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Parts Washer Solvent?

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84Toyota4x4

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So, what do you run in your parts washers? What works well? I have a cheapie that says no flammable solvents, so what would some good options be? Im thinking I may just use Super Clean. Then again, I may just get a different pump for it and run real solvent, lol.

~T.J.
 
Ignore the sticker. Put petroleum naphtha in it. Go to Napa, they carry it.

Super clean makes a great dip, but it won't work well in that type of parts cleaner, nor will any other water based "solvents".
 
Im thinking the same thing about the water based cleaners. However, I am worried about the pump itself and possible ignition since it is a cheapie unit. I thought about just dropping a new pump into it, but a solvent safe pump is more than I paid for the whole thing, haha.

Super Clean has worked well for me in most cases, but Im used to having a REAL solvent in a parts washer. I may just use this stuff after all, but I dont know for sure.

I even heard a rumor about using Electrasol in it even (yes, the dishwasher stuff). Apparently it works well?

~T.J.
 
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Do not ignore the sticker yet. The motor is more than likely capable of pumping solvent safely, but the switch is a very likely source of ignition. Install a remote switch, then you'll probably be good to run solvent. Even so, I would suggest you avoid using any flammable solvents. Use combustible solvents which have a flash point of 100*F or greater and include naptha, stoddard solvent, paint thinner. If you want a good solvent that can devastate oil/grease and isn't flammable, I suggest tetrachloroethylene.
 
mthompson223 said:
Do not ignore the sticker yet. The motor is more than likely capable of pumping solvent safely, but the switch is a very likely source of ignition. Install a remote switch, then you'll probably be good to run solvent. Even so, I would suggest you avoid using any flammable solvents. Use combustible solvents which have a flash point of 100*F or greater and include naptha, stoddard solvent, paint thinner. If you want a good solvent that can devastate oil/grease and isn't flammable, I suggest tetrachloroethylene.
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Good thought on the switch. I was thinking of the motor itself.

That last non-flammable solvent you mentioned, I assume is a chemical. What brand of solvent would I be looking for that uses that as an ingredient?

Preferably, Id like to find something that cleans decently, but is in fact non-flammable.

~T.J.
 
I'm hearing a lot about mineral spirits, which I don't really want to use in it for numerous reasons. I have a 5 gallon can of that I can use for soaking if need be (which is what I was doing before hand).

Ive also heard about the water based cleaners clogging the pumps up, not sure how that would happen though.

Simple Green sounds like its pretty popular as well. So many options...

~T.J.
 
I think using the water based or non-standard cleaning solvents is inviting trouble in terms of ability to clean, ability to dry, general mess, disposing of old solvent, corrosion, plastic and O-ring compatability, ect . I have a feeling you're gonna regret it.

I have always used Mineral Spirits which I believe is the same thing as Stoddard Solvent and Paint Thinner. Cuts grease well and drys off pretty well. Have never had an O-ring swell on a genuine car part using it. You can buy Mineral Spirits by the gallon from one of the petroleum wholesalers in Everett.

I don't get how a company can sell a solvent tank and say to use with "non flamable" solvent. I don't know of any usable solvents that are non flamable?? Sounds like just a liability disclamer on the packaging.
 
I don't have a solvent tank, but the need for one hasn't gotten to the point of buying one yet!
I use some stuff called Orange Magic. I got it from work and it works awesome on cleaning parts without all that harsh chemical. It takes a little more to get really thick grease off parts, but really cleans them good! It's like soap. I just use a five gallon bucket and some of those cheap steel/brass wire brushes to clean the parts in. Then I use water to rinse the soap off!

And it really cleans your hands off good too! Without drying them out like solvent based cleaners do! I personally hate simple green, I could never get that slimy feeling off my hands. I also like using that purple stuff that castrol has, also schuck's carries a house brand too! But the Orange Magic was free from work! I think I have 20 gallons of the stuff! They were switching over to a Zep brand and just threw it out! Ya, I dumpster dive!
 
84Toyota4x4 said:
I'm hearing a lot about mineral spirits, which I don't really want to use in it for numerous reasons. I have a 5 gallon can of that I can use for soaking if need be (which is what I was doing before hand).
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Naphtha solvents don't work for **** as a dip.

Either use Super Clean for that, or get a dip solution from a parts store. Both work well and have their own unique advantages.
 
TigTorch said:
I don't get how a company can sell a solvent tank and say to use with "non flamable" solvent. I don't know of any usable solvents that are non flamable?? Sounds like just a liability disclamer on the packaging.
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Mainly because its a "parts washer" not a true "solvent tank". At one of the shops I used to work at, we had a solvent tank, which was a soaking tank with solvent (no pump or anything), but we also had parts washer, which is basically what I have. That one ran a different solution through it. Unfortunately, I dont know what the stuff was. Safety-Kleen even has a whole line of aqueous-based parts washers. They're not new by any means really.

http://www.safety-kleen.com/SKInternet/SKShoppingListPartsWasher.aspx?cId=1601

They have their own aqueous cleaner as well, but I want something more readily available, and I hear they dont sell unless you have a rental account with them to come replace it every so often and crap.

Anyway, I'm not sure what the heck I'm gonna run in it. I may just end up with mineral spirits after all even though I don't really like the stuff and hope I don't blow up, haha.

~T.J.
 
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84Toyota4x4 said:
Anyway, I'm not sure what the heck I'm gonna run in it. I may just end up with mineral spirits after all even though I don't really like the stuff and hope I don't blow up, haha.
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My dad has a HF "no flammable solvents" parts cleaner, full of solvent for the last four years. Works fine.

The only problem is that it doesn't have a fuse link to drop the lid if there's a fire . Just keep the lid closed when you're not in the shop.

That stuff doesn't "blow up", it's just not that volatile. You have to try pretty hard to get it on fire. kind of like diesel.
 
Ok, after some reading, turns out I was all bassackwards with my thinking. I have thinner that I was using as a dip, which worked decently I guess for everything I needed. However, THIS was the stuff I dont like using. The parts washer at my old work used mineral spirits, very different I think, and much better.

I think I should be fairly safe to run the mineral spirits in the thing for the most part, given the fact its rated as combustible, not flammable like the thinner I have, and the flash point is fairly high like Diesel.

Now, to figure out where to buy the stuff at a decent price. I figure Ill run two 5 gallon jugs with 2 gallons of water to get the 12 that I need. I hear running water with the mineral spirits helps keep the spirits cleaner since the "nasties" will fall to the bottom with the water, and you can drain the water and "nasties" out without replacing all the spirits due to the natural separation of the water and spirits. Anyone have info on this?

~T.J.
 
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CrustyJeep said:
My dad has a HF "no flammable solvents" parts cleaner, full of solvent for the last four years. Works fine.

The only problem is that it doesn't have a fuse link to drop the lid if there's a fire . Just keep the lid closed when you're not in the shop.

That stuff doesn't "blow up", it's just not that volatile. You have to try pretty hard to get it on fire. kind of like diesel.
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Im pretty sure mine has the fuse thing to drop the lid, but Im not 100% sure. It looks like it does since the ones Ive seen that have it look just like the one I have. Then again, looks can be deceiving.

I was just joking about being blown up, I know its not that volatile. With my new found wisdom and clarification, I'm not worried about the mineral spirits too much anymore.

~T.J.
 
[minor redirect]
I have a 230 Volt Little Giant solvent pump if anyone needs it, I'll make you a good deal - I needed a 120V and failed to note the voltage on the eBay auction...
[/minor redirect]
 

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