Parts washer recommendations?

[Fallon]

What would you guys recommend for a parts washer? I'd prefer less toxic water based cleaner, but am in Colorado & my shop isn't heated, not to mention solvent generally cleaning better without any rust issues. May just go water based & drain it often though. Would likely add in a water heater element & thermostat at some point if I stick with a water based solution. I've googled around a fair bit & poked around on here looking for stuff as well, but still looking for a recommendation.

The main options as I see em...

$80 (never forget your 20% off coupon) Harbor freight 20 gallon special. Probably $60 replace the pump & plumb in an external tank relatively quick to get decent filtration & when the cheap internal pump dies.

$200 For basically what looks like a 40 gallon version of the HF unit, with all the same downsides, only about twice the size. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CKWAZ4G/?tag=atomicindus08-20

$400-500 (out of budget) with shipping for a 30 gallon drum type http://www.tptools.com/30-Gallon-Drum-Type-Parts-Washer,707.html?b=s*parts+washers

DIY...
$0-100 Craigslist stainless steel sink (would you risk using a plastic utility sink with the possibility of using a petroleum based solvent?)
$10-20 30 gallon drum
$50 pump
$50-75 of plumbing, screen, brush, nozzle, filter & parts
Probably kills a full day building a stand & putting the whole thing together, maybe the better part of a weekend with the usual interruptions.

 

[ndnchf]

FWIW - I have a HF 20g gal, been using it for over 20 years. I use kerosene for my solvent. Cheap and works great. If you want to heat it, get a magnetic engine block heater and attach it to the bottom of the tank.

 

[dodge610]

FWIW - I have a HF 20g gal, been using it for over 20 years. I use kerosene for my solvent. Cheap and works great. If you want to heat it, get a magnetic engine block heater and attach it to the bottom of the tank.

^^^^ This is what I have zero complaints and i did the heating ugrade as mentioned.

 

[Danglerb]

If I had the space and no friend with a huge power unit I would dig up a good running cheap used dishwasher and use something water based.

DIY in my garage I use a large Home Depot cement mixing tub with spray bottles of simple green or Dawn or WD40 and a brush and rags.

 

[WILD-BILL]

Been there done that. Went all the way to making a thermostat controlled heating element in a tank. A really nice set up.

Even when heated, it didn't really clean worth a **** compared to the solvent tank I have at work. Then, the pump died after only a few times using it.

Now it sits taking up space until I can get a good pump to work with a solvent based cleaner.

 

[Danglerb]

This is Calif, so I doubt we are allowed the best stuff, but my friends shop has two parts washers, big automatic monster that runs too hot to touch internally, and a typical basin hand system both serviced by a once a month change the solvent company. The Simple Green and tub at home worked well enough that things I took apart at home stayed at home for cleaning, very rarely bothering to dump them in a tub and haul to my friends.

Recently purchased but haven't tried yet is the small McCulloch steam cleaner, but friends who are serious on detailing their cars seem to like it for the greasy work. Part of that though could be easy cleanup, a few layers of news paper to catch the drip that can go in the trash.

 

[ptschram]

I have an OLD Safety-Kleen parts washer and would not begin to try to run a shop without it.

I am a strong proponent of diesel fuel as a solvent. It's cheap, easily available in small quantities and once spent, it is used as a fire starter for burning brush and boxes.

I also have an old dishwasher that I use for final cleaning. It is simply a wonderful tool to have and once parts are scrubbed in the solvent tank, if I put them into the dishwasher, they come out spotless. Also, if I have bearings to install, the heat of the aqueous washer is often enough to expand housings to allow the easy install of bearings or shafts.

 

[Finky198]

Plus 1 on the safety Klean we have one of the 35 gallon units filled with psc1000

If you can find a decent used one they are worth the extra funds imho.

 

[Fallon]

I ended up just grabbing the $80 HF standby & a $10 moving dolly that should fit under it just about perfectly (cheaper to get the dolly that it is to just get 4 casters).

Debating between psc1000 ($9/gal in a handy metal can at the the local TSC) & some 100% bio diesel ($3ish/gal these days I think) for a solvent. Doubt the pump will last long on either, but will upgrade to a better one if/when it dies.

Still find it funny how it has the fuse-able link on the lid to smother a fire if it starts, but it's only rated for water based solvent.

 

[ndnchf]

Been using kerosene in my HF tank for 20 years. The pump still works fine too!