° so I can dial in and hold the desired temperature.

 

[4EyedTurd]

Well, the inductive method worked. I have 2 gallons of Purple Power in it and it heated from 65° to 140° in ~9 minutes. The inductive plate has preset temperatures at 140, 160, 180, 200, 220, 240 & 260° so I can dial in and hold the desired temperature.

Do you have a part number or info on the heater?

 

[Firstram]

He seems to be banned, doubt he'll reply. I'd like to know the answer as well

 

[nadogail]

When I lived in Alaska, we saw a lot of tank type electric engine heaters that connected using 5/8" heater hose. The temp of your water bath will depend on several things including; the wattage of the heater, solution volume, ambient temp, and length of time the heater is applied.

Google --- "Electric tank type engine heater"

 

[MileHighRover]

Do you have a part number or info on the heater?

Just Google 'induction hot plate'.