Parts Washer Solvent

[U2DEERE]

Picked up a new parts washer, just wondering what everyone is using for solvent in theirs?

 

[Eldo case]

mineral spirits

 

[Michael Soldan]

I mix diesel fuel with varsol, about half and half and add a quart of ATF. This works well for me. My parts washer has the lid which you need to close when you are not using it as this concoction and many others will evapourate, mineral spirits evapourate quickly and in pure form is very hard on your hands when you are washing parts.

 

[big jt]

I usually get mine from a local mechanic that has it in a 50 gallon drum. Stuff stinks and gets in your skin but works good.

One thing I would steer clear of is the water based stuff that small box stores sell. I tried it thinking I could get away from the stink. Still smelled some. And absolutely ruined my parts washer. Would rust anything that was near it.

jt

 

[Chris (WA)]

I used a parts washer at a customers shop a few days ago that had a water based cleaner in it. I was amazed at how well it worked compared to the one I had used a few years ago. Really released the grime from the parts and rinsed well. Easy on the hands too.

 

[msb]

Mineral spirits. Cheapest place I have found-Porter Paints store.

 

[markiz41]

A home brew of ms, paint thinner, diesel and a splash of kerosene. Straight up, no rocks.

 

[Kruse]

I've used a water-based cleaner named Sea Wash before. It worked pretty good and didn't tear up the hands. Probably the only drawback was that to work good, they recommend it be used in their heated tank.

 

[ASEguy]

Used to use solvent, but now have a Cuda water based parts washer. It's very good and cleans things up nice. Kinda pricey though 5-7K.

 

[GordoSD]

Stoddard solvent.

 

[bradk]

Any shop I"ve ever worked in (including my own)use kerosene.

It"s cheap,effective and easy on the hands and when it"s dirty,burn it up.

 

[oldhousehugger]

I have found that a product called " oil eater" is a very good solvent. It is water based and their website sells parts washers as well. I got a 5-gallon bucket of it from WW Grainger for around 51 dollars or 10 bucks a gallon. Nice thing about it is it"s easy on the hands and nonflammable, (won"t evaporate as fast).
I found that on hardened oil and grease it was as quick or quicker than diesel. It doesn"t aggravate my asthma when sprayed like petroleum products and obviously it washes off clean with water. You can dilute it down to much lower concentrations for other washing needs.
Something I was reading last night was on the POR-15 site. Their MSDS data on their Marine Clean says it uses Potassium Hydroxide instead of Sodium Hydroxide. According to Wikipedia, Sodium Hydroxide is common lye and Potassium hydroxide is a similar base. Apparently both make soap and give off glycerin when mixed with oils. That’s why they are used in making Bio Diesel.
Interesting
John

 

[RodinNS]

Plain, old, humble skin drying Varasol. There's nothing like it for cleaning parts.

Rod

 

[Bus Driver]

Varsol is good. But all my local sources no longer have it.

 

[RodinNS]

Walmart. By the gallon.

 

[Hobo,NC]

(quoted from post at 17:41:11 08/03/10) Used to use solvent, but now have a Cuda water based parts washer. It's very good and cleans things up nice. Kinda pricey though 5-7K.

A Kudder is on my want list hot water is hard to beat,,, I was raised and reared using Varasol and spec I will use it till the day i die,,, I have a life time supply stored :wink: cuzz I have been told for the past few years it would not be available soon are its a line of BS to get ya to convert dunno,,, I got a deal on dry cleaning fluid one time,,, best cleaner I have used but my supply dried up... :roll:

I have a 250 gal. drum out back made up like a pig cooker,,, do all my pre-cleaning on it then if need be run the part thru the Varasol,,, I can make 20 gal of Varasol last me a year are more and still not be real dirty.

I buy purple stuff $90 for 55 gal,,, on most of the stuff I scrap off all the gaskets then spray it down with PS in a garden sprayer and hose off...

Back to the Varasol,,, it has very little order,, drys quick and leave little are no residue,,, My X partner would add a few cans of ATF to new Varasol,,, that made me mad'er then ell,, what a dum arse...