Hobby_Man22
Well-known member
it's called varsol I believe
Parts washer solvent?
- Thread starter metalmagpie
- Start date
Why do all the latest parts washers ( mainly low cost benchtop and 20 gal) say use only water based fluids? I need something in my garage but don't heat 24/7 in winter. Anyone use solvent/ kerosene in parts washer marked for only soap? Wonder if it's just a way for companies to get away with no liability? or will it fail the pump?
That would be my assumption. No fire or environmental concerns if water is used over solvents.
racecougar
Well-known member
Agreed. The only watch-out is that the seals in some of those pumps (like the HF 20 gallon) swell in solvent-based cleaners. I pulled the front seal out of the pump before filling mine, right from the get go. It has run perfectly with PSC1000 for ~ 3 years now.
Late answer but essentially yes, the pump will fail due to the parts inside not being solvent friendly. Also the industry is trying to steer people away from harsher chemicals and using water based solvents that are a lot more health friendly, not so much for liability purposes, but just because the marketing suggests people would rather live a long time and enjoy their toys and hobbies vs getting leukemia and other conditions known to cause serious health issues.
Also for the guy who suggested MEK, if you can find it, you should use it in very limited circumstances with a full set of breathing and skin protection, and only for things like sticker or adhesive removal, and not in a parts washer. It will definitely cause health issues, both immediate and long term if you use it in a traditional parts washer.
Spareparts
Well-known member
MEK is bad stuff, attacks the liver, got a senior supervisor terminated over having a summer help, usually employee's
kids wash some fans with a big pan of MEK, no PPE at all, just a bath towel, I was a maintenance man on that floor
when I seen that. Stopped him, his dad was a maintenance man i worked with I callled him to get some clean clothes.
Sent him to the shower and went to the Plant Supervisor armed with the MSDS sheet. We had a very heated meeting and
he left unemployed, he was a bully to these young people giving them all the dirty jobs he could, it did help that I was on the safety
team, you teach these young people how to do things right and safe, not bulley them.
kids wash some fans with a big pan of MEK, no PPE at all, just a bath towel, I was a maintenance man on that floor
when I seen that. Stopped him, his dad was a maintenance man i worked with I callled him to get some clean clothes.
Sent him to the shower and went to the Plant Supervisor armed with the MSDS sheet. We had a very heated meeting and
he left unemployed, he was a bully to these young people giving them all the dirty jobs he could, it did help that I was on the safety
team, you teach these young people how to do things right and safe, not bulley them.
Yeah I have to use it in sparing doses from a poly bottle for removing stuck on silicone and sticker stuff before going into a sand blast cabinet. It's about the only thing that will work but like I said, sparingly, with a respirator, and nitrile gloves on and I just squirt a little out of the bottle on a rag to scrub/wipe it off and then toss the rag and cap the bottle. I can't imagine anyone trying it in a parts washer without getting high as a kite and passing out. I am even hestitant to do any brake kleen or parts washing now without some level of protection as well. I use the PSC solvent in my parts washer now days but still use a vinyl apron and nitrile gloves with a huge fan on the wall blowing across to just ventilate the work area.
BTL-A4
Well-known member
I used Simple Green in mine. It's a degreaser. Mixed 1:1 it will remove/soften paint.
Jagmandave
Well-known member
I don't know what kind of pumps you all are using, but the pump in my HF cleaning tank has been running solvent thru it for more than 30 years, still works just fine.
1320stang
Well-known member
My old shop teacher in college told us if we get MEK in our eye, don't both trying to rinse it out because in a couple seconds you'll be blind in that eye. Don't know if thats true, didn't chance it.
rd65
Well-known member
Back in the late 80s I worked at a water ski company making skis and we would use MEK to clean up resin regularly. Very nasty stuff. Somtimes a respirator but usually not. Gloves always. Young and dumb. When I worked at Boeing you needed a special ID card to get/use MEK. A few years back I did see it in quart cans at Lowes.
PhantomEB
Well-known member
I been thinking Super Clean or Mean Green. About 18-20$ a jug but I plan a 5 gallon pail underneath so I will only need 3-4 jugs worth….. any insight to my thoughts?
MarineScott
Well-known member
Stoddard solvent
csp
Well-known member
The pump in a 30 year old HF parts washer was made to be used with solvents. Try that with one made in the last ten years.
racecougar
Well-known member
rd65
Well-known member
Ordered a Torin Big Red bench top tank for the youngest, 24, his birthday is this Saturday. I will pick up some PSC 1000 from TSC this week.
BurtEggley
Well-known member
- Joined
- Oct 8, 2024
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- 861
If the solvent tank / cleaner was designed for a hydrocarbon based solvent, there is only one to use. It is solvent 142-66, which releases gases at 142F that can combust from any ignition source. It is a mineral spirit type cleaner and is closest to the original Stoddard Solvent that was used for years. That is solvent 105 - which releases combustible gases at 105F. Mineral spirit based solvent cleaners have a feature that quickly closes the lid in a fire. Their pumps are designed to handle flammable fluids. Many new solvent cleaners are designed for a non-flammable water based cleaner. While they do not work as well as the mineral spirit type solvents, they do a reasonable job. Some people use kerosene or diesel in cleaners designed for flammable solvents, but they do not clean quite as well, and take a long time to dry.
DO NOT use hydrocarbon based flammable cleaners in a parts washer not designed for them. We may have to send your spouse a condolences card after you blow the garage up, or you flowers and get well cards while you recover from severe burns.
DO NOT use hydrocarbon based flammable cleaners in a parts washer not designed for them. We may have to send your spouse a condolences card after you blow the garage up, or you flowers and get well cards while you recover from severe burns.
racecougar
Well-known member
PSC 1000 has a 143F flash point, too.
BurtEggley
Well-known member
- Joined
- Oct 8, 2024
- Messages
- 861
comparing the two SDS they are close.PSC 1000 has a 143F flash point, too.
I have always used Varsol in tank built into NE bench with a lid that is always on unless cleaning parts. Seriously considering some water based solvents, though. Started by changing carb cleaner to straight detergent (seems to work well) and would like main parts tank to be as safe and effective.
racecougar
Well-known member
That's my point. Solvent 142-66 isn't the one and only option.
csp
Well-known member
The point was the guy with the 30 year old HF washer doesn't have the same thing as what's currently available. I'm aware that you can modify anything to make it work.
M.Brane
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Shellsol D40 here. It's basically mineral spirits. I put a seal on the lid of the HF washer so it it doesn't off-gas so much in the garage. Eventually it will live outside under an awning like it did at my former place.
AP514
Well-known member
YUP--MEK is a "Super Great Cleaner" Beats the tar out of the Wuss stuff that is put out now ! !
but you have to Suit up for its use for sure.
MEK--Mask and Gloves For the WIN
but you have to Suit up for its use for sure.
MEK--Mask and Gloves For the WIN
Stick-man
Well-known member
I inquired about this, but they told me they require a business license to service my shop. This is a side gig, so I ended up with the PSC1000. But I would like to know more about using kerosene.
Stick-man
Well-known member
I haven't used Safety Kleen since the 90's, last time I was in a shop that had it. It worked fantastic. Now I have my own shop and I use PSC100, and it doesn't clean nearly as good as I remember the SK.
Stick-man
Well-known member
I would like to try kerosene in the future, but should I be worried about the 100*F flash point vs. the PSC1000 143*F flash point? I guess I am looking for something that will cut thru grease better. I service a lot of trailer bearings, truck & heavy equipment parts, and the PSC just doesn't clean as good as I remember Safety Kleen from back in the 90's.
TriumphFan
Well-known member
I've been using kerosene in my 30-yr old HF parts cleaner with no problem. I clean it every now and again and buy kerosene by the gallon at a service station. It's not as cheap as it used to be but works pretty well.
Stick-man
Well-known member
And no worries about the lower flashpoint? I am not a flashpoint expert, but.......
I have a Snap-on parts washer, and I do keep the lid closed when not in use. I don't really care about the price because $10/gal for PSC1000 will not break me. I am looking for something a bit more effective.
racecougar
Well-known member
Ok. That awareness was not conveyed by your post. Either way, it's a potentially 60-second procedure to "modify" the new parts washer to operate perfectly with solvents.
It would be interesting to see a direct side-by-side comparison of today's Safety-Kleen Premium Solvent vs Crown PSC1000.
csp
Well-known member
That awareness wasn't relevant to the person I was responding to. The quoted post matters.
The guy said something along the lines of I don't know what pumps you're using but my 30 year old pump works fine with solvents.
Modifying a new pump to make it work had nothing to do with his statement, nor was I trying to convey how to do it. He assumed the new ones come ready to go with solvents just like his 30 year old pump did.
racecougar
Well-known member
Wow.