Mixing parts cleaner solutions question

[rpcraft]

I recently upgraded to a larger 20 gallon parts washer and previously I had a small table top washer. I had mineral spirits in the small one and when I put fluid in the 20 gallon I went with the Tractor supply PSC-1000. I'd like to sell the small parts washer locally but i don't want someone to have to worry about dumping the mineral spirits? Does anyone have enough experience to know if I can mix the two and just dump the mineral spirits in with the psc-1000? I'm not a chemist and the question is unique enough to not show great google results. I'm kind of in a toss up with the PSC-1000 right now so if it ruins the mix I can just dispose of that on a weekday and might visit safety-kleen and go with what they sell to the public now days. Seems a lot cheaper when you buy about 10 gallons or so at a time and so far I am not real pleased with the PSC compared to what I remember about safety-kleen in the past.

appreciate the feedback fellas.

 

[Prospecter]

My town garage accepts that with waste oil for their garage burner for free.

 

[DFB]

PSC is Naptha, which is a slightly different refinement than mineral spirits or "paint thinners"

But they are all petroleum distillates

The major difference from my understanding beside flash point is evaporation rate. Naptha will evaporate faster

https://www.popularwoodworking.com/article/a_primer_on_solvents/

My own opinion on mixing them...shouldn't create any major issue

 

[rpcraft]

PSC is Naptha, which is a slightly different refinement than mineral spirits or "paint thinners"

But they are all petroleum distillates

The major difference from my understanding beside flash point is evaporation rate. Naptha will evaporate faster

https://www.popularwoodworking.com/article/a_primer_on_solvents/

My own opinion on mixing them...shouldn't create any major issue

 

[toplessHO]

Ive always thrown a gallon of water in to seal off.

 

[rpcraft]

I did add about a gallon of water, maybe 2 after putting in the PSC-1000. I read where it helps the sludge and stuff settle in the tank and separate it from the PSC. I figure I am going to some kind a remote filter and then come back into the tank with T/ball valve that will allow me to use a flow through brush or the flexible metal spout. One of those things I saw on Ytube that looks like a good idea for keeping the fluid fresh longer. I think my main concern is I might have added a little too much water so maybe mixing in the rest of the Mineral spirits will help offset it.

Thanks everyone!

 

[sberry]

Skip all the "mods" . How much you really going to use this? At first you will wash everything you can find. The flow thru brush is ok, helps if you do a lot. If you have too much water it would be drawn thru the sump. Let it sit, pump a quart in to a jar and see. There are some units and designs water works well but for Joe avg simply put solvent in and run it.
You can clean it up, pump it off in a bucket, clean tank, after letting it settle dump it back in. It helps some but adding fresh solvent is what really helps cleaning power. I have done this, but usually simply use it till its filthy and getting low, then bite the stick and put new in.
The number one thing to keep it cleaner is to pre clean all you can, this helps 10x of adding a dinky filter.

 

[DuluthMachineWorks]

Your biggest issue with mixing the mineral spirits and PSC-1000 is that you'll be lowering the flash point of the mixture. As per the SDS for each of them, PSC-1000 has a flash point of 143 degrees while mineral spirits has a lower flash point around 105 degrees (depending on brand). PSC-1000 is considered a combustible liquid while mineral spirits is a flammable liquid. If it were me I'd use the high flash point solvent for fire safety reasons and not mix them.

 

[TriumphFan]

I just get kerosene at the local gas station. Not terribly expensive, cleans well, and seems to last forever.

 

[GypsyR]

Interesting. I'd mix them without a thought. I like mineral spirits best but it tends to evaporate away. So after some experimentation for the last few years I've been using 50/50 mineral spirits and kerosene. Which works OK. Not great, but OK. One criteria I use is that if you leave something really gunky in it overnight, it tends to soften stuff up so you don't have to chisel it. So much.

At work the Safety Kleen people talked up their new version of Varsol which is more "environmentally friendly" or something. It's terrible and pretty much useless. Not only does it not soften anything, it doesn't even rinse anything very well. The old stuff that did work OK is apparently gone forever. At least around here.

 

[rpcraft]

Well, the best stuff I have seen is from CRC and its a whole system you have to buy but it starts out at around 2500 USD for the setup so it'll have to wait until the lottery money finds a way to my hand, lol.

 

[rpcraft]

Your biggest issue with mixing the mineral spirits and PSC-1000 is that you'll be lowering the flash point of the mixture. As per the SDS for each of them, PSC-1000 has a flash point of 143 degrees while mineral spirits has a lower flash point around 105 degrees (depending on brand). PSC-1000 is considered a combustible liquid while mineral spirits is a flammable liquid. If it were me I'd use the high flash point solvent for fire safety reasons and not mix them.

Yeah that is what I was concerned about. Right now it's by the garage door and if I am doing anything in the garage with parts washing I keep it mostly open so as to not have any fume buildup either so I was concerned the mineral spirits would make it more flammable.

 

[sberry]

It's not a real deal. Don't blow a hole in it with a torch.

 

[DFB]

You were using mineral spirits before anyhow according to the first post you made