Parts washer

[Banjo]

So I picked up a 20 gallon, recirculating parts washer at Tractor Supply a couple of weeks back. I had already got a 5 gallon bucket of solvent a few weeks earlier, so when I finally got the washer set up, I dumped the solvent in to try it out.
Welllll.... It says it has a 12 gallon reservoir for the solvent, and I quickly found out that the pickup for the pump is just above where the fluid comes to with only 5 gallons. (They keep it off the bottom so It doesn't suck up the crud). Off to Tractor supply to get another $40 can of solvent (This is adding up!) and they are out. That was Friday night. Guy says "I'll have more Wednesday on the truck". So I stop in Wednesday.....Still no solvent. Truck was mostly Christmas stuff.
I finally got a can at the Tractor supply near my work. The only can they had.
Now both of these stores have at least 3 more washers on the shelves for sale. It seems to me they would try to keep at least enough solvent to go with one of those units. Am I missing something here?
SO this weekend I'm going to get some stuff cleaned up. I finally have the washer I've wanted for quite a while.
Seems like a decent unit so far. Just be warned that you need to add $80 worth of solvent to buying a parts washer. (Not to mention disposal when I have to get change it)

 

[JPSmit]

Funnily enough i am effectively using my much smaller 3 1/2 gallon washer as a bucket as the solvent i had on hand doesn't cover the intake and i haven't got around to getting to the store yet.

 

[elrey]

Put something like barbell weights in the bottom to bring up the level.

 

[big6]

Find an oil distributor in your area and purchase Stoddard Solvent for your parts washer. Stoddard Solvent should be less expensive as well.

 

[DrEntropy]

:lol:

Been a looong time since I heard "Stoddard Solvent"!

 

[Deleted member 8987]

I picked up an old SafetyClean unit decades ago. I have at least one guy locally who when called comes out and services the machine......old solvent gone, new solvent in.
I was told OSHA has outlawed them in shops.......can't confirm or deny. Must be hard wiping parts down by hand....

 

[Banjo]

Was told by a local oil distributor that parts washer solvent is really not much more than mineral spirits. If all else failed, that could be used. Safety-Kleen is the company around here, and they service all the shops with parts washers, carb tanks, speedie-dry, absorbent towels and the like. So far, it is not illegal in N.Y. to have a parts tank at your business, but you are required to dispose of the old solvent properly.

 

[big6]

The new “green” cleaners work but with much more effort than the older parts washing fluid. I like the old carburetor cleaner and parts washer fluids better. I have been using the “old” cleaning fluids since the early ‘70’s and don’t have any negative affects with my health related to cleaning fluids. Definitely do not use Brake Clean on metal that you are planning to weld. This will definitely cause you health problems as well as death.

Stoddard Fluid has an odder but I have not had a problem with it. Just leave the parts washer cover down to minimize evaporation and smell. Maybe if you soaked a shop towel with Stoddard solvent and put it in a paper bag and breathed heavily into the bag, you would get dizzy just like paint and kill some brain cells if you are into that stuff. Stoddard solvent is basically a petroleum distillate like mineral spirits.

The Stoddard solvent will dry-out your hands and burn slightly if you are not wearing proper PPE. That is the only caution I would advise. It seems all of the “good stuff” is considered a possible carcinogen now days...

 

[vagt6]

Insurance companies are scared to death about parts washers, a consistent source of insurance fire and workers' comp claims.

Most of the solvents used are nasty and must be disposed of very carefully, in an environmentally safe manner. Also, some of the solvents used can be very dangerous.

The following safety rules apply to all parts washers:

>Provide Ground Fault Circuit Interruption (GFCI) protection for all portable electrically-heated units equipped with flexible power cords to prevent potential electrocution (water-based cleaning fluids);

>Always perform good housekeeping – cleanup spills immediately, don’t leave dirty rags/parts/tools laying around, and keep area clear in front of parts washer tank.

>Keep lid closed when not in use to minimize VOC emissions and possible contamination.

>Wear protective gloves and safety glasses/goggles when operating unit.

>Keep copy of the fluid's MSDS nearby.

>Replace cleaning fluid at least once per year or more frequently if required. Properly dispose of spent cleaning fluid.

>"No Smoking" sign posted in the room/area where parts washer is located.

>Ensure General ventilation is provided and operating properly in room/area to prevent buildup of solvent vapors for prevention of fire and explosion.

>Ensure Electrical wiring and light fixtures within 5 feet perimeter and 10’ horizontally from parts washer tank using combustible or flammable solvents are explosion-proof or intrinsically safe. Flexible power extension cords must not be run near the tank.

>Ground parts washer tank using combustible or flammable solvents to prevent static charge buildup and potential ignition of solvent vapors resulting in a fire or explosion. Other sources of static electricity and ignition (i.e. solvent containers, equipment, flammable cabinets, heaters, etc.) in the area must also be grounded.

>No hot work (i.e. welding, grinding or open flames) operations are allowed in the same area/room where the parts washer is located, without a valid FM hot work permit.
Ensure parts washer tank using combustible or flammable solvents is equipped with an approved automatic lid closure device (i.e. fusible link) that allows the lid to close automatically in the event of a fire, and also allows manual closure if required.

>Provide a portable fire extinguisher is in the area/room where the parts washer is located.

>Ensure no floor drains are nearby any parts washer unit, so that potential spills do not leave the site.

Wash hands with soap and water after every use.

 

[martx-5]

...
Just be warned that you need to add $80 worth of solvent to buying a parts washer. (Not to mention disposal when I have to get change it)

We use a lot of mineral spirits here at work for cleaning. So much so, that we bought a distillation unit that can process about 80 gals of spirits a day. Huge savings over new spirits. Since the disposal costs are based on volume, the remaining sludge after distillation costs much less to dispose of.