Parts Washer Recommendations

[ekraft84]

Doesn't have to be huge. Will be used for motorcycle parts and such. Thinking of having a base cabinet with a utility sink on one side and a parts washer on the other.

Any recommendations? HF has some. Not sure if it really matters too much from one brand to another here.

Thanks in advance.

 

[GeneralDisorder]

The HF unit is garbage - so are most of the other cheapies - mostly due to lack of filtration and uber cheap pumps that fail if you look at them cross-eyed. With automotive or motorcycle parts you will quickly foul your (alarmingly expensive for the good stuff) solvent.

For an inexpensive unit - check out the safety-kleen offerings. I see their units go for the $100 to $200 range on craigslist. They are a step up from the Chinese stuff but still lack good filtration and decent pumps, etc.

If you want a quality unit with good solvent you will have to drop some serious coin. The solvent I use at my auto repair shop is $800 for 30 gallons. And of course its in a $1200 parts washer with excellent filtration and a lifetime warranty and free servicing (cleaning, sludge disposal, fluid change, parts replacement, etc) - all I have to do is buy solvent, filters, and use it as much as I like.

GD

 

[ekraft84]

Good stuff, thanks. Thoughts on this one?

http://s-kstore.com/index.php/benchtop-parts-washer-model-14.html

 

[Steevo]

I bought this one, and I love it.
I do plan to add a spin-on filter setup before too long, though.

http://s-kstore.com/index.php/sink-parts-washer-model-30.html

It is also available in 16-gallon drum and slightly smaller sink (for less $$, too)

I put 15 gallons of stoddard solvent in mine, at $48/5gal bucket.

 

[mimidood]

The HF unit is garbage - so are most of the other cheapies - mostly due to lack of filtration and uber cheap pumps that fail if you look at them cross-eyed. With automotive or motorcycle parts you will quickly foul your (alarmingly expensive for the good stuff) solvent.

For an inexpensive unit - check out the safety-kleen offerings. I see their units go for the $100 to $200 range on craigslist. They are a step up from the Chinese stuff but still lack good filtration and decent pumps, etc.

If you want a quality unit with good solvent you will have to drop some serious coin. The solvent I use at my auto repair shop is $800 for 30 gallons. And of course its in a $1200 parts washer with excellent filtration and a lifetime warranty and free servicing (cleaning, sludge disposal, fluid change, parts replacement, etc) - all I have to do is buy solvent, filters, and use it as much as I like.

GD

What brand is that one you have?

 

[GeneralDisorder]

Mine is a commercial unit from Inland Technologies.... this one:

http://www.inlandtech.com/uploads/pdf/Commercial-Cleaners/IT-30 070710.pdf

I got a deal on it from my Inland rep - it was a used unit that was traded in by another customer on an upgrade or some such deal. I don't know all the details. I paid about $1200 for it which is something like $600 less than retail.... it's got a pretty wicked two stage filtration system that keeps my solvent 100% clean.

This is the solvent I use - it's a weapons grade cleaning solvent that I became familiar with in the Army. It's all we used in the motorpool for cleaning greasy truck parts as well as M16's, etc:

http://www.inlandtech.com/uploads/pdf/Solvents/Breakthrough Tech Data Sheet - 07-08-10.pdf

I also have a unit similar to that cart/benchtop safety-kleen model that was linked above.... this one:

http://www.inlandtech.com/uploads/pdf/Commercial-Cleaners/IT-2000 070910.pdf

Which I also got used from my rep for $400. It runs an aqueous cleaning product designed specifically for brake jobs. It's on one of those heavy duty $100 HF plastic rolling carts and rolls right under the wheel when doing a brake job with the car on a lift. This is the stuff that it runs though I buy it under the name of "Safety-Prep" which is the same stuff just 2/3 the price - they rebranded it for the commercial market and sell it for less than the GSA pays:

http://www.inlandtech.com/uploads/pdf/Solvents/Brake Prep Tech Data Sheet - 07-08-10.pdf

This stuff works amazingly on engine varnish and lightly soiled parts - doesn't handle the heavy grease and oil sludge like Breakthrough does but as a rated brake cleaner it eliminates the NASTY aerosol's I used to use for that purpose. It's also required by OSHA that I have a brake parts washer due to concerns about airborn particulates....

GD

 

[RAYJAY]

of topic but welcome to garage journal general disorder you over on the subie boards

 

[GeneralDisorder]

of topic but welcome to garage journal general disorder you over on the subie boards

Heh. Thanks! Wondered if some folks might recognize me from the subie world.

GD

 

[elguappo]

I am in the process of converting a cheap HF unit into something useful.

Bought a spin on filter kit, and will use a fuel pump from a car with a regulator to keep it to a reasonable flow.

Plumb in the drain back to the solvent tank and the output to the pump, and a 12v power source, and we're in business.

 

[GeneralDisorder]

I would use a pnuematic pump if you have air - they are not real expensive and no need for electricity and a power supply, etc.

Get a hose with a brush on the end - makes life easier.

GD

 

[trexdoink]

Safety-kleen or piss around making a Chinese POS functional. Some people like a challenge. I went the Chinese way the first time, It went from washer to tub the first time I used it. Plus you have to get rid of the solvent.

 

[PCO6]

I tried a few years ago and didn't like them so I made my own. The ones I had seemed too low and after a while I got a sore back using them. I made the "tub" of mine out of 1/8" thick steel and mounted it on a heavy angle iron frame. The floor of the tub is the same height as my work bench and is much easier on my back.

Underneath is a 5 gal. plastic pail (and lid) with a submersible pump suspended in the cleaning agent which is varsol. For filtration I have about 3" of water in the pail. The water is heavier than the varsol so it sits on the bottom of the pail. Crud that is washed off of the parts is heavier than both fluids so it falls to the bottom of the pail and sits there until I clean it out once every year or so.

I built this in the 80's and it's worked great.

 

[elguappo]

Safety-kleen or piss around making a Chinese POS functional. Some people like a challenge. I went the Chinese way the first time, It went from washer to tub the first time I used it. Plus you have to get rid of the solvent.

Get rid of what solvent?
It's a fully enclosed recirculating system, with filtration.
Auto oil filters are cheap and effective.