Pats washer question again

[Anonymous-0]

Ok after reading all of the responses from my previous post, I have decided to make my own washer. For the pump I was gonna go to TSC and buy one of the 12 volt pump sprayers that go on a yard sprayer. I thought about the 2 gpm pump. It will run $60 and it is not submersible and it can handle "Roundup" and all of the chemical sprays that go in so I thought it could handle something of this nature. What is the opinion on this from you guys? Thanks, please remember I have kids so I am building on a budget.

 

[Anonymous-0]

for the price of the pump you can get a washer from Harbor fright for less or TSC have had mine for years and it gets used a lot and has a safety lid if it catches on fire {good to have}

 

[Mike M]

Anyone ever use an old dishwasher ? It sure might cut down on scrub time ?
I like tearing stuff apart and putting it back together,but that clean up time sure bites.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I was told by several people that those from tsc went bad within the first week. That's what I was gonna buy and it was $100. I am gonna use a 55gal barrel and cut it in half and use the top portion for a lid. Put hinges on it and a gasket around the edge. Also a chain so it won't flop open. I was gonna clean with mineral spirits and a brush.

 

[Cliff Nelson]

When I built mine I bought a submersible pump designed for parts washers from an auto parts store. After 17 years it still works fine. I built a square basin and mounted it on top of a 30 gallon drum. I think you can buy the safety "fuse" that holds the top and melts with heat. I also use a plastic liner (like a heavy trash bag) in the drum for easier cleaning. Whatever you do it will make cleaning parts a lot easier.

 

[markiz41]

Here's a trick to save a chinese pw pump. Pre-filter and after-filter. Take your wife's old nylons and stretch them over the filter housing on both sides. Then slide that monster back into the pump housing, being careful not to rip any big holes in the pantyhose. Works miracles.

A do-it-yourself parts washer is not a budget project if you want to end up with something good.

 

[Brad Buchanan]

Hey Brett, I am building a parts cleaner also and had some questions and thoughts.

Through a bit of wheelin' and dealin' I ended up with a stainless steel tilt skillet from a scrap guy I know. It is app 36"w. x 24" and about 12" deep.

I was wondering whether I should have a separate reservoir for the fluid or a perforated level to hold the parts and use the tank itself.

I bought some CRC parts washing liquid and plan to use this in the washer.

This gadget has gas heating elements underneath. Would it be safe to heat the solution somewhat?

Thanks, Brad

 

[Lou from Wi.]

Brad, Several years back we bought a parts washer from H,Freight for $100.00. The wash solution was a joke .Mechanics called the wash solution "UNCLE EARLS OAT MEAL".We had an old oil furnance we tore down and used the pmp and filter assembly so we can use Fuel/diesel fuel,kerosens. Took about 2 days to make over the solution pump /with a filter,Switch. Pictures are worth sa thousand words and our system has been in use now for a long time. If you have a heating man that could supply you with the pump.motor, filter and old valve assembly, the time it takes to re-make the washer would be to your advantage,for LONGEVITY factor. Hope this helps.LOU,

 

[Brad Buchanan]

Lou, that is a good idea! I actually have an oil furnace that the firebox is leakin' and I would have the whole setup as described in the pics.

Question: Do you have the pump fed right out of the sump or do have some sort of pre-filter?

 

[Anonymous-0]

I really am new at this and this will be my first one. I don"t need one to spend a lot of money or time in because it will rally only be used about once a year. I probably could get by with just a soak tank. I got a 55 gal drum from work and I am going to cut it in half (the long way) and put a grill grate in it to hold parts for drying. Then get the hi-flow pump and hook it up. Run a hose into the barrel and then drop the other end into a resevroir below to pull from. Then I will have a drain and a screen to run the fluid right back into the resveroir. Nothing fancy and and all for about $75. Just don"t need to spend a bunch on something that only will get used once in a blue moon for me.

 

[Lou from Wi.]

Brad. The second picture shows the filter assembly is right out of the tank sump. Not hard to mfg. LOU.

 

[sflem849]

No way will that work. Safe for use with ag chemicals doesn't mean anything. The biggest thing is that ag chemicals are never a strong solvent. I said STRONG on purpose, most of us who have sprayed know how glyphosate can clean up a poly tank overnight!

 

[Anonymous-0]

I figured if it could handle roundup and various chemicals then it could handle mineral sprits. Some guys I read were using that is their cleaner and it worked fine. I just not sure what I need to go with and trying to put something together,

Thanks

 

[Frankmn]

I knew a guy that used an automotive oil pump and ran it with an electric drill. It worked just fine and the old oil pump was just laying around.

 

[David G]

I bought the whole parts washer from TSC for $199, it works great.

 

[markiz41]

Downside of a separate sump is that you can't soak big parts in cleaner fluid easily. The upside is that you don't need to drain it to clean up.

Heating the cleaner will not do anything but make it evaporate faster and create a fire hazard. Now water would be different..

 

[mmidlam]

My factory made washer has a pump similar to an engine oil pump set in a pit sump,powered by a small motor.The sump is on the outside of the box. The pump and motor set upright...I like the oil pump and drill powered idea.

 

[greygoat]

Is an agricultural/roundup compatable pump
compatable with cleaning solvents/oils/grease
encountered while cleaning automotive/tractor
parts?
That old oil furnace pump, and a prefilter to
protrct the pump from grit, or large particles,
looks like a good idea.

 

[Chris Jones]

A DYI parts washer. Hummm. I kinda like the idea. Take one of those 55 gallon plastic barrels and either use it horizontally on a stand with say 1/4 to 1/3 cut off for the opening or just use it standing up and use as much as you need depth and fluid volume for your job. Or have one both ways and move the pump and possibly fluid from one to the other.

Still, I never found the magic bullet for cleaner fluid. I used to have one of those 3.5 gallon HF ones. I mostly cleaned small parts like tractor carbs in it. I used kerosene. It wasn't nearly as quick or good at cleaning as carb cleaner in spray cans, or even soaking/sloshing in gas. I bought some water based parts washer fluid next but it wasn't any better. I threw the parts washer away when it stopped pumping.

Now days depending on size of the part and how quick and clean I need it I use Mean Green degreaser, cans of engine cleaner, gasoline, a paint can sized dunking container of carb cleaner, spray cans of carb cleaner, and occasionally for no residue brake parts cleaner.

Good luck with your project!

 

[Steven-Id]

Years ago I made one that worked quite well. It was an old single basin kitchen sink with a drain shelf on each end. You had a place to set parts to be cleaned and another for the cleaned parts. I had an old Holley electric fuel pump laying around so I used it for the pump. It was rated at 35 gph. it worked great. had a hose going into a 20 gallon barrel which was placed under the sink drain. The pump just pumped through a parts washing brush. When not in use put the lid on the barrel to keep from evaporating.


Steven