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What to use in a parts washer?

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vping

vping

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I picked up a used parts washer and was curious to know what is best to use in it. There are several things I have heard of but not sure which is best.

Simple Green - We used this as work and stripped all the paint off of the parts washer.

Gas - Out of the question as it has an electrical pump in there & gas seems to volitile.

Kersoene - Kinds along the lines of Gas but not as combustable. It was recommended though.

What esle can be used that will clean the parts real well but not blow me into the next town or knock me out from fumes when I open the cover?
 
I bought three 5-gallon cans of cleaner at the local farm supply for my parts cleaner....cost about $30/can with tax.
 
Ahh farm supply. Once a thriving farmland, Long Island has had it's farms gobbled up by greedy developers hoping to make a quick buck. They are kind of a rarity now and suppose the farm supplies shops are too.
 
I've always used mineral spirits.
 
And if you find the mineral spirits a little hard on your hands, add some tranny fluid. It seems to keep your skin from drying out as much.
Jeff
 
One shop I worked at had a heated Aquaious (water based with some kind of soda ash or somthing) parts washer from Saftey Kleen. It was awsome!. now our shop has a standard type. Smells a bit like a kerosene mixture to me. I don't like it compared to that water-based type.
 
<span style="color: #FF0000"> The MSC Part Number that you entered could not be located.</span>
 
Varsol, also known as mineral spirits, is available from any Exxon-Mobil bulk plant. I keep a 5-gallon can in the outdoor storage building for just that purpose, cleaning greasy stuff.
 
vping said:
Ahh farm supply. Once a thriving farmland, Long Island has had it's farms gobbled up by greedy developers hoping to make a quick buck. They are kind of a rarity now and suppose the farm supplies shops are too.
Click to expand...

You don't need to go to a farm supply place. Mineral spirits are available at Home Depot in the paint supply area. It's also used as a paint thinner. I saw it there in gallon cans, but they may have it in the five gallon size.
 
Local H.D. used to have the five gallon sizes but stopped stocking it for some reason. I was told it was a fire hazard issue, seems lame to me: I suspect the margin on quantity wasn't profitable enuff, so no more five gallon drums.
 
And mineral spirits will do a good job of cleaning all the good & grease and eons old road debris off part? I should be able to find it there and hopefully they ahve the low odor stuff.
 
Yes, it will clean very well. We use mineral spirits at work (we remanufacture auto electrical parts) in the vibratory degreasers. We still use them because the hot aqueous machines won't get all the grease out of some parts, whereas the mineral spirits has no problem.
 
How's its flamability?
 
Nosmo King, please! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif

T'is flammable, but a fairly low volatility. As long as you don't give it a flame you'll be fine. Keep the lid down when not in use.

...oh, wait... that's th' terlet rule. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/jester.gif
 
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