Part washer solvent

[The Wolff]

The parts washer I bought at Harbor Freight recommended a water base cleaner that was sold along with it. It's a concentrate that is diluted with water. My question is ....what do you do with the dirty stuff when it's time to change? Even though mine is water based, it needs to be disposed of properly since it is now contaminated by oil and dirt....

 

[kartracer23]

I have the same washer / solvent. I have not had a single weed in the gravel behind my garage all year.

 

[Brad54]

I also have an HF parts washer, and got the water-based stuff. Not a fan. I don't think it cut through the crud as well, and it evaporated out, leaving a really disgusting paste in the bottom. (Yes, I kept the lid closed). My buddy got some at the same time, and he didn't have a problem with it evaporating, but he also keeps a blanket over it when not in use, so he can set parts on top.

I bought 10 gallons of odorless mineral spirits from my local parts store, and it works great. I forget now how much it cost, but it wasn't outrageous (and I'm a cheap sumbitch!).

As for the ATF to moisturize your skin...
When my dad was first diagnosed with prostate cancer a bunch of years ago, he had to fill out a form of every chemical he'd come in contact with over the years.
The doc said that your skin is just like a pair of women's pantyhose--dirt, grime and stuff won't go through it, but liquids will run through you skin just like a pair of 'hose held under a water faucet.

I've got a pair of heavy duty rubber gloves I keep at my parts washer. Don't bother with the latex or "doctor's office" rubber gloves--they dissolve pretty quickly.

-Brad

 

[Atlascycle]

one thing to check before you fill your solvent tank is to check and see what the pump is rated for, if it it for water based then when you put in a petroleum based solvent the pump will not last long.

 

[tatra]

in the past i have used varsol in a tank lined with a poly bag, added 3" of water and the rest solvent...........made sure pump was elevated enough to only draw up solvent and not water..............the reason for the water was to act as a filter by allowing the impurities to sludge on the bottom and not mix back in with the varsol............solvent lasted 10 times longer and disposal was notjing more tah a cheap self priming pump for the old fluids and a bag of **** in the garbage...............and why put atf in a parts washer when really you should never allow solvent ot come in contact with your skin.........as was pointed out before , your skin is the largest organ of the body..............

 

[Titus]

Has anyone ever tried Crown PSC 1000?

 

[Dragster Racer]

Does your garage get below freezing? Careful with the water stuff if so.
I use Mineral Spirits, and like it. I am wondering how to get rid of it properly though. The chemical places are pricy.
I always soak and clean in the washer, then finish off parts with brake clean when I am building race engines. Stuff that will rust gets a thin coat of Marvel or WD40 if I am assembling right away. Careful of brake cleaner though. I got a terrible sinus burn years ago using it without enough ventalation.

 

[kbs2244]

Do any of you guys know what would work on power tools?
Skill saws, drills, angle grinders, Sawsalls, etc.
With construction in the dumps my boys are doing a lot of tool sharpening and fixing that they didn’t have time for before.
I have about 15 to 20 things lined up for tune ups.
The 2 carpenter’s stuff isn’t too bad. Sawdust caked here and there.
But the brick layer’s stuff is full of nasty mortar and brick dust.
I have been just blowing them out with compressed air and then starter fluid as I take them apart, but I would love to be able to dunk them in some circulating fluid overnight instead.
I guess I am not too worried about the motors and switches as much as the electronics.
Some of theses things have “blade brakes” that really just reverse the direction of the motor for a second when you let go of the trigger.
I don’t want to melt anything in those controls boards.

 

[motox88]

PSC 1000 from Tractor Supply. about $40/5gal.

http://www.tractorsupply.com/webapp...10551_10001_36328_-1______?rFlag=true&cFlag=1

 

[kbs2244]

Thanks;
I will check that stuff out.

 

[shaun]

How and where do you guys dispose of the sludgy muck when you clean out your washer? I'd rather not dump it behind the shop.

 

[krusty the clown]

it all gets taken to a waste oil collection point if it's petroleum based.

 

[GarageDreamer]

try buying the stuff in Cali... its $80... and envorimentally friendly..

 

[motorsportsaddict]

I buy 5 gal containers of Zep Industrial Purple Cleaner & Degreaser at Home Depot. It's about $35 for 5 gallons. Works really well but as others have said, wear gloves. The lye in it will eat your skin and curl your finger nails. Don't ask me how I know. I've tried diesel fuel but it couldn't touch the purple stuff.

 

[scooterseats]

I have been using Kerosene for over 50 years and will never change. It is reasonable low flash point, easy on the skin and reasonably priced compared to some of the other solutions available. I find that it actually takes the soreness out of small nicks and cuts tht I seem to be overly plagued with in my old age.

 

[bmwpower]

I have been using Kerosene for over 50 years and will never change. It is reasonable low flash point, easy on the skin and reasonably priced compared to some of the other solutions available. I find that it actually takes the soreness out of small nicks and cuts tht I seem to be overly plagued with in my old age.

You don't use gloves??

 

[brianpgriset]

I use pure benzene... works fantastic!
























joking .

 

[chevelle67]

i have access to R-11 refrigerant, still is the king of parts cleaner. Only problem is evaporation and its impossible to get. Brother in law uses dry cleaning solvent for clothes, works well but is too flamable for comfort.

 

[nate379]

I use 25-30 gals of Stoddard Solvent, aka PB-90... aka... dry cleaning chemical. Costs around $500 for a 55 gal barrel. It's pretty much the same as paint thinner, just doesn't smell much.

No need to add ATF... the solvent gets plenty of oil in it after a few days of use. I usually wear gloves when messing with it though since it makes my hands burn and tingle after a bit (must be good **** huh?)

For the comment about painting after... I do it all the time and no issues.

Clean it, blow it off and paint.

 

[orosracing]

I have been using Oil Eater in my heated 45 gal tank. It works better than the solvent made for the tanks. It also will clean better than the kerosene or min. spirits. I believe it is a 3 to 1 mix with water.

 

[phy6]

I buy 5 gal containers of Zep Industrial Purple Cleaner & Degreaser at Home Depot. It's about $35 for 5 gallons. Works really well but as others have said, wear gloves. The lye in it will eat your skin and curl your finger nails. Don't ask me how I know. I've tried diesel fuel but it couldn't touch the purple stuff.

I thought that was a euphemism! Was cleaning up my new-to-me parts washer yesterday with Sam's Club purple stuff and thought my nails had a funny shape last night. Then I remembered this post.... I was even wearing gloves except for ~3 minutes at the end!

 

[Keep]

Call your local solvent supply house. They can give you recommendations for your type of use etc. Since I have bedrooms above my garage I tried the eco friendly non-petroleum based stuff and well I was less than impressed. I now have 150 safety solvent. High flash point less fumes and works just like regular solvent.

 

[krooser]

Stoddard Solvent for me...

 

[metal1313]

i use mineral spirits but my parts washer is under what is basically a lean to behind my tiny garage. i put it there beucase i dont use it to often, didnt want to take up the space, and most importantly didnt want to have it in the garage that gets super hot in the summer

 

[TAMPAGT07]

I have the same washer / solvent. I have not had a single weed in the gravel behind my garage all year.

Me too...And I'm kinda getting used to those three eyed frogs jumping around back there..

 

[Laredo]

I use straight gasoline in my parts washer - $2 a gallon and works GREAT!!







Oops - wait a minute. April Fools day was last month.

 

[Vinko]

I buy 5 gal containers of Zep Industrial Purple Cleaner & Degreaser at Home Depot. It's about $35 for 5 gallons. Works really well but as others have said, wear gloves. The lye in it will eat your skin and curl your finger nails. Don't ask me how I know. I've tried diesel fuel but it couldn't touch the purple stuff.

I use the Zep purple for cleaning floors and wiping down saws. Also use the Zep Orange for less nasty things.

In a parts washer (which we got working again), we're using something from a local garage, but I don't know what the hell it is. I should find out It's not working as well as I'd like.

Also using acetone for some steel parts and fasteners that have grease, but there's a lot more manual labor in scrubbing than I'd like.

I'm gradually figuring out ways to do things smarter. Little by little

 

[Vinko]

Oh yes, for protection, the guy who uses our parts washer, has a "coat" from McMaster-Carr, goggles and full face-shield, and gloves.

 

[DCarr]

I've been using varsol for years in my solvent tank. Now they want 6.30 $ a gallon for it. So I am holding off. I need about 70 gal. between both my tanks.

I thought about the purple stuff, but after reading this thread I think I will stay away from it as I am not a glove kinda guy. And I know better than to think I will start wearing them.

One of my tanks has a heater and will get up to 190*, I havent used that one yet, but the guy I got it from used Varsol in it also .. there is no doubt anout it as it still has the smell. It also has an agitator and a high flow pump so I have to stay away from anything that suds up.

 

[Junkman]

I have a plastic tub that has a defective heater at the bottom. It does have a circulating pump in it. The name of the manufacturer is Smart Washer. I don't think that I can use a petroleum based solvent in it. There is no lid, so evaporation might be an issue. Any specific suggestions as to what to use in it? The company says that you need to use there chemicals and some mat the has microbes in it, and has to be changed every 30 days, not to mention that they want the unit plugged in so the solution is always hot. To me, this is less than ideal for my occassional use.

 

[DCarr]

I just bought a 50 lb. bucket of " Citrus Soak " from Silver Seal to use in my heated 40 gal. tank. The stuff works really well and am very happy with it so far. 50 lbs. will fill my tank at least 3 times.

edit: I am also going to add some powder dishwasher machine detergent to see if it helps at all.

edit pt. II. One thing I read often when searching for a product was that some chemicals ( varsol for one ) can let the grime soak into some metals. The cleaner I am using ... leaves alum. with a real nice shiny surface. So that is something to consider. And it does a pretty good job of removing the carbon from the ports and comb. chamber.

 

[Vinko]

Anyone use VISTA LPA 142 solvent?

 

[nate379]

Wow that is cheap! I'd be buying it all up for sure! I paid $10 a gal for the last stuff I bought.

I've been using varsol for years in my solvent tank. Now they want 6.30 $ a gallon for it. So I am holding off. I need about 70 gal. between both my tanks.

I thought about the purple stuff, but after reading this thread I think I will stay away from it as I am not a glove kinda guy. And I know better than to think I will start wearing them.

One of my tanks has a heater and will get up to 190*, I havent used that one yet, but the guy I got it from used Varsol in it also .. there is no doubt anout it as it still has the smell. It also has an agitator and a high flow pump so I have to stay away from anything that suds up.

 

[35mastr]

Oil eater works very well. It can be bought at Costco also. They also offer complete parts washer kits.

 

[MrMack]

I love to use Varsol. Where can you get it now? any brand name of bulk distributors still sell it?
I used to haul a 55 gallon drum up to the Phillips 66 bulk dealer and they would fill it for me for cash. I have moved 250 miles away from the city.

 

[Craig_Murphy]

I live in New Braunfels Texas. I own a transmission shop and we used to buy Varsol to clean our transmission parts in. We used large tubs or vats and then would drain and re-fill periodically when tubs got dirty. I bought some used System One parts cleaners a couple of years ago and am now using mineral spirits. The parts washers have a recycle and distillation process where now we just hit a button to bring up clean mineral spirits and at night they turn on the distillation or recycle process. You do have to clean the sludge out periodically but we are much happier with these parts washers.

But....... to answer your question. We bought our Varsol from Dixie Oil in San Antonio, Texas. They would deliver it to us in 55 gallon drums. Their phone number is 210-226-8151. If that is too far to drive you might want to call them and ask them if they know someone in your area who might sell the Varsol. Good Luck. Craig Murphy

 

[knudsen]

As many do, I use kero, but I rinse it with mineral spirits if I don't want the oily residue. Or acetone if I need it super clean, like if I'm going to use JB Weld or loctite it, or if I'm just tired of having pretty, moist, Palmolive hands...

 

[GYOGI65]

use diesel fuel or kero works good cheap and goes in waste oil furnace when dirty