i just picked up a used parts washer over the weekend, and i need to get some fluid for it.
i have always used mineral spirits in the ones at the shop, but seeing as that stuff is about 50 bucks for 5 gallons, that is a little on the steep side.

what do you guys think about using simple green in it diluted with water?
my only issue is the the water will cause rusting on certain metal parts, like heads and bare metal if i dont clean it right away. another issue is simple green with aluminum parts, not sure if it will hurt them or not.

so what do you guys think? i might try it this week to give it a shot, and if not i can dump it out.

thanks

aaron

I use straight kerosene. Cheap available and work great.

what all do you guys use that is not flammable. I dont need any accidents. any suggestions?

I fill mine with Purple Stuff Super Clean. Works great.

simple green is very corrosive. we are not allowed to use it on army aircraft.

simple green is very corrosive. we are not allowed to use it on army aircraft.

Did not know that, but here in the school shop I use the Castol "Super Clean" its purple.

Mineral spirts may cost a little more up front but if you keep the washer covered and run it through a filter once in a while it will last a long time. The small parts cleaner I;ve got still has the mineral spirits I bought about 15 years ago.

cool. thanks guys.

i just called napa, and the have mineral spirits for 10.39 a gallon, and will pump it into your own container.
it depends. i might just pick up 5-8 gallons and try it.

the type of washer i picked up has a pump that sits inside the tub, and is always submerged, fluid sits in the tub, there is no drum under it.

thanks again.


aaron

I use that degreaser from Harbor Freight full strengh. Works good
for about $9. a gal. They have two, purple or green label, green is the one.

Chuck

It's been awhile since I've bought mineral spirits--maybe the price really has increased that much.

I got mine at the local home-improvement store (Menards) and I'm pretty sure it was ~$5 per gallon.

Do you all leave it in the parts cleaner all the time?

simple green is very corrosive. we are not allowed to use it on army aircraft.

I believe you for sure but simple green corrosiveness (if thats a word) depends on the strength its mixed at. Castrol super clean in the purple bottle, from what I have found through my own use, is far more corrosive than simple green. For instance - I can spray simple green on my wheels without worry, use it in my engine bay etc. I've gotten the castrol on the underside of my car and it ate paint. I've been covered in my share of simple green as well and still have my skin.

It has faded plastics but only when used at the wrong strength for the application. Full strength would be rough on some materials for sure.

Lowes has their brand of mineral spirits for 9.68 or so a gallon. or 38 bucks for 5 gallons.

im going to do about 5 gallons of mineral spirits in a bucket, and another bucket with mixed simple green and water.

thanks guys.

aaron

Purple stuff is great for stripping paint, of course that is why I like it in my parts washer.

I had a bottle turn over and leak in my MC one time. It stripped the trunk paint completely off and took all of the color out of a jacket that was back there too.

I use mineral spirits with a quart on auto trans fluid. Not sure what the trans fluid does, but the Safety Clean guy gave me the suggestion years ago. Leave fluid in the cleaner, clean the filter every year or two! If you wash a crank or internal engine component, I switch to new fluid. I have only done this about every 5 years!

Used to use Purple Castrol Super Clean to strip paint from old model cars. It stripped paint without harming the plastic. Don't use it without plastic gloves, it will eat away at your skin.

"Purple Power" brand works amazing. It is very inexpensive, plus it's non toxic & biodegradable. You can get it at any chain store.

Watch out using mineral spirits in parts washers. It has a faily low flash point about 100-104deg F. (This is the temperature at which it can form an ignitable mixture in air.) The solvent based commercial parts cleaning solutions are usually much higher. I use Agiteen II that has a flash point of 140deg. Expensive (~$18/gal) but safer.

Also commercial cleaners have oils or lanolin in them to keep from drying out your skin so much and to prevent rust. This is why people put atf or oil in a new batch if they're using pure solvent.

With solvent cleaners it's also important to have a lid with a "fuse"..a low melting temp link. So if you get a fire the link will melt and let the lid drop.

The water based cleaners are "greener" but you can get rust and I don't think they clean as well.

My $.02

The purple stuff is the same stuff as oven cleaner, but not in a spray can. Sodium chlorate, if I remember correctly. It will etch aluminum, or turn it blackish.

You might check just regular paint thinner. Not lacquer thinner. Paint thinner is just mineral spirits with a different label. I used to use it because it was cheap. That may not be the case now, and disposing of it is another matter these days.

Remember that when a solvent says it is biodegradable, that doesn't mean that everything suspended in it is biodegradable. Don't put used solvent into your storm drains or septic system. It could kill the bugs.

K

You guys ever hear of eastwood?

They have allot of tools and chemicals that are right up our kinds of hobbies...

They have parts washer chemical...

http://www.eastwoodco.com/jump.jsp?itemID=258&itemType=PRODUCT&path=1%2C2%2C1334%2C1342&KickerID=410&KICKER

Since its water based I dont know how long it would last in your washer but I think its cheaper...7oz makes 2.5 gals...

thanks man. i always forget about eastwood.

where at in NE PA you from?


aaron

LOL

Lehighton....I could throw a rock at you almost...

ha, awesome. yeah well im actually in cherryville,, but close enough.
if you ever see a blue and white 71 with a kid driving tearing up the streets it is me.


aaron

Eastwood seems to re-label things you can get locally ...and then jacks the price up higher than the original cost when it had a brand name label.... or so it seems to me. any by the time you add shipping and handling, it gets ridiculous. Suggest you shop around. Most auto parts stores have a lot more chemicals and paints than most people realize.

Wal-Mart has an amazing amount of automotive supplies!

If you leave aluminium in simple green it will darken it and make it look like magnesium, you may or may not want this effect.

ha, awesome. yeah well im actually in cherryville,, but close enough.
if you ever see a blue and white 71 with a kid driving tearing up the streets it is me.


aaron


LOL awesome...I have a hugger orange 69. It hasnt been on the road in years...I will look for ya. I drive through Cherryville on my way to work.

Eastwood seems to re-label things you can get locally ...and then jacks the price up higher than the original cost when it had a brand name label.... or so it seems to me. any by the time you add shipping and handling, it gets ridiculous. Suggest you shop around. Most auto parts stores have a lot more chemicals and paints than most people realize.

Wal-Mart has an amazing amount of automotive supplies!

I just ordered $190 worth of powdercoat stuff from eastwood. I got 25% off because I spent more then $75. I also looked online for a coupon code and got free shipping. I think I made out actually...final bill was only $151.

cool.. ill keep a look out.. if you see a black lt1 trans am, burning out or driving sideways.. its me hahaha..

thats a good deal right there..


aaron

Once you have the basic hardware like pump it is not hard to improve a parts washer system.

If I were buying or building I would look for a barrel as a fluid reservoir. Then run a couple gallons of water along with the rest cleaning solvent. Set the pump up to pull from the top of the tank. The solvent will float on top of the water but solids will settle out of the solvent into the water. The surface tension between the solvent and water will keep the solids from being stirred up back into the solvent. No more filter needed.