Parts washer.. fully enclosed ?

[JeepsAreBuilt]

Ive been thinking about something like this every now and then.. a parts washer thats fully enclosed. Like a sand blasting cabinet. Is there anything like this out there ? Or will I have to build it ? I hate it when I go to brush a part clean, and I get dirty solvent on my face. My parts washer(home made) has the fluid under air pressure, so it sprays out a nozzle.. which I really like, but I have to keep the pressure down so it dosent get everywhere(like in my eye). So, if I had a fully enclosed parts washer, I could crank up the pressure and really get stuff clean in a hurry. Anyone seen something like this.. pics ?

What do you guys do when you have a real grimy part to clean ? You dont want to load up your expensive solvent with all that heavy grime. Scrape as much as you can off first right ? Maybe pressure washer the part on a piece of plywood in the gravel drive way where the grime will disappear in the gravel, unless you do it too close to something. Water pressure can send dirt/stuff a long ways away. Any other ideas ?

 

[heytrid]

scrape as much gunk off, then 2 parts washers, one for dirty parts and one for clean parts, as one gets change out (dirty) it then becomes the clean parts washer and the cycle continues.

A contained cabinet with high pressure is an awesome idea.

 

[RivennHewn]

maybe add a windshield wiper on the inside of the glass.

 

[Shadowdog500]

I have a really Old dee-blast sandblasting cabinet. When I was looking for some literature on it I found they made an identical parts washer that used a pressure hose instead of media gun. Wonder if you can seal up a HF blast cabinet well enough, and get rubber arm gloves to fit it.

Chris

 

[Adam.C]

I've been thinking about something like this every now and then.. a parts washer thats fully enclosed. Like a sand blasting cabinet. Is there anything like this out there ?

How about a dishwasher? Dishwashers are very stupid machines. They don't actually know the difference between bits of food and bits of dirt, animal based grease and petroleum based grease. Warm water and detergent do wonders for all sorts of parts. Wonder if we should be considering installing used dishwashers in our garages or shops for parts washing? Often thought it would be nice to have an electric oven all my own to bake on finishes.

 

[jeremy v]

I think there would be too much of a fire/explosion liability on the manufacturer to make a parts washer that is fully enclosed. With the regular open air type all the manufacturer has to say in the case of a fire etc. is that the operator didn't provide proper ventilation and they are off the hook for almost everything.

If you did make one yourself you should probably use only water based solvent unless you were very careful to do everything right. Petroleum based solvents would require many more dollars to make it reasonably safe. Explosion proof lighting for the inside of the unit, proper grounding of everything, viewing window that won't easily shatter or degrade from long term solvent exposure, etc.

In as far as getting solvent in your eyes when washing parts I have found that safety glasses help.

To be serious now, you will get a lot less splashing if you set up your pump for a higher flow volume while keeping the velocity of the solvent coming out the end of the hose as low as possible. Usually this can be accomplished by increasing the diameter of the solvent hose for at least the last foot or so. If you also keep the scrub brush under that heavy slow flow of solvent while brushing it will make very little mess vs. brushing in open air and having the bristles fling solvent drops in every direction.

 

[bulletpruf]

I clean lots of grimy stuff...some thoughts -

-Some folks install old dishwashers in the shop to clean parts. As mentioned, detergent + very hot water do a pretty good job.

-Pressurized parts washer is one thing; if you heated it it would be even better. I've used a "Hotsy" pressure washers before -- basically just a pressure washer that spews out water that's 200 degrees or so. Great for really getting grease off larger parts, stripping all the undercoating from your car, etc. I think a decent one will run $2k, so they're not cheap.

-Two parts washers would be nice -- one for dirty and one for clean. If you only have one, once it fills with gunk, drain it and clean it. Get rid of all the sludge that was laying on the bottom.

 

[404]

Here is one:

Torrent 400 parts washing system
http://www.motortrader.com.my/news/torrent-400-parts-washing-system/

Another possibility is vapor blasting which adds glass beads and air to the water.

 

[davey25]

Yes there are parts washers that have high pressure multiple jets and a spinning basket..they are heated as well and you turn them on for a timed cycle..very much like a dishwasher but you don't need the drain

 

[Monkey Milk]

snap on, I don't know if they still carry it.

 

[dsimatt]

Yes there are parts washers that have high pressure multiple jets and a spinning basket..they are heated as well and you turn them on for a timed cycle..very much like a dishwasher but you don't need the drain

We have 2 at work that are quite big that you could put a engine in if you need, obvisouly not for a home tech due to price and all.

 

[corvair Ed]

I have thought about this also. At work we you cuda brand parts washers, hot water/soap, inclosed rotating basket. They make a bunch of different sizes.
I have seen Edd on the show wheeler dealer use an eclosed parts washer, kind of looks like a blast cabinet. Must be a euorpean thing......

 

[mtwaterguy]

Here ya go. I had one like this when I had my wrecking yard in PDX. Worked great.

http://www.ultimatewasher.com/parts-washers.htm

 

[2oolhound]

I saw one that looked like your basic tub on a drum type for sale here locally on cl. Judging by the faded paint and look of it I'd say it was 70's 80's vintage. I wanted to buy it but someone beat me to it. The lid would have been about 14" high over the basic tub.

Like you I've thought of adding an air pressure mix to my basic cleaning tank so was really interested to see this one advertised. You just want to add a viewing glass, light and gloves like a sand blaster and maybe a windshield wiper too.

 

[2oolhound]

Here you go:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=264927

 

[ADSR]

I pressure wash the part outside with hot water running through my machine first. then i use a regular parts washer to do the rest.

would love to see a modded dishwasher for the garage tho.

 

[rdn2blazer]

Kind of like an engine hot tank enclosed degreaser? Lots of work for the extra cleaning. Just get good quality solvent and let parts soak, just like dishes in a sink of hot soapy water. My parts washer leak test before powder coating. Can soak a complete axle in it.

 

[chrismenke]

This is what takes up 16 square feet of my garage.

http://www.landanorthwest.com/cuda-sj-15-automatic-parts-washer.html

Love it, but is is spendy on the power.

 

[rdn2blazer]

This is what takes up 16 square feet of my garage.

http://www.landanorthwest.com/cuda-sj-15-automatic-parts-washer.html

Love it, but is is spendy on the power.

Thats bad *** but man that has to be pricy too. I see it's only in 220v. The drawback is you can't fit big parts in it like an axle housings. Thats why I decided to just do a build for the type of parts I work with. How well does it clean in the nooks and cranny's? In those tough areas you usually have to scrub with a good brush?

 

[rsanter]

Yes they made them
They were you regular old parts washer with the low pressure pump but had the top or cabinet added so the operator would stay cleaner.

I have been thinking about this for years and want to build one but have not had the time.
What I want to do is build a cabinet like a sand blasting cabinet, however I would use an electric pressure washer in the unit. I have noticed that with many of the electric pressure washers you could remove the wand extensions and install the nozzle right to the gun. If you have a catch tank that you pull the fluid from about 1/3rd up from the bottom. Pull it I to where the garden hose would have connected. Then run the hose and sprayer into the cabinet.
It would be great for cleaning the smaller stuff.

And yes I would use water based cleaner

Bob

 

[cuyler1]

my 80 goldwing has a sight glass for engine oil level. there is a little screw that turns a "wiper" to view level accurately! i'm building parts washer at this moment and i think sight window with 10"x12" with a crank wiper is the way i will go.

 

[jdub63]

Yes they made them
They were you regular old parts washer with the low pressure pump but had the top or cabinet added so the operator would stay cleaner.

I have been thinking about this for years and want to build one but have not had the time.
What I want to do is build a cabinet like a sand blasting cabinet, however I would use an electric pressure washer in the unit. I have noticed that with many of the electric pressure washers you could remove the wand extensions and install the nozzle right to the gun. If you have a catch tank that you pull the fluid from about 1/3rd up from the bottom. Pull it I to where the garden hose would have connected. Then run the hose and sprayer into the cabinet.
It would be great for cleaning the smaller stuff.

And yes I would use water based cleaner

Bob

Did you ever build one of these? I've been looking for something similar...

Jdub

 

[RedneckWelder]

This is what takes up 16 square feet of my garage.

http://www.landanorthwest.com/cuda-sj-15-automatic-parts-washer.html

Love it, but is is spendy on the power.

And if that's not big enough...StingRay makes some bigguns...

We have to chain stuff down when we wash in it, even engine blocks and cylinder heads, due to the insane power.

 

[ChevyEFI]

Our dishwasher works for small castings. No need for a second one in the garage.

 

[jdub63]

Reviving an old thread...

I recently found these...

http://cleanproducts.com/DesktopSpecs.html

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FoxHunter-Enclosed-Parts-Washer-With-Auxiliary-Heating-System-Cleaner-Workshop-/201624176734

The FoxHunter looks easy enough to DIY...