Parts washer solvent info needed

Jody Treadway

Jody Treadway

Croc wearing fool
Moderator
Joined
Mar 20, 2005
Location
Hendersonville, NC
I have a Harbor Freight typical shop type parts washer and need better solvent, I am currently using concentrated "heavy duty" cleaner that you mix with water. I also use an aquarium heater to get things working better.
I need better solvent. When the water based "cleaner" gets oil and grease mixed with it, it becomes useless.
What I need is a solvent/cleaner that is not flammable, cleans gear oil coated items without issue and is easy to find. I was thinking mineral spirits if I could find it in 5 gallon containers at a reasonable price.

What say ye in NC4X4 land?
 
Fill it up with chlorinated brake parts cleaner!
(I have nothing useful to contribute, dad always filled ours up with stuff that will sluff the skin off your hands)
 
Jody I may have something for you to try. Are you heading my way anytime soon?
 
Kerosene....ok it doesnt meet the not flammable requirement..but it meets the rest.

Besides I know a guy, he could sell you some special treated lumber to box in the parts washer and if a fire broke out it would be contained/
 
I have a customer that does chemicals and he mixed me some good stuff. It doesn't work super fast but it will clean stuff super good..... I will send a before and after tomorrow.
 
I couldn't imagine a better company with better solvents than graymills. I met their CEO a while back and he provided solvent and filter bag samples. If you give them a call or email you won't regret it. Not just a sales company, they take parts washers and solvents VERY seriously!
 
Any of the good stuff will ruin your HF solvent pump. Mineral spirits work well, safety kleen sells decent stuff. Then there is the full on 20x stronger than chem-dip stuff that I can't remember the name of but it is $$$ and requires full ppe. Your best bet is to have two washers, one for the real dirty shit and one for cleanup or better yet build a legit 4' long parts washer and buy a drum of the good stuff then make sure to keep the lid closed.
 
I have diesel fuel in one and mineral spirits in another ..I like the mineral spirits it work really well. Advance auto can get it in 5gallon buckets. The last I bought was around $65 a bucket , but it lasts a long time and doesn't seem to lose its clean ability when mixed with oil/grease . Mineral spirits is also an oil base liquid . Ive had the same 5gallons for over a year or so in the washer and it still cleans really well. I also try and clean the biggest part of the grease/oil from the part before it enters the washer to keep build up in the washer to a minimum!
 
I always catch the safety kleen guy when he comes down this way and he'll bring me half a barrel of clean solvent. I've had the same 15-20 gallons for a few years now and it still works damn good.
 
jody, if you are doing this " on the side" i would use mineral spirits. safety kleen and noble are going to want contracts and all the bs that come with it. mineral spirits is going to be your best bet. you can call some of the bigger paint stores and usually get it cheaper than auto parts stores. if you call around, sometimes the oil companies keep it to where you can go there and pump it into your own drum. another place to check is zep, the zep gold varsol has the lowest flash point of any of the chemicals i've used to clean parts.
the important thing to remember is the cost of the product is not where a companies profits lie, it is the disposal of said product that generates the most cost. that's why safety kleen and other companies charge so much. another option would be to call safety kleen and ask about a parts washer with a recycler built in, the initial cost is high but there is no need to replenish the varsol until your unit runs low, which would probably only be yearly in your situation. http://www.safety-kleen.com/product.../solvent-parts-washer/recycling/model-250-260
 
transman731 said:
jody, if you are doing this " on the side" i would use mineral spirits. safety kleen and noble are going to want contracts and all the bs that come with it. mineral spirits is going to be your best bet. you can call some of the bigger paint stores and usually get it cheaper than auto parts stores. if you call around, sometimes the oil companies keep it to where you can go there and pump it into your own drum. another place to check is zep, the zep gold varsol has the lowest flash point of any of the chemicals i've used to clean parts.
the important thing to remember is the cost of the product is not where a companies profits lie, it is the disposal of said product that generates the most cost. that's why safety kleen and other companies charge so much. another option would be to call safety kleen and ask about a parts washer with a recycler built in, the initial cost is high but there is no need to replenish the varsol until your unit runs low, which would probably only be yearly in your situation. http://www.safety-kleen.com/product.../solvent-parts-washer/recycling/model-250-260
Click to expand...
I've got one of the recycling units. It's been a real PITA. I'd do anything to be rid of safety kleen but they won't come pick the junk up! Our branch of safety kleen is out of TN. Every bill is wrong or they added services you didn't use or request.
If you use safety kleen buy the unit out right and buy your own solvent else where. Reliable actually buys our solvents just like used oil!
 
mysterync said:
I've got one of the recycling units. It's been a real PITA. I'd do anything to be rid of safety kleen but they won't come pick the junk up! Our branch of safety kleen is out of TN. Every bill is wrong or they added services you didn't use or request.
If you use safety kleen buy the unit out right and buy your own solvent else where. Reliable actually buys our solvents just like used oil!
Click to expand...

i bought my unit outright also, i really haven't had any issues with mine.
 
transman731 said:
i bought my unit outright also, i really haven't had any issues with mine.
Click to expand...
I've been through 5 units, all with board failures. The first two beep non stop until unplugged . Beeps every 15 seconds. I've got another washer but tried this one considering buying one. I really like the concept but hate the beeping. The reps have done everything they can, they also were very honest about safety kleen as a company! Actually the oil pickup guy sent our new oil pickup company who pays us much more fairly!
 
I used to work for a company in Detroit called IPAX that made an environmentally safe degreaser that was used at the big 3 and General Dynamics plants. That stuff (Unikleen) was really good but it could never really match a solvent when cold. Problem with solvents is the flash point when you try to incorporate a heater. Since the Unikleen was water based, you could crank up the heat as high as you could stand it and still be fine. The biggest issue we had were the first generation Graymills parts washers we were using didn't have a float cut-off switch, so as the stuff evaporated, the heating element would burn up and fail. That was quick to fix, though.

If you are going to run that heater, I'd suggest a float switch to keep the water level in check and make sure you keep it below the flash point.

Oh.... and one more thing...

We found that there were a good many people that worked in automotive plants that thought it was a good idea to put out their cigarettes in part washer tanks. I guess they thought they were a trash can since they were round metal barrels. Don't employ those people.... LOL
 
good info guys. i've been using water based products for years and never
was happy with how they performed. lately i've been using kerosene it
works much mo betta. i keep my parts washer outside and the lid closed
just for extra safety. good info on the mineral sprits.
 
My HF washer pump didn't like the kerosene diesel mix and went out. Now I just pour it over the part I'm washing. I know its not as good as a constant flow but it works. I also put a ball valve on the bottom with a drain hose. I always drain it after use b/c I seldom use it on a reg basis. My mix has stayed good for the past year or so, keeping it in a metal can outside and away from my shop. Just keep the can as full as possible to keep away condensation.
 
I use the mineral spirits in my shop. My other job uses this http://www.smarterclean.com/smartwa...ilters/ozzy-fluid-and-filters-sw3-ozzy-juice/, we call it ozzy juice! They get it through our uniform dealer of all people and it does really well. I've soaked dried out varnished carbs in the stuff over night and was impressed with the ease of their clean-up the next day. Uniform man services the unit changes the inboard filter and replenishes or changes the fluid regularly. I used it a lot today cleaning 2013 550 Ford front diff parts from a wrecked housing today! Our uniform company is CINTAS.
 
Its starting to look that way. :rolleyes: I bring this stuff home from work, because its too good to throw away but it just ends up in my way.
 
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