parts washer question?
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scooterseats
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I have the 20 gallon HF one and have been using it for about 10 years now. Works great with Kerosene. The only down side is it does require at least 20 gallons to keep the pump suction below the fluid level so it will work. Also the shelf is a little weak and will not support real heavy items but is still serviceable. I would definitely purchase again.
Chris Adams
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- Oct 21, 2007
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Always price your washer fluid of choice before buying a washer.
And as has been posted, know how much you will need.
Know that the fluid evaporates slowly but surely.
The fluid will cost more than the unit on most.
Factor in odor. Odorless fluid stinks, the other suggestions smell worse.
Remember safety. A fire from a poorly chosen fluid is no fun, in fact it may kill you or your loved ones.
If you use non-standard fluids, assume your insurance company will desert you in an accident.
Keeping it in a small out building or shed makes you and your wife happier.
Going with the water based ones is much safer, cleaner, but won't clean as well.
On the ones with the big barrel below, there are tricks to let you use less fluid than the minimum required.
Best, is partially fill it with glass jars, or other solvent impervious bulk so you need less fluid.
I recently cut the top ten inches off my solvent barrel to avoid having to put 12 gallons in it. Now it works fine with 6.
All metal solvent tank will last virtually forever. I gave one to a buddy ten years ago after ten years use. Still works fine. That was a very cheap import.
I use a 25 or more year old US made.
Pumps wear out. Or don't. My pump was made in the 80's, but the small washer next to my big washer the pump only lasted about two years.
Pumps cost almost as much as washers.
And as has been posted, know how much you will need.
Know that the fluid evaporates slowly but surely.
The fluid will cost more than the unit on most.
Factor in odor. Odorless fluid stinks, the other suggestions smell worse.
Remember safety. A fire from a poorly chosen fluid is no fun, in fact it may kill you or your loved ones.
If you use non-standard fluids, assume your insurance company will desert you in an accident.
Keeping it in a small out building or shed makes you and your wife happier.
Going with the water based ones is much safer, cleaner, but won't clean as well.
On the ones with the big barrel below, there are tricks to let you use less fluid than the minimum required.
Best, is partially fill it with glass jars, or other solvent impervious bulk so you need less fluid.
I recently cut the top ten inches off my solvent barrel to avoid having to put 12 gallons in it. Now it works fine with 6.
All metal solvent tank will last virtually forever. I gave one to a buddy ten years ago after ten years use. Still works fine. That was a very cheap import.
I use a 25 or more year old US made.
Pumps wear out. Or don't. My pump was made in the 80's, but the small washer next to my big washer the pump only lasted about two years.
Pumps cost almost as much as washers.
ghnl
Well-known member
I forget if mine was from Harbor Freight or Northern Tool. I bought it many years ago. The only real issue I had was the switch is junk - literally fell apart after a few months. Easily replaced with a better quality switch.
1948
Well-known member
the pump stopped working on my HF years ago.... not sure if its the switch or what havent really had time to mess with it. i just dip a brush into the pit on the side and that does the job just fine.
the only thing that i hate about parts washers is that if you get near it when its open for more than a few min you will REEK like the cleaner for the rest of the day, and even if you didnt get it on your clothing the smell wont come out unless you wash them real good. and the smell doesnt come off your skin until you take a hot *** shower or bath.
the only thing that i hate about parts washers is that if you get near it when its open for more than a few min you will REEK like the cleaner for the rest of the day, and even if you didnt get it on your clothing the smell wont come out unless you wash them real good. and the smell doesnt come off your skin until you take a hot *** shower or bath.
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Shadowdog500
Well-known member
The HF one will last years. I had one of those in the early 90s and it was still working when I sold it a few years later.
The stuff from tractor supply smells a little like lighter fluid. Either I'm used to the smell or the odor is weak because I really don't smell the stuff. My portable parts washer from tractor supply said 20 gallons but in reality it only took 8 gallons to be level with the shelf that you use as a floor. For mine 20 gallons means full to the brim and fluid will spill over when you put something in like archimedes experiment. It took over a year for me to put the other two gallons in the tank so the evaporation isn't as fast as you would think.
Chris
The stuff from tractor supply smells a little like lighter fluid. Either I'm used to the smell or the odor is weak because I really don't smell the stuff. My portable parts washer from tractor supply said 20 gallons but in reality it only took 8 gallons to be level with the shelf that you use as a floor. For mine 20 gallons means full to the brim and fluid will spill over when you put something in like archimedes experiment. It took over a year for me to put the other two gallons in the tank so the evaporation isn't as fast as you would think.
Chris
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Chris Adams
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- Oct 21, 2007
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Depends on what part of Earth (your location
) you inhabit.About two gallons a year here, that's through about 1 square inch of venting.
High altitude, high desert.
racerbob4
Well-known member
About 30m years ago I was sharing a large unit with 15 other race guys and we had a parts washer in one end of the unit. I was cleaning parts and a guy one bay down started cutting some roll cage pipe with the sparks coming my way. ONe landed in the parts washer and the whole thing went up in flames. Singed my hair and eyebrows before I could get the cover down which put the fire out. The standard cleaner is highly flameble so always keep the cover down and put the parts washer near the main door.
trbomax
Well-known member
My red/blue HF unit worked great for almost 20 yrs. I added a filter on the discharge line and replaced the pos shelf with an oven rack. It sat for almost 2 yrs during the move and now the pump will only run if you give the impeller a spin,so I need a pump. I figured the pump will cost as much as a new washer, plus all the bs of getting one. If they are on sale for 80 bucks I'm just going to order a new one tonight.
edit0 i just checked this out. the one thats on sale at $99 has a "general purpose pump". The downloaded manual says never use solvent or diesel,. The other one thats not on sale and $139 has a pump that the owner manual says to use water based solvents only. I would say there is not any point in buying either if you use diesel,which I do.
edit0 i just checked this out. the one thats on sale at $99 has a "general purpose pump". The downloaded manual says never use solvent or diesel,. The other one thats not on sale and $139 has a pump that the owner manual says to use water based solvents only. I would say there is not any point in buying either if you use diesel,which I do.
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