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Parts Washer

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jnicklas

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 22, 2007
Messages
90
Location
Jamaica, Il
displayname
John Nicklas
Looking for a little group input. Last spring before my brother passed away, he gave me a parts washer, and this is the 10 gal Harbor Freight style. He was using kerosene to clean parts for his home built VW trikes. I have just rearranged my shop and am ready to start using it. I would like your thought on what cleaning fluid to use. As I said he used Kerosene, I also have suggestion on using mineral spirits or diesel fuel. Looking at cost Diesel is a little over $2.00 a gal. Last I looked kerosene was around $5.00 a gal and mineral spirits is around $10.00 a gal. So what do you use for your parts cleaning? Thanks in advance for your thoughts.
 
Don't forget, if you can find it, you can use red (non taxed) diesel. At Circle K here there is about 30 cents a gallon different.
 
So what's wrong with using Kerosene in it now?
That's all I've used for years.
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I've used diesel & kerosene and they work fine, Mineral spirits I like better but the costcan be prohibitive. This winter after a full cleanout, I tried something called Purple Power, diluted 5 to one with water, I really like it. No fuely fumes to give me a headache(s)... and it cleans really well.
 
I went to Advance and bought 5 gallon of Parts Cleaner @ $98.
It's dead now and I need to change it.

If you guys remember when I rebuilt my air compressor I used Super Clean to clean the tank and straight out of the jug it took the paint off the tank. I use that stuff for everything.
It smells like it has lye in it but it doesn't mention it on the label.
I just tore down a horizontal milling machine I bought of egreed and the parts cleaner wouldn't clean off the crap after it sat in it for 3 days. I cleaned it off as clean as new castings in a few minutes with Super Clean.

... and it's non-flammable !! just don't get it on your hands straight out of the jug.
 
I use a solvent called 325 from Chevron. It is similar to Stoddard or mineral spirits but a bit cheaper at $8/gal. My tank has a pump & filter that really extends the life for years. Check around for a bulk fuel and oil distributor, they will probably have what you need.
 
Varsol which is about the same as paint thinner is a good cleaner for parts washer use but is a little pricey. Last I bought was 6.00 per gallon. Exxon dealers usually have it in bulk. People used to use it for dry cleaning non washable wool coats ect.
 
I work on lawn mowers now and then and I always dump the gas in an old but usable 5 gal gas jug. I call it my sh*t gas and it's what I use for cleaning greasy parts. I have an old wok pan I use along with a parts cleaning brush. Works great! Of course, any large parts like cub frames get the pressure washer.

I bought a parts cleaner, installed a pump, filled it with paint thinner, and used it every now and then. It's now out beside the barn not being used at all. I guess quantity of parts plays a part in necessity here.

Anyway, if you only have a few parts every now and then old gas works well and, at that point, is free.

.
 
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