Parts washer

[shaun]

What solvents do you guys use in your parts washer? Where do you get it from? More importantly, how and where do you dispose of it in a safe manner?

I've been using simple green for a while and it just doesn't dissolve the thick grease like I want it too. This is a semi-production environment where it gets used a fair amount to clean up gunky parts (decades old bearing grease) before refurbishing them.

Time to step up to a solvent based pump and solution me thinks.

Any tips?

 

[krusty the clown]

shaun, there are a few threads on this already. here is one....

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=17701&highlight=solvent

 

[rsanter]

I used to use thinner
I have seen some people use carb cleaner

bob

 

[shaun]

shaun, there are a few threads on this already. here is one....

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=17701&highlight=solvent

Thanks, I hadn't seen that one. Lots of info on solutions but not too much in the way of disposing of it. I'd rather not dump gallons of sludgy muck behind my shop.

Feel free to delete this post then. I looked but didn't see how I can delete my own post.

 

[krusty the clown]

it's ok.......if you use a petroleum solvent it can be taken to an oil recycling center or like i do to a shop thats burns waste oil for heat.

 

[sammerdog]

Gasoline in a coffee can for small gears, bearings, etc.....

 

[Rigmaster]

Gasoline in a coffee can for small gears, bearings, etc.....

been nice knowing you!!!


Seriously, I've done this many times before- but I don't anymore, it's just too dangerous.

Not to mention that the OP said he's in a "semi-production" situation, so I think a coffee can isn't gonna cut it.



To the OP- there are lots of options, if disposal is a concern, you might want to check into one of the commercial parts washing services (Safety Kleen is one around here) and see what the cost is. Of course, it's not gonna be as cheap as buying your own solvent, but they come around to your location on a regular basis and service the washer + replenish the solvent, disposing of the bad stuff as needed. Just a thought.


Rig

 

[malibu101]

............
............... there are lots of options, if disposal is a concern, you might want to check into one of the commercial parts washing services (Safety Kleen is one around here) and see what the cost is. Of course, it's not gonna be as cheap as buying your own solvent, but they come around to your location on a regular basis and service the washer + replenish the solvent, disposing of the bad stuff as needed. Just a thought.


Rig

Where I work we use Safety-Kleen. I asked them a few years ago (about 6 I'd guess) about buying solvent or what they could do for me at home.
I was told they did not service anything but commercial business accounts. They said they could not do anything for me.
Times may have changed though.

 

[sharkfin]

Try this stuff called Oil Eaters. You can get it at Costco pretty cheap and it is supposedly bio-degradable.

 

[BigChevy80]

I use a mix of diesel and mineral spirits in my parts washer at home. When I change it out I give the old stuff to my friend who has a waste oil furnace in his shop.

 

[Brad54]

Waste oil furnace, city dump's "Haz Mat" section (ours has a place to take old paint, old chemicals, etc), use it to start your next bonfire, use it along fences to keep the weeds down (really...can it be any worse than weed killer/poison? Or what they dump on the streets when they're doing black top and construction projects?).

I haven't had to dispose of mine yet--not enough use. But I figure the Haz Mat at the dump or bon fire is where mine will go.

-Brad

 

[burger]

Once a year, my municipality has an oil clean up day where you can drop off used oil, antifreeze, old paint, batteries, etc. Check to see if your town has something like that.

 

[Torque1st]

Mix kerosene and Castrol Super Clean about 4:1.

Antifreeze can often be dumped in the toilet. The "bugs" that digest sewage love the stuff. Call your water department first tho.

 

[burger]

Mix kerosene and Castrol Super Clean about 4:1.

Antifreeze can often be dumped in the toilet. The "bugs" that digest sewage love the stuff. Call your water department first tho.

4 parts kerosene or 4 parts super clean?

 

[Torque1st]

Kerosene was listed first so it is the 4 parts.

 

[russlaferrera]

If you are a Green/Tree huger type Safty Kleen is for you. They take care of everything including disposal.

If you are a cheap tree huger type, you can buy water base parts cleaner. Note: IMO it does not clean as well as petro bases stuff. Biodegradable, so it can be filtered out and the liquid poured down the drain. Check in your area 1st!

If you are a DYI type . You can but parts cleaner at most Auto parts places. When done all it to your motor oil and dispose in the normal fashion. Gas station or where you normally go.

If your a cheap type Use one of the mixes provided.. Note: the auto parts cleaner is the same as mineral spirits. Dispose in the normal fashion.

 

[Torque1st]

Watch that Castrol Super Clean, wear gloves, -it will take your hide off.
You can vary the mix up to 50:50 and even add water. The Super Clean will mix the water and kerosene together. Don't leave aluminum parts in it too long or it will etch them. Rinse parts well after cleaning.

 

[DarthMuffin]

I gave up on water based cleaners -- too much corrosion in my parts washer, pump, etc. Now I use parts washing fluid from NAPA auto parts. It's pretty expensive and has gone up a lot in the past few years, but if you have a filter on your parts washer the fluid will last quite a while (I get a few years out of mine, but I don't use it that often). Dedicated parts cleaning fluid doesn't smell (as much), doesn't evaporate (as much), and is far less flammable. You might try a few local petrolium supply houses, maybe they can get it cheaper?

For disposal, our local waste-to-energy plant takes chemicals and oil, etc. for free. 5 gallon max though, so I'd have to split it into 2 trips.

Here's the NAPA stuff: http://www.napaonline.com/MasterPag...Number=6510&Description=Parts+Washer+Chemical Last year when I bought some it was $55 for 5 gallons. Expensive, but worth it to me.