Friendly degreaser?

Caver Dave

Caver Dave

Just holdin' it down here in BFV
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Joined
Mar 10, 2005
Location
Hooterville (24171)
I've got about 45-50# of old sockets, wrenches, etc. that belonged to my grandpaw. Unfortunately, most are are covered in oil/grease and then an outer layer of filth. Rather than spend the time to clean them one by one, I'd like to soak them (multiple days/weeks if needed) to remove the majority of the gunk, then rinse and wipe.
While I could use gas/diesel/kero, I have no way to get rid of it afterwards, it reeks, & would require a soap-down to remove (which would likely promote further rust). I have a connection for Stoddard's (Varsol), but it's 2.5hours each way. Not sure if PurplePower will work for soaking them?

So, looking for something that won't accelerate rusting, cleans up with water, but will still cut the grease/oil/grime without a lot of scrubbing & individual attention to 500 sockets... recommendations? :beer:
 
Never had luck with purple power and soaking for some reason. But I'd always mic it with water so who knows how straight would do.


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ran into a similar situation once before, I ended up getting a 5 gal bucket of carb cleaner it was all metal and had a basket inside i just piled my stuff in it and dropped it in for a couple of days, pulled them out and repeat..... Carquest is where i got the bucket of cleaner it worked great and when done if you don't want it around anymore just take it to your local recycling center on haz materials day!!
 
Infamous1 said:
ran into a similar situation once before, I ended up getting a 5 gal bucket of carb cleaner it was all metal and had a basket inside i just piled my stuff in it and dropped it in for a couple of days, pulled them out and repeat..... Carquest is where i got the bucket of cleaner it worked great and when done if you don't want it around anymore just take it to your local recycling center on haz materials day!!
Click to expand...

AutoZone (and probbly Advance, OReillys, Carquest...) sells a mini parts washing can in a 1 gallon paint can, includes the solvent and basket. Don't let it sit around for years, it will eat away the bottom of the can and leak all over your garage, BTDT.

holy crap, this stuff has gotten expensive...http://www.autozone.com/autozone/ac...th-basket/_/N-25uv?itemIdentifier=139313_0_0_
 
straight purple cleaner should do it.Put it in a bucket with your tools and let it soak.Be less than 10 dollars for gallon.Works for me on these ancient parts I have to deal with.
 
Lay em out on something in the yard and hit em with the pressure washer, really cheap wash. Purple power after you get heavy junk off.
 
Dave bring them to the shop and throw them in the parts washer.
 
A friend was telling me you can talk your old nuts & bolts, somewhere, Northern, or Tractor Supply, & dump them in their "tumbler", for free, & they come out looking new!
Don't know if you want to try that, or if they would accept the grease, & gunk.
 
There's some cheap crap they sell at Dollar General...Wal Mart probably has it too...I think it's called Totally Awesome. The guy I've been getting some LSx motor parts from lately told me about it and said he rarely uses his parts washer since he discovered this stuff and it's really cheap. Like, a dollar for a squirt bottle? 2 or 3 bucks for a quart? He says he'll spray the parts, let it sit, and wash it off with the water hose.

It's cheap enough, it'll probably remove third world dirt :D
 
snappy said:
Dave bring them to the shop and throw them in the parts washer.
Click to expand...

sounds like a winner to me!

I've had good luck w/ Purple Power - I buy the gallon jug concentrate. If you use it straight, or even just a 50/50 mix it eats stuff pretty well.
Or use a bucket Xylene, etc, and if you're worried about disposal take it to the 3RC hazmat recycling place. IIRc it's not too far from where you work. Just don't get in an accident on the way...
 
There's a Zep brand floor cleaner at Sam's that I like a whole lot. I think it's the "no rinse" cleaner. Gallon jug for like $6. It's a fantastic degreaser for most applications. I'm thinking about loading a parts washer with it. Might be worth a shot. It's the purple cleaner there.
 
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