Parts Washer Cleaning Fluids

[djkeev]

I'm doing some mechanical work away hours from my normal shop.

I don't want to strip my shop of its parts washer so I brought up an older small NAPA washer box I've had for decades but I set it aside when I got the bigger box.

I brought this out and it is now the late 2020’s, I wonder about the options for "magic" brews for effective cleaning.

In the big box I have a mix of mineral spirits and some commercial additive I purchased somewhere 15-20 years ago.

I know like everything else, water based mixtures are available.
But, being in an unheated garage with morning temperatures in the teens, I see freezing problems?

I stumbled across a guy on a Ford forum that makes is own bio-diesel and claims it works wonderfully!

Here is his post.......
"
weasel1
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Parts washer degreaser recipes
For brand new oil it is: 3.5 grams of lye per liter of oil used and 20% methanol. So for me If I used 4L of oil ( Canola, others can be used, but this is preferred ), I would need 1L of methanol and 14 grams of lye. Mix the methanol and the lye together in a plastic bucket with a paint mixer ( new or clean one. I didn't have one so I made a propeller out of wood ) Mix until dissolved. Put all of your oil in another larger container and then slowly add the methanol mix to the oil ( use our propeller stirrer here too ) Mix for about an hour ( yes you do have to do this !! ) Let it sit for a day or so with the lid off ( to let excess methanol evaporate ) Then transfer to your parts washer. Congradulations, you have made biodiesel !! If you need better instructions than this ( or just can't understand mine ... ) Go to www.journeytoforever.org There is some great info there."

What do you use?
Do you like it?
How does the mixture affect your skin or respiratory system?

Dave
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[mark tucker]

just be sure of a few things.. be sure you can stand the smell, be sure it's not extreamly flamable.be sure it's not gonna eat somethen up, be sure it isant going to get stickey or gell up. personaly I would make a concoction I would buy something made for it....well...yup thats what I wood doo. I have a new parts cleaner at home...for almost 2 years now.never did put any liquids in it. I dont like stink and I dont like a mess.as well as I dont like my hands in that nasty shit . my old dishwasher does a awesome job at cleaning. so thats usualy my cleaning method.my old clothes washer does a awesome job at cleaning dirty shop rags& towels....although I have enough new rags&towels to last a long time, I havent been using the washing machine much. If I happen to get my clothes nasty...they get washed out in the shop first..then again then into the house for a final wash.

[AutoMechanic]

I just use whatever they put in it at work. I’m not the one who puts the stuff in it. So not sure if that blend is good or not.

[skills@eurocarsplus]

the stuff from tractor supply isn't too bad:

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/crown-ps...nnEALw_wcB


it's a shade weaker than SafteyKleen but works pretty well.

for dissolving carbon, i like super clean... not purple power or anything else claiming to be super clean....real super clean. that shit will ruin your day if you're not careful. hopefully the asshats in CA don't make that go away too
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[Zundfolge1432]

I’m paying near the same for 5 gallon cans. This doesn’t evaporate as quick as others. I’ve also used used straight mineral spirits from a paint supply store in 5 gallon can about 45.00

Funny if you go to Lowe’s they rape you for 20 bucks a gallon. Chemical supply is another possibility but they usually deal in 55 gallon drums.

[Glenn]

I get Safety Klean from my friends shop.
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[Onceler]

What about just regular diesel fuel from the gas station?
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[cdennisg]

[brando90gl]

[Cusser]

The chemist here says:

Wear safety goggles

Wear GOOD solvent-proof gloves

Avoid breathing fumes as much as possible, have good ventilation
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[Bulli Klinik]

We have a local petroleum company which sells diesel, gas, kerosene and solvent right out of the pump, by the gallon. The place is generally used for local fleet vehicles but sells to the public. You may have something similar in your area if you look.
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[sixfootdan]

[VOLKSWAGNUT]

[cdennisg]

[FritzCP]

I also work in a unheated garage. I find that non flammable cleaning solutions like Purple Power / Simple Green work 10x better when they are hot. I use an old crockpot for small parts and a big enesco for large items the size of a turkey. they are $5-20 used from the thrift store. Put in hot water to start, and crank that puppy up to 11. soak your parts as long as you want, but they will only clean easily when the parts are hot as you will find. I looked into getting little fryer as well.

Purple power is cheap per Gallon (Dollar Store dishsoap would also work well), non flammable, doesn't stink at all, and is somewhat reusable. The Crockpot inserts are super easy to clean out, especially when they are still hot.

If you can rig up some type of pressure spray gun for hot soapy water, you can get 5 Gallon bucket heaters for cheap and have a high pressure heated parts washer sprayer.

i havent done that yet, but its on the list.
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[djkeev]

[mark tucker]

hmm I wonder how pine sol works for this? just beware of what ever you use it may attack something if left in too long.

[busdaddy]

Beware mineral spirits, I've developed a sensitivity to them after years of cleaning parts and spraying enamels thinned with it, one whiff now and I get the jitters, elevated heart rate and the sweats, no other solvent does it to me.
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[cdennisg]

[cdennisg]

To the point about super clean/simple green/purple power working better when warm or hot. I have a basic cleaning tank. No pump, no tight sealing lid. I made a basic plywood lid when I first got it, but it did allow solvent to evaporate. It is an antique tank with a nice big GUNK logo on the front.

I don't use it often. Sometimes not for weeks or months. When I do, I add a gallon or two of HOT water. Works much better. Over time, that extra water will evaporate out of the tank but not the cleaning solution, so the next time I need it, there is room for more water. Not ideal, and it would have to change if I needed to use the tank more regularly, but that is how it works for now.

On a side note, many years ago when I did my first remodel of my house, I had the plumbers install an outside hot and cold water spigot. It is directly outside of the 50 gallon water heater, which is steps from my shop door. There is nothing like being able to get 130 degree water in the dead of winter, without going into the house. I highly recommend it to anyone considering it.
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