Thinking about flush mounting a parts washer in a bench

[TT_Vert]

I have a very large garage but I would like to keep it very tidy. I found a very cheap 2 basin utility sink and got the idea of making a bench and flush mounting this sink and then running my own pump though an oil filter to some type of a catch basin w/ a pump in it (I can get freon containers free) . I would then make a hinged lid which would act as more bench space when not in use. Has anyone done thing? Any input, opinions or perhaps a reason not to do this? It would look like any bathroom vanity when in use and in fact i could almost use a bathroom vanity to conceal the entire thing if I don't decide to make something. I would use the other side for fresh water if i had a drain available nearby.
This is the basin I found for $15 but it doesn't have a flange so I'd have to get a bit creative but that can easily be done.

Thanks
Dave

 

[The Cobbler]

be sure to use neoprene ( or compatible) hoses ,gaskets, seals etc as mineral spirits will attack some rubbers

 

[TT_Vert]

Of course. Another idea that just crossed my mind was to have the sink or parts washer bottom mounted and then just have the hinged lid be the same surface and material as the top of the bench so when the lid is down you have no idea there is ever a parts washer under there.

Dave

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Those tubs are polypropylene based, so they have pretty good chemical resistance. It's a pretty good choice, really.

Tommy

 

[TT_Vert]

I will probably use a fuel pump and diesel for a cleaning substance. Should be fun, I can use an AC/DC converter also and may use PWM to control flow which will give me something to do.

 

[RWorth]

With the double sink you have I think I would put a screen 3" off the bottom of one sink to keep your parts out of the sludge and use that sink as your fluid storage, it would make a nice soaking sink, and use the second sink as the actual cleaning tank. I usually end up filling a container with fluid to soak my parts, and it's never big enough. That I think would be ideal.

 

[OccupantRJ]

I had something similar once, only I happened to have a large stainless steel sink laying around to use. I made a "stool" out of expanded metal to sit into one end of the washer to let parts drain after cleaning. It worked very well overall. Go for it.

 

[Boilerhouse]

I think it's a great idea, the only watch out with a home built system, (and you are probably two steps ahead of me here), is to keep it away from any hot work, like grinding, cutting and welding.

 

[sberry]

For water based cleaners ok but solvent cleaners are steel with fuse links. I understand this a hobby, ok but personally,,, have built a lot of stuu like that, lots of it when I was younger. Lucky to be in one piece from some of it but,,, buy and mod it a bit if I could while not messing with fundamental design and listed safety features.

 

[TT_Vert]

I need to re-read some of your ideas and get a better picture in my head but I'll have to do that later. As far as my idea, I would probably use a steel lid w/ fusible link. With the flash point of diesel as high as it is I'm not that concerned about spontaneous or accidental combustion. Drop a match into a puddle of diesel and see what happens. With that said I will error on the side of caution and have the parts washer on the other end of welding/grinding/etc. I have a 1200+ sqft garage so I don't think it's going to be an issue.

 

[Aaron_W]

Of course. Another idea that just crossed my mind was to have the sink or parts washer bottom mounted and then just have the hinged lid be the same surface and material as the top of the bench so when the lid is down you have no idea there is ever a parts washer under there.

Dave

I don't know about the DIY parts washer, but as far as the bench top we had a set up like the one quoted at one of my prior work places. Not hinged, just a section that could be lifted out and set to the side but it was really handy.

When the top was in place there was a good 10 foot of bench top available, when using the parts washer it was about 3/4 of the way down so probably 2-3 foot on the left and 5-6 foot on the right. Plenty of space to put the dirty parts on one side and the clean parts on the other as you worked.

 

[SGKent]

You will want some kind of lid on it that can put out a fire. Usually parts washers are made of steel so they can't melt if a fire, electrical, short, pump motor fire starts. I'd be inclined to look in Craigslist for one of these used. They are available with and without the larger drum. I have a friend who was severely burned from a parts washer that had diesel in it - a pump wire shorted and the fumes ignited.

 

[TT_Vert]

How would a metal vessel prevent getting burning in a situation where you are burned while using it?

Dave

 

[Aaron_W]

How would a metal vessel prevent getting burning in a situation where you are burned while using it?

Dave

A fusible link drops the metal lid to isolate the fire. Not so much help for the guy using it who may have flammable solvent on him, but will help reduce the spread of fire. Couple ounces of fuel vs gallons.

There are also lots of non-flammable solvents available these days which avoids the fire hazard entirely, some even do a good job cutting grease and oil.

You can get a cheap parts washer for adequate for most home shops for less than $200. Harbor Freight, Northern tool, Eastwood etc all carry them.

 

[TT_Vert]

A fusible link drops the metal lid to isolate the fire. Not so much help for the guy using it who may have flammable solvent on him, but will help reduce the spread of fire. Couple ounces of fuel vs gallons.

There are also lots of non-flammable solvents available these days which avoids the fire hazard entirely, some even do a good job cutting grease and oil.

You can get a cheap parts washer for adequate for most home shops for less than $200. Harbor Freight, Northern tool, Eastwood etc all carry them.

Yeah and I hear the HF pumps are **** and the vessel is not very deep at all w/ what appears to be half of it taken up by the fluid reservoir. so for $40 plus maybe 15 for a cheap electric fuel pump I can have an 82 gallon parts washer (36x20x24) for less than half that price at over twice the capacity.

What non flammable degreasers would you suggest?

Dave

 

[Buck41]

I have done just what you are planning to do but with a metal solvent tank. The lid was part of the bench. That was the problem. When I wasn’t building a ****** or washing parts, Things start to accumulate on the lid. Then when I wanted to use it,I had to move things. A pain. I thought it was a good idea at the time. Not so much. Just my experience

 

[86turbodsl]

Dad built one into a workbench years ago. We hated that thing. Ended up almost never using it. I built one out of a harbor freight unit and put it on casters. I roll it around as needed. It works a lot better than dad's ever did. YMMV.

 

[TT_Vert]

I have done just what you are planning to do but with a metal solvent tank. The lid was part of the bench. That was the problem. When I wasn’t building a ****** or washing parts, Things start to accumulate on the lid. Then when I wanted to use it,I had to move things. A pain. I thought it was a good idea at the time. Not so much. Just my experience

That makes sense for a normal garage. I have more than enough flat area in this garage as well as shelf space for storage so I don't see this being an issue. Combine this with me being a neat freak who never leaves things on his bench he isn't working on and I don't see that being a deal breaker for me.

Dave

 

[TT_Vert]

Dad built one into a workbench years ago. We hated that thing. Ended up almost never using it. I built one out of a harbor freight unit and put it on casters. I roll it around as needed. It works a lot better than dad's ever did. YMMV.

Why did you hate it?

Dave

 

[Rod N]

I like the idea, but agree to putting it on wheels and keeping it under the bench.

 

[TT_Vert]

For those who say they didn't like it please let me know why. Perhaps I'm missing something here. I went to look at the HF one again today and it's just too small w/ that rack that hides the pump is You get like 6" of vertical cleaning area unless you take that shelf out and if/when you do you only get about 1/2 of that area due to the pump being there.

Dave

 

[sberry]

I got a used one a long time ago. I got a policy of never setting stuff on the lid.

 

[TT_Vert]

That one has much more room that the HF 40 gallon. Is that also a 40 gallon? Where do you have the pump?

Dave

 

[86turbodsl]

Why did you hate it?

Dave

Sink was an old porcelain sink and was a bit shallow. When you're washing parts, inevitably you will swing them around above the sink and they drip all over the workbench, and depending on what it is, it will soak into it. It also did not have a lid, so the solution was always evaporating out of it, i think it's still there but has been abandoned in place for years.

 

[Buck41]

This is what I did. I built this tank originally to set into to a bench top. I used it for year this way but things hove a way of migrating onto the lid. Also originally the solvent was always in the tank. I cut it down 6” with a plasma cutter and added a submersible pump, filter and nozzles into a drum. There is never solvent present in the tank until I turn on the pump and install the sink drain. I have furnace filter material in the drum to pre clean the solvent returning into the drum. Once I am done I install the basket drain to prevent evaporation of my solvent. No smell in the shop when it’s not in use. This way it’s so much easier to clean and maintain. I am very happy with it.

 

[Aaron_W]

Yeah and I hear the HF pumps are **** and the vessel is not very deep at all w/ what appears to be half of it taken up by the fluid reservoir. so for $40 plus maybe 15 for a cheap electric fuel pump I can have an 82 gallon parts washer (36x20x24) for less than half that price at over twice the capacity.

What non flammable degreasers would you suggest?

Dave

Don't know about the HF one, but years ago had one at work from Northern Tool that worked pretty well.

Not sure on the solvents, I didn't buy them. I've used both traditional petroleum based solvents and water based, never noticed a big difference, except the water based smelled less.

One of the best tanks I used was based an oil eating bacteria. Really simple to use, just poured a packet with a dry powder into regular water and the bacteria in the powder did the rest. The downside was it required a heater to keep the water warm, and if it sits unused for an extended time, the bacteria will die unless you dump some oil into the tank from time to time. Had a funny smell, not bad but odd.

My experience with solvent tanks was mostly cleaning chainsaws and other small engine parts, but I expect grease and oil is grease and oil regardless what it is used on.

 

[zer01]

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=101080&showall=1

I like this idea. Could easily be built into the work surface. Your sink will work great if you get a good drain and fluid collection system. For those who have said they hated it remember that's their opinion in their circumstance not yours. I say go for what works for you. Plenty of good ways to accomplish what you are doing.

 

[vankaye]

I have mine mounted to a furniture dolly and its had at least 10 home spots in my shop. I just can't imagine not being able to move my parts washer around