Modified HF parts washer

[terabyte]

Parts list
HF 20Gal Parts Washer
3 gallons of Orderless Mineral Spirits
2 feet of 1inch I.D. hose
Mr. Gasket 7693 Remote Oil Filter Mounting Bracket
Movers Dolley to take casters off of
2x2 square tubing 11gauge
3/16 angle
melamine scraps
plywood scraps
2 buckets
3x8inch pvc compressor hose
assorted 1/4inch hardware
several brass fittings

requirements
so I wanted to use mineral spirits, I wanted a big basin if I needed it, I wanted fluid to come out from the brush, and I wanted the mineral spirits to be mostly self contained, oh yea I wanted it filtered too...

extra motivating factors
Mineral Spirits is damn expensive, if I had bought the 10-15 gallons of MS that it would have probably taken to use this parts washer as intended it would have cost me a lot more than what I have into this closed loop system...

build
i cut the bottom 2 inches off a bucket and drilled about 15 .75inch holes in it. i place this in the bottom of the other bucket so that the pump would be lifted off from the bottom where all the sediment would collect. I left the HF pump assembly as-is with the foam filter and everything. the HF pump outputs via a 1/4 pipe thread to the orange compressor hose. this goes into the car filter and then goes to my ghetto homemade but effective brush.

Mobil1 filters look pretty badass if you take the decal off

 

[bchee]

you make some crazy stuff. Looks good

 

[terabyte]

who? me???????????
nah......

 

[engnerdan]

About a year ago I posted my air powered filtered parts washer (maybe where the filtered idea came from maybe not). But I thought I would share with you how effective the filtering is. Attached are pictures of the filter from my parts washer after just a year, it became plugged up and this is what i found. I had my filter oriented horizontally just like terabyte does and I had a magnet stuck to the bottom to catch magnetic stuffs. After stiring up the pot the other day and filtering it I am almost ready for a third filter. BTW this is a 10 micron hydraulic filter.

-Dan

 

[Stephenw]

I hate to be the one to rain on your parade, but I see some potential issues with your setup. The plastic bucket of mineral spirits, complete with air leaks in the lid, looks like a potential fire hazard. This defeats the metal wash bin with fusible link lid.

 

[terabyte]

About a year ago I posted my air powered filtered parts washer (maybe where the filtered idea came from maybe not). But I thought I would share with you how effective the filtering is. Attached are pictures of the filter from my parts washer after just a year, it became plugged up and this is what i found. I had my filter oriented horizontally just like terabyte does and I had a magnet stuck to the bottom to catch magnetic stuffs. After stiring up the pot the other day and filtering it I am almost ready for a third filter. BTW this is a 10 micron hydraulic filter.

-Dan

your was in fact the main inspiration for the inline filter.

I hate to be the one to rain on your parade, but I see some potential issues with your setup. The plastic bucket of mineral spirits, complete with air leaks in the lid, looks like a potential fire hazard. This defeats the metal wash bin with fusible link lid.

what is the issue of the mineral spirits in a plastic container?

i see your point and this is more of a beta test. now that I see it works I will be redoing it with a metal 5gallon can. I just gotta find one with a removable lid and I don't know where to find one that is clean....

any ideas?

 

[e-tek]

what is the issue of the mineral spirits in a plastic container?

i see your point and this is more of a beta test. now that I see it works I will be redoing it with a metal 5gallon can. I just gotta find one with a removable lid and I don't know where to find one that is clean....

any ideas?

I HATE IT when people criticize peoples ideas, but can't offer any of their own - don't you??

 

[RbrtAWhyt]

I HATE IT when people criticize peoples ideas, but can't offer any of their own - don't you??

I hear that. My boss at work says "Never come to me with problems without a solution to offer?...

 

[Stuey]

I HATE IT when people criticize peoples ideas, but can't offer any of their own - don't you??

I am slightly to moderately annoyed when people criticize others' criticisms. =P

I see nothing wrong with Stephen's comment, he was only trying to be helpful. Unless I am mistaken, most parts washers have a fusibile link so that in case of high heat, the lid closes and remains shut to ensure that the solvent or solvent vapors don't ignite and worsen the fire or similar potentially catastrophic situation.

After reading Stephen's comment, I had a "duh, that should have been obvious" moment. He was only trying to be helpful, and it is counterproductive to react to his comment in a somewhat hostile manner. C'mon, ease up a bit. Or else I'll call in an engineer. =P

Anyways, terabyte, that looks like a pretty decent setup! I'm now motivated! Although, I'd likely have to go with a non-toxic "green" degreaser.

 

[Danglerb]

How about a gas can?

 

[tdkkart]

I HATE IT when people criticize peoples ideas, but can't offer any of their own - don't you??

Just goes back to your other thread, some people just like to piss and moan about everything.

I've got a similar setup as above, with the solvent in a Rubbermaid tub no less, works fine setting right on the (heated)floor. Has 2 small holes in the lid, doesn't give off any detectable odor, hence very little fumes are escaping.

Fuse link?? Hell, that went in the **** can nearly 20 years ago the first day I bought the tank, the lid wouldn't open far enough with it on, hasn't blown up on me yet.

I'd tell you about the patch I welded on the bottom a few months ago but someone will probaly have to whine about how dangerous it is to weld on a tank that's had solvent in it.........

 

[terabyte]

I HATE IT when people criticize peoples ideas, but can't offer any of their own - don't you??

in real life yes.
on the internet I take it all in stride

 

[rinny_tin_tin]

Parts list
HF 20Gal Parts Washer
3 gallons of Orderless Mineral Spirits
2 feet of 1inch I.D. hose
Mr. Gasket 7693 Remote Oil Filter Mounting Bracket
Movers Dolley to take casters off of
2x2 square tubing 11gauge
3/16 angle
melamine scraps
plywood scraps
2 buckets
3x8inch pvc compressor hose
assorted 1/4inch hardware
several brass fittings

requirements
so I wanted to use mineral spirits, I wanted a big basin if I needed it, I wanted fluid to come out from the brush, and I wanted the mineral spirits to be mostly self contained, oh yea I wanted it filtered too...

extra motivating factors
Mineral Spirits is damn expensive, if I had bought the 10-15 gallons of MS that it would have probably taken to use this parts washer as intended it would have cost me a lot more than what I have into this closed loop system...

build
i cut the bottom 2 inches off a bucket and drilled about 15 .75inch holes in it. i place this in the bottom of the other bucket so that the pump would be lifted off from the bottom where all the sediment would collect. I left the HF pump assembly as-is with the foam filter and everything. the HF pump outputs via a 1/4 pipe thread to the orange compressor hose. this goes into the car filter and then goes to my ghetto homemade but effective brush.

Mobil1 filters look pretty badass if you take the decal off

Just remember to put any oil soaked rags in rated fire container - they will spontaneously combust - and I have seen it enough times.

 

[Junkman]

The only thing that I can see wrong is that he bought a pail at Autozone, instead of saving a few peso's by getting a free one from the local Duncan Donuts or grocery store bakery.

 

[r6_cannibal]

any ideas?

How about rtv sealant and a metal lunch box?

It might be a little overkill, but pony kegs and 1/4 barrel are cheap on craigslist.

 

[Adam McLaughlin]

I think that this is a great idea - Hell, I am rigging up two dishwashers in my pump house right now, one runs on hot soapy water and the other runs on Orange cleaner that is circulated like this, but Automatically. ( In theory )

Adam

 

[Stephenw]

To the haters...

Although not real flammable like lacquer thinner or MEK, mineral spirits is still combustible. The flash point, depending on brand, can be as low as 100 degrees.

The definition of flash point...

Flash point is the lowest temperature at which the vapor of a combustible liquid can be made to ignite momentarily in air.

On a hot summer day, it is possible for a spark to ignite the fumes from the solvent in a parts washer.

All industrial parts washers I have seen that use combustible solvents, house those solvents in a metal container. They all have lids with fusible links that will snap closed in the event of a fire.

It would have been better if the modifications to the parts washer included a metal solvent storage container and all metal lines. At the least, there shouldn’t be leaks in the lid of the solvent container for fumes to escape. The solvent brush with the rubber hose would be safe if that portion of the system was all within the tub area contained by the washer’s lid.

I was just pointing out a potential safety issue. I wouldn't want someone's garage to burn to the ground because of a hazard that maybe they were not aware of.

Here are some example pictures of various styles of parts washers…

 

[beelsr]

do you have a real brush yet?

came across this on ebay and thought of you...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Parts-Washer-Brush-and-hose-2-of-them-for-one-money_W0QQitemZ330303162538QQcmdZViewItemQQptZOther_Vehicle_Parts?hash=item330303162538&_trksid=p3911.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A727|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318

no affiliation, yadda yadda....

 

[terabyte]

No I don't but I just went ahead and bought that one. Thanks a bunch for looking out dude I hadn't had time to go find one so this really made life easy.

 

[beelsr]

np, hope it works for you...

 

[toms73novass]

No I don't but I just went ahead and bought that one. Thanks a bunch for looking out dude I hadn't had time to go find one so this really made life easy.

Just to let you know, I have a similar brush in my parts washer. The plastic end of the brush where the hose connect will probably brake off in the 1st month of use. (Be prepared, because all of a sudden mineral spirits will be everywhere )

I tapped a 1/4" pipe thread and used some JB weld and put in a brass barbed fitting and it has been working well for over a year.

 

[terabyte]

np, hope it works for you...

Just to let you know, I have a similar brush in my parts washer. The plastic end of the brush where the hose connect will probably brake off in the 1st month of use. (Be prepared, because all of a sudden mineral spirits will be everywhere )

I tapped a 1/4" pipe thread and used some JB weld and put in a brass barbed fitting and it has been working well for over a year.

thanks for the heads up. I just realized that the auction was for two brushes. I think I'll just go ahead and do the "toms73novass mod" from the get go

 

[beelsr]

Probably a good idea...

I think I'll just go ahead and do the "toms73novass mod" from the get go

 

[terabyte]

I always forget what filters to get for this darn thing so I'm posting here for reference.

Purolator PL3001
Fram PH8A
Motorcraft FL1A
Mobil 1 M1-301


or bigger...
Motorcraft FL299 (most surface area)
Purolator L40017
Wix 51773
Fram PH977A
Baldwin BT251
Donaldson P550299

                             Pleat     #           Element      Surface
                             Depth    Pleats       Width        Area
Motorcraft FL-299	0.750		64          5.50       528.00  
Fram PH977A		0.656		56          5.69       418.03  
Baldwin BT251		0.750		51          5.38       411.19  
Donaldson P550299	0.625		60          5.00       375.00  
Wix 51773		0.688		49          5.13       345.30  
Purolator L40017	0.716		66	    5.38       511.00
Motorcraft FL-1A	0.719		56          3.75       301.88

 

[RbrtAWhyt]

How's it working out?

 

[terabyte]

great actually. this is one of my favorite tools.

i have replaced the filter once it was working fine and then almost all the sudden flow was none existent. Replaced the filter and all was well. The cheap orange air hose I am using is getting brittle and started to leak a bit so I need to replace those. I never got around to putting a metal fitting on the brush but is hasn't needed it either.
Its amazing how much sediments get to the bottom of the bucket.

anyone have recommendations as to what type of hose to use? I'm thinking fuel hose.

 

[mrholeshot]

.

Russell Super Blue fuel hose. It is resistant to almost any kind of Liquid. Summit sells the same "Russell" hose under it's house brand.

 

[terabyte]

thank you sir

 

[NTAPHSE]

I thought the problem with the HF parts washer was that the pump is not rated for combustible solvents, hence the water-based "soap" they sell to go with it. I was baout to sell mine for $40 to a guy on Craigslist, but if I can safely run Mineral Spirits or some other solvent in it then I'll hang on to it.

 

[Lump]

I had the same worry, but someone told me that there unit was working fine with mineral spirits. So I bought one, filled it with MS, and started using it about 5 months ago. No problems to date, with light, occasional usage.

 

[Skin]

I thought the problem with the HF parts washer was that the pump is not rated for combustible solvents.

that sounds rediculous, what commercially available parts washer fluids arent combustable? Granted i'm sure you could find a couple but the vast majority are extremely flammable. That would be a very stupid flaw with a parts washer.

 

[srmofo]

anyone have recommendations as to what type of hose to use? I'm thinking fuel hose.

why not use some nice metal fuel line?

 

[jabberwoki]

I friend of mine did somthing similar but he used an oil filter adapter to filter the returning fluid.

 

[JASTECH]

To have proper venting ect. what about a small fuel tank from VW or?

Thanks, JASTECH

 

[lipadj46]

I always forget what filters to get for this darn thing so I'm posting here for reference.

Purolator PL3001
Fram PH8A
Motorcraft FL1A
Mobil 1 M1-301


or bigger...
Motorcraft FL299 (most surface area)
Purolator L40017
Wix 51773
Fram PH977A
Baldwin BT251
Donaldson P550299

                             Pleat     #           Element      Surface
                             Depth    Pleats       Width        Area
Motorcraft FL-299	0.750		64          5.50       528.00  
Fram PH977A		0.656		56          5.69       418.03  
Baldwin BT251		0.750		51          5.38       411.19  
Donaldson P550299	0.625		60          5.00       375.00  
Wix 51773		0.688		49          5.13       345.30  
Purolator L40017	0.716		66	    5.38       511.00
Motorcraft FL-1A	0.719		56          3.75       301.88

Funny those are the filters I use in my truck. Add to the list Donaldson P169071 which has the synthetic glass media and can hold more junk without getting clogged.

 

[TAMPAGT07]

I hear that. My boss at work says "Never come to me with problems without a solution to offer?...

That's funny...My boss says, "What the Hell do you want?" Then I say, "Can I......" He interupts and says, "Are you still here?" Just kidding, I've got only great things to say about my boss.

 

[cglasgow]

that sounds rediculous, what commercially available parts washer fluids arent combustable? Granted i'm sure you could find a couple but the vast majority are extremely flammable. That would be a very stupid flaw with a parts washer.

These are consumer-grade washers. I have a Northern Tool washer (same as the HF washer, near as I can tell) and the instruction sheet that came with the pump showed its typical installation in a koi pond! Hence the recommendation for water-based solvents....

 

[NTAPHSE]

Parts list

I am about to do this same mod on my old HF parts washer and have one concern. The leads coming off the pump are very short, and it looks like the OP extended them based on the blue cord and electrical tape i see in the above picture. Does it seem unsafe to anyone else to have an electrical splice in or right above the solvent reservoir?