parts washer solvent

[txvwnut]

I've been using Northern Tools parts washer solvent, it ain't cheap though like 70 bucks for five gallons but I've been using it for about ten years now. I just top it off when it gets too low for me to sumberge a VW engine case in the bottom of my Gray Mills parts washer. I also run it through a filter when it starts to get really dark while pumping it out of the tank to clean the sludge off the bottom.

 

[Gerald O]

How do you like the kerosene? Have you compared it to mineral spirits or diesel?

I use kerosene in mine. It's a bit smellier than mineral spirits and dries just slightly slower, but cleans just as well. No comparison to diesel -- I've tried that by itself (not in the parts washer) and won't use it unless there's nothing else handy. Diesel is way heavier, doesn't clean as well or as quickly, and it never dries. It leaves an oily film.

 

[Jess]

Yes the drums are "15 gallon" and "30 gallon". They only fill them about half full. As a former Safety Kleen rep, at the branch I worked at (Schaumburg IL circa 1990), we never put water in the mineral spirits. Water and mineral spirits do not mix. If there was water it would sink to the bottom and that's all the pump would pump out. It wouldn't have any benefit. Now, since then, they may have introduced water soluble parts washers that have some type a water base cleaner.

I have a large Crown parts washer with a reservoir tank inside the larger cabinet. We fill the reservoir about 1/3 full of water, then add Varsol to fill. The pump is suspended about 1/3 of the way down in the Varsol, so it only pumps solvent. The water stays in the bottom and any grease, dirt and other **** settles out into the water at the bottom. For occasional cleanup, we pump off the Varsol, drain the water and clean out the sludge. In my use, this is about once a year. The Varsol goes back and is topped off with new from the 20L pails I get at the bulk plant.

 

[Kevkx125]

Has anybody tried moca from napa auto parts?

 

[Dennis Leigh Henry]

Menards has parts washer solvent for $45 a five..

 

[Dennis Leigh Henry]

I buy stoddard solvent from the local oil distributor.
About $45 per 5-gal bucket.

Stevo.. not many folks know it by Stoddard...that's the phrase we called it at the paint contractor / shop... Nice!!

 

[laser3kw]

I have a large Crown parts washer with a reservoir tank inside the larger cabinet. We fill the reservoir about 1/3 full of water, then add Varsol to fill. The pump is suspended about 1/3 of the way down in the Varsol, so it only pumps solvent. The water stays in the bottom and any grease, dirt and other **** settles out into the water at the bottom. For occasional cleanup, we pump off the Varsol, drain the water and clean out the sludge. In my use, this is about once a year. The Varsol goes back and is topped off with new from the 20L pails I get at the bulk plant.

Some competitors of SK did that and sold it as "benefits". Sk considered it, but the "Waste water / sludge" was to costly to recycle and way to expensive to dispose of. SK treated the solvent "cradle to grave" and it was much more efficient to recycle just the solvent, instead of "mixed waste streams".
If anyone has ever had to scrap out the bottom of a well used / abused solvent tank, you know what I mean!

 

[vpd66]

Menards has parts washer solvent for $45 a five..

What brand and type of parts washer solvent is that at Menards? All I found at my Menards was the water soluble degreaser (purple power type) stuff.

 

[sberry]

Ok, just pulled the pin, 40$ a pail for mineral spirits at the auto parts store. That was about as good as it seems to get and its a done deal.

 

[Steevo]

I also use the Tractor Supply Crown.

I put in a large oil spin-on Fram oil filter thru which the solvent flows to help keep it cleaner. Has been in use about a year now, still seems to work well, just a slight tinge of yellowing.

If one googles "parts washer filter extension" its a brainchild of an iowa extension office, in .pdf form.

I added a standard spin-on remote filter to my Safety-Kleen parts washer a couple of years ago, and it works great for straining out the very fine suspended particulate and keeping the solvent cleaner.

I did discover through trial and error that you need to use a filter with no backflow preventer thingy in it. The parts washer pump isn't strong enough to fully overcome the valve.
I ended up using spin-on diesel truck filters on mine.

 

[bczygan]

So it seems that with the variety of fluid choices means you need more than one parts cleaner?

This is only asked half in jest!

What would be the two most useful solutions?

Bill
(I have 2 parts washers, so this is a real question)

 

[Nexussian]

So it seems that with the variety of fluid choices means you need more than one parts cleaner?

This is only asked half in jest!

What would be the two most useful solutions?

Bill

A retired friend had a petroleum solvent parts washer for years (decades, used Stoddard here, retired to WA, not sure what's in it now).

A few years ago he cut a rounded hatch into the side of a 55 gallon poly drum and installed some sort of pump for circulation (I think it pulls from the middle and shoots it up from the bottom through a tube with holes in it).

It's laid on its' side with the hole up and is loaded with a strong mixture of purple power.

Last I saw he was using it to clean air cooled VW case halves.

He loved it as all he had to do was strip the engine into small enough pieces that you could fit in there.

He cleaned the easily removable stuff off first and wiped out the case, mostly to preserve the mixture.

He showed me a case he had done, and another he had paid a shop to do, his looked better.

 

[matt_i]

Bill, cheapest is best if going solvent, in my opinion.

The aqueous ones are a different animal, the solvent works but not until its around 100-120F. So, this means either a long warmup time from a cold start (3-4 hrs in my case) or else keeping it continuously warm. I got tired of the planning phase and went with the solvent version which I like better.

 

[sberry]

I get by with one unit.

 

[Djstorm100]

Does kerosene or mineral spirits, Crown PSC 1000 leave a film on the part? Thinking about getting one to clean out glass beakers that are use for paint.

 

[laser3kw]

Does kerosene or mineral spirits, Crown PSC 1000 leave a film on the part

yes, but you can rinse it off with Dawn dish soap and water or Brakleen.

 

[Highpsi]

I'll go ahead and throw another option out there that I haven't seen in the thread yet -- Citrol. I got a 5 gal. bucket of that stuff from a friend of mine that can get it from a distributor and dumped it into my parts washer undiluted. Since that was barely enough, I thinned it with another gallon or so of water and it still works fantastic. The grease cutting capability of this product is amazing.

I'd highly recommend the Citrol for anyone who has an attached garage and doesn't want any danger of fumes entering the home (read: danger = angry wife holding crying baby asking why it smells like paint thinner in the house)

The Citrol wasn't cheap by any means - about 100 bucks for the 5 gallon pail.

Edit: It did also cause the pump to fail on my cheapo "Tool Shop" POS part washer too, I guess its a plastic pump or something. Haven't really looked into that yet.

 

[srr]

Being I live in the peoples republic of Kalifornia I have to use a water based cleaner. My parts washer is made by "Simple Green" and is made from a heavy duty plastic with stainless parts inside. It was a swapmeet score for $150.00
SG *****, it's expensive and really doesn't clean all that well. I use "Purple Power" in it now. It works much better, not as good as real solvent but it rinses completely with water and doesn't evaporate. On really nasty parts an overnight soak works good but don't leave stuff in it too long, it will attack the metal. Being water based I can empty and clean the tank with my shop vac. Good rubber gloves are mandatory.

 

[kc10a]

I picked up 5 gals of Mineral spirits last week from a local oil distributor. $29.00 including tax.

 

[Shott8283]

the crown stuff from TSC works ok.. nothing super great. I did setup a filter system tends to keep it cleaner

 

[Djstorm100]

Does mineral spirits leave oil flim or any flim? Need something that is not harmful like acetone but doesn't leave flim or anything behind.

 

[laser3kw]

Does mineral spirits leave oil flim or any flim? Need something that is not harmful like acetone but doesn't leave flim or anything behind.

yes, but you can rinse it off with Dawn dish soap and water or Brakleen.

answered after your last post. Brakleen in the red can will not leave a film, nor will acetone. I use to use acetone to clean the optics within the CO2 lasers and they had to be spotless. Acetone (medical grade - low moisture) is what the manufacture recommended. As far as "not harmful" - soap and water / water rinse. I don't know what you consider "not harmful".

 

[Djstorm100]

answered after your last post. Brakleen in the red can will not leave a film, nor will acetone. I use to use acetone to clean the optics within the CO2 lasers and they had to be spotless. Acetone (medical grade - low moisture) is what the manufacture recommended. As far as "not harmful" - soap and water / water rinse. I don't know what you consider "not harmful".

Didn't see it, sorry. Looking for a option where I can just clean it and be done. Actone and brake clean are $$, trying to find a cheaper option that will still work.

 

[laser3kw]

I would try Dawn dish soap and hot water followed by a hot water rinse. Towel off with a micro fiber towel to help eliminate spots.

 

[Djstorm100]

I would try Dawn dish soap and hot water followed by a hot water rinse. Towel off with a micro fiber towel to help eliminate spots.

Not sure if that would get cerakote and other materials off. I'm trying to avoid 2nd operations. Stream line the process, sounds small but as much as I use the parts washer it would be great.

 

[Nexussian]

Not sure if that would get cerakote and other materials off. I'm trying to avoid 2nd operations. Stream line the process, sounds small but as much as I use the parts washer it would be great.

Sounds like you need to buy an ultrasonic cleaner large enough for your chosen task.

Or one of the jet blast cleaning cabinet like automotive machine shops use.

Either one would require a rinse afterwards, but not usually an entire second cleaning.


Only real option to "streamline" the process into one step it to hire it done.

 

[Djstorm100]

I would try Dawn dish soap and hot water followed by a hot water rinse. Towel off with a micro fiber towel to help eliminate spots.

Sounds like you need to buy an ultrasonic cleaner large enough for your chosen task.

Or one of the jet blast cleaning cabinet like automotive machine shops use.

Either one would require a rinse afterwards, but not usually an entire second cleaning.


Only real option to "streamline" the process into one step it to hire it done.

I'm talking about the containers I use to mix the paint/ cerakote/ etc in.

Not getting the paint off the actual parts, I have 2 blasting cabinet for that.

It's basically like doing this dishes twice solvent wash and then washing again to remove the film.

 

[Gerald O]

contrary to previous poster's advice, clean mineral spirits will not leave a film behind.
It does take longer to dry than brake cleaner but it is far safer.
It is essentially the same as what is used by the dry-cleaners to clean your clothes.

 

[laser3kw]

It is essentially the same as what is used by the dry-cleaners to clean your clothes.

not true - current "dry cleaning solvent" is perchloroethylene aka tetrachloroethene and bares no resemblance to mineral spirits. Each comes from entirely different chemical processes.
wiki page link
mineral spirits is a light form of kerosene and used in painting primarily. It fell out of favor as a dry cleaning solvent in the '50's (according to wiki) If you don't think it will leave a film, fill up a glass jar and empty it back out. Then pick it up with two fingers using light pressure and see if it slips out.
or google "will mineral spirits leave a film" and see what numerous painting related and other sites say.

 

[charger0926]

I too use the crown psc 1000 from tractor supply. All it is is naphtha, which is a more refined karosene

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

I added a standard spin-on remote filter to my Safety-Kleen parts washer a couple of years ago, and it works great for straining out the very fine suspended particulate and keeping the solvent cleaner.

I did discover through trial and error that you need to use a filter with no backflow preventer thingy in it. The parts washer pump isn't strong enough to fully overcome the valve.
I ended up using spin-on diesel truck filters on mine.

any chance i could get some pics of this set up, as I just picked up a safety klean 30 gallon cleaner and would like some ideas on a filter set up

thanks

 

[sberry]

Once the fluid gets oil in it will leave film. As for filters, these units didn't have them till they invented the internet. They don't hurt but it is an investment in effort and extra parts that doesn't have a lot of return.

 

[billspit]

not true - current "dry cleaning solvent" is perchloroethylene aka tetrachloroethene and bares no resemblance to mineral spirits. Each comes from entirely different chemical processes.
wiki page link
mineral spirits is a light form of kerosene and used in painting primarily. It fell out of favor as a dry cleaning solvent in the '50's (according to wiki) If you don't think it will leave a film, fill up a glass jar and empty it back out. Then pick it up with two fingers using light pressure and see if it slips out.
or google "will mineral spirits leave a film" and see what numerous painting related and other sites say.

I haven't read this whole thread, but varsol and Stoddard solvent were (are) used for dry cleaning. Perc was the most famous (or infamous).

 

[Nexussian]

I recently mixed some Gunk Super Concentrate (SC3) into the tired and dirty Stoddard Solvent in my parts washer.

Perked it right up.

I've since added some clean, yet old solvent to make up for evaporation (forgot some partial buckets under the bench, had the caps on tight so likely similar to fresh).

I'm running 1 1/2 to 2 quarts of SC3 in whatever the parts washer holds, 15 gallons, maybe 18.

I don't believe it's 20.

It's a late '80s vintage freestanding unit like the auto parts stores used to sell.

It is the next size up from the ones they used to sell that mountee to a 30 (?) gallon drum.

 

[bdk1976]

I fill my 10 y/o Harbor Freight parts washer with whatever mineral spirits or kerosene I pick up at garage sales. Lots of half used cans of mineral spirits hanging out in peoples garages and I never pay more than $1 for one (and that's only if it's close to full) -generally anywhere from free to 50 cents or so.

Did luck out one time and get a 3/4 full large can/bucket of new stoddard solvent for $5 which was added to the mix.

 

[Stan6452]

Kerosene, $3 a gallons.

Can you use diesel and is it effective?

 

[eddieK]

Pure Simple Green will eat the paint off the inside of the parts cleaner.

Around here SO Cal simple green is 10.00 a gal. I use mineral spirits

 

[ChevyEFI]

I recently mixed some Gunk Super Concentrate (

I wish SC + paint thinner didn't strip the paint off my HF parts washer.

 

[laser3kw]

Can you use diesel and is it effective

Yes - depends on your expectations.
pros - cleans oily / grease well
con - flammable! & leaves an oily residue, which may take another cleaner to remove

 

[airsanford]

Diesel stinks. I tried it because it was cheap, but couldn't stand the smell. I've been happy with the Crown stuff from Tractor Supply.

 

[PWC Repair]

I use agitene http://www.ebay.com/itm/GRAYMILLS-M...689711?hash=item3396f0b5ef:g:360AAOSwzaJX-RK8

If you've never used this stuff you'll be in for a treat. Even heavy sticky thick nasty grease falls right off the parts. Low odor, high flash point, doesn't bother your skin. Use it over and over and over. The heavy residue falls out of it and you just filter the rest.