Parts Washing Recommendations

[Deleted member 57233]

Heated ultrasonic tank. The non-heated ones don't cut it.

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[Lost1wing]

Heated ultrasonic tank. The non-heated ones don't cut it.

Didn't know about heated ones! I need to look at that .

 

[Mojave20]

Zep makes good parts washers. If you keep up on filter changes fluid can last a long time and just need to top off. Only have to dispose of the hazardous waste filters and not deal with full fluid exchanges often. Safety Kleen washers are a step above Zep but also pricey.

Have you thought about refillable Sure Shot spray canisters? Buy brake clean by the 5 gallon jugs and refill the canister with shop air.

 

[jac04]

For a really crude parts cleaner, I have used a 5-gallon bucket with about 4 gallons of gas in it. Use coat hangers to hang stuff off the rim of the bucket for easy retrieval. Extra-long chemical-resistant gloves and an assortment of brushes are needed as well.

 

[WILDHOBO]

Not me, but someone else did a long time ago.

Crazy.

 

[WILDHOBO]

Zep makes good parts washers. If you keep up on filter changes fluid can last a long time and just need to top off. Only have to them dispose of the hazardous waste filters and not deal with full fluid exchanges often. Safety Kleen washers are a step above Zep but also pricey.

Have you thought about refillable Hot Shot spray canisters? Buy brake clean by the 5 gallon jugs and refill the canister with shop air.

Thanks. I’ll checkout zep. A can of brake clean lasts about 2 years for me. I’m not high volume.

 

[WILDHOBO]

For a really crude parts cleaner, I have used a 5-gallon bucket with about 4 gallons of gas in it. Use coat hangers to hang stuff off the rim of the bucket for easy retrieval. Extra-long chemical-resistant gloves and an assortment of brushes are needed as well.

And a very sparkless work area.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Zep makes good parts washers. If you keep up on filter changes fluid can last a long time and just need to top off. Only have to them dispose of the hazardous waste filters and not deal with full fluid exchanges often. Safety Kleen washers are a step above Zep but also pricey.

Have you thought about refillable Hot Shot spray canisters? Buy brake clean by the 5 gallon jugs and refill the canister with shop air.

Good to know!

 

[professorkx]

I have a large parts washer from Harbor Freight, and it’s been with me for more than 5 years. I tried the biodegradable cleaner…just didn’t do the job on parts needing aggressive cleaning. So, I switched back to mineral spirits and haven’t changed it since filling the first time…I think it took 7 or 8 gallons to fill the tank the first time. I’m sure there’s an inch of sludge in the bottom of my tank…

I’m currently working on changing gears in a Ford M300 dually rear axle and then the Dana 60 front axle, and while the carrier for the M300 is very large, it still fit in my parts washer to get it cleaned up.

quite frankly, larger parts are just too much work to clean with spray cans and blue towels…

 

[WILDHOBO]

I have a large parts washer from Harbor Freight, and it’s been with me for more than 5 years. I tried the biodegradable cleaner…just didn’t do the job on parts needing aggressive cleaning. So, I switched back to mineral spirits and haven’t changed it since filling the first time…I think it took 7 or 8 gallons to fill the tank the first time. I’m sure there’s an inch of sludge in the bottom of my tank…

I’m currently working on changing gears in a Ford M300 dually rear axle and then the Dana 60 front axle, and while the carrier for the M300 is very large, it still fit in my parts washer to get it cleaned up.

quite frankly, larger parts are just too much work to clean with spray cans and blue towels…

Thanks. I looked at the HF setup and it’s reasonably priced.

 

[RudeJeepin]

The last two shops I worked in used kerosene in the parts washers. Lasts a long time with filter changes and an occasional top off.
I've used the eco friendly chemical parts washers and they are nasty on your hands. Don't seem to work as good as plain old kerosene. I'd never own one personally.
Simple Green and Purple Power both work great on stuff you don't want to remove from the vehicle. But be careful with the mist when sprayed from a bottle.

 

[Rusty PW]

I bought a parts cleaner from Advanced Auto about 10 years ago. It was on sale. Used the regular parts cleaning fluid that came with it, 10 gallons. Used the crap out of it for a few years then left it sitting with the fluid still it it. Went to use it again, only to find out that most of the fluid had evaporated. So....I go to buy more fluid from Advanced Auto. Only to find out that they don't have it anymore. But they had 10 gallons of brake cleaner. I dumped that into the parts cleaner. Worked great until my pump died. The brake cleaner killed the pump. So.....beware. Also when not in use, Drain your fluid back into the cans to keep from evaporating.

 

[WILDHOBO]

The more I read everyone’s recommendations, the more I think I’m not going to buy a basin style cleaner. Sounds nasty.

 

[Freems]

https://www.safety-kleen.com/

had there service for years, I built a washer out of a 30 gal oil drum and a use stainless sink with a small pump, the Safety Kleen company came to my shop and pumped out the sludge and old fluid and replaced it with new. It was a perfect solution for me.

 

[WILDHOBO]

https://www.safety-kleen.com/

had there service for years, I built a washer out of a 30 gal oil drum and a use stainless sink with a small pump, the Safety Kleen company came to my shop and pumped out the sludge and old fluid and replaced it with new. It was a perfect solution for me.

Now that’s perfect.

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