[68-bb]

What are the choices of solvents to use in a parts washer?I just picked one up from Harbor Freight.I would like to use something biodegradable and not toxic.Any ideas?
thanks
Tony

 

[BillK]

Tony,
There are a lot of different solvents available. Most of the water based ones do not work very good unless your parts cleaner has a heater in it. Check around with some local shops to see what they are using.
I always laugh when I see the term "biodegradable" or "non toxic" or especially "not hazardous" when used to describe a parts cleaning solution. The minute you get one ounce of grease or oil disolved in the solvent, it becomes hazardous waste and has to be disposed of accordingly.
Hope this helps,

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Bill Koustenis
Advanced Automotive Machine
Waldorf Md

1971 Heavy Chevy - original owner
Team Chevelle #100

 

[JJ'65]

Mineral spirits. At your local hardware/paint/walmart/etc. Use with good ventilation, and protect your hands. Dispose of properly. I've been busy for several days degreasing and wire-wheeling a bunch of old tools my Dad inherited. I have a cheap home depot pedestal fan blowing fresh air across me and the bucket, and I wear regular PLaytex household rubber gloves. Been waiting for the gloves to dissolve, but so far they're holding up OK. I got my good dust mask and full face shield on for the wire wheel operation. I'm protected. Better later than never. Next week is the local county bi-annual hazardous waste dispsoal for us consumers. The dirty solvent that hasn't evaporated goes in a plastic milk jug and gets labeled accurately and goes to the hazardous waste disposl site

My $0.02

 

[Brenden Saylock]

Once yoy clean a bounch of parts in it it wont be bio anyway. so just use kerosene. when your done with the solution 2,3,4, years just burn it in your paper barrel.

 

[68-bb]

Thanks guys.I am most concerned about choosing a solvent that wont be dangerous to
the skin or lungs.What about a solution of 50/50 simple green and water?
thanks
Tony

 

[iwantachevelle]

mineral spirits. Its the best, for the money. Better than deisil and kerosene. I wouldn't worry about it hurting your lungs or skin. I have never been affected by it.

 

[ZZ69chevelle]

If you use kerosene, it leaves a film on the parts, and they still need to be cleaned again. The mineral spirits don't. No matter what you use, you should wear gloves. It seems like anything can cause cancer these days. As far as biodegradable and non toxic, I agree that anything like that will be hazardous waste once you clean some parts in it.

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Steve Beuth

69 Malibu ZZ4-350
93 Camaro Z28
99 Silverado
Chevelle pics

 

[Quadzilla]

Castrol Super Clean with some HOT water. Damn near ate the rust on the parts.

------------------
Francis Taracido Gold# 201
[email protected]
History shows again and again how nature points out the folly of man.
Oh No! You Know She's Got To Go!
Go Go Quadzilla! <oo=+=oo>

 

[richr]

Tony,

I had the same dilemma when I had purchased my parts washer. I had placed the parts washer in my basement in my workshop, so fumes and flammability were an issue.

Someone recommended Simple Green - full strength and a rust inhibitor, I tried it and it worked very well.

The Simple Green has been in my parts washer for over a year now, it has eaten most of the paint of the washer on the inside - but still no rust.

It smells decent and it's not flammable. Just wear latex gloves when using.

Rich

I added a rust inhibitor

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70 SS - L34
Member # 442
www.chevelles.com/showroom/richr1

http://www.my70ss.com

 

[JodySirmans]

Home Depot sells this purple cleaner/degreaser by Zep.
I bought a 5 gal drum of the stuff (its bio, nonflame, etc) mixed 50-50. Its so strong it ate the paint off the inside of the cleaner in about a week. Cleans very well, nasty on the skin, didn't take very long to get gloves on.. thought the "safe" stuff would be ok for skin...wrong.... You can see this stuff eat the grease off like DAWN.



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Jody Sirmans
71 SS454
ACES

 

[68-bb]

Rich,

Thanks for that advice.I think I will go with
the simple green.What exactly is the rust inhibitor you mentioned.
Tony

 

[richr]

Tony,

I have the information at home - I purchased a gallon of it as that was the min purchase. I'll try to remember to look for it tonight. If you have a fax machine - e-mail me your fax number, I'll fax it to you.

Rich

------------------
70 SS - L34
Member # 442
www.chevelles.com/showroom/richr1

http://www.my70ss.com

 

[Bob Tiley]

The Castrol Super Clean is a stronger but similarsolution to the Simple Green. It would work a little better for degreasing and costs about $6 a gallon at the local Pep Boys.