Cleaning solvent for parts washer?

[69hugger]

I am about to pull the trigger for a parts washer, and wonder about effectiveness of water based fluids versus stoddard solvent. I know Stoddard works, but is comparatively smelly, and flammable. This will be for relatively light use in my home garage, cleaning wheel bearings, flushing off engine parts, etc. I am thinking a Harbor Freight type washer, maybe a roughly $100 unit. Some washers say they are for aqueous solvents only, others are good for either type.
Does say, diluted Simple Green work in this application?
What are you using?
Any suggestions and experience with aqueous types would be especially appreciated.

Thanks!!
Bill

[Spiffav8]

Bill,

I picked up a sonic cleaner at Harbor Freight about a year ago. I've used it mainly for cleaning gun parts, but it works great on other small parts just as well. I dilute Simple Green with Deionized water, about a 50/50 mix. Once the fluid is hot the process is pretty quick. Nothing but happy with it and probably the best thing I have bought at Harbor Freight.

:captain:

[Che70velle]

I use straight mineral spirits in mine, and it gets used a lot! The stuff is very smelly when fresh, but works great as a cutting agent.

[69hugger]

Thanks for the recommendations.
I never knew it, but read on the web that mineral spirits & Stoddard solvent are one & the same.
I am leaning towards that, but the smell has me thinking water based if it works AS WELL.
I wonder if Simple Green will work as well at room temp?
Any others using water based stuff?

[Sieg]

Here's some good surfing: http://www.safety-kleen.com/products-services/parts-cleaning-technologies/aqueous-and-solvent-chemistries

The one concern I have with Simple Green (and I use it a lot) is it caustic so it will discolor bare, anodized, and clear coated aluminum if the concentrate is to too strong or contact time too long.

They have evolved into a relatively large chemical company and have an industrial line: http://industrial.simplegreen.com/

[Beebe]

Pure Simple Green has stripped / removed the factory paint inside my ToolShop brand parts cleaner.

Everywhere that the parts washer was submerged in Simple Green has shed its paint in about a 3 month time of soaking in simple green. FYI

Never seen a parts washer with a "mineral spirit" or "solvent" that was stripped of all it paint inside from the solvent itself... hmmm

Maybe the paintjob in my ToolShop parts washer is elcheapo ... LOL

my .02 ;)

[Vince@Meanstreets]

this is great to use in a heated parts wash tank.... http://www.chemfree.com/products.html

[GregWeld]

Thanks for the recommendations.
I never knew it, but read on the web that mineral spirits & Stoddard solvent are one & the same.
I am leaning towards that, but the smell has me thinking water based if it works AS WELL.
I wonder if Simple Green will work as well at room temp?
Any others using water based stuff?




I have a 30 gallon Snap-On parts washer -- running Mineral Spirits. I don't think it's bad smelling at all and it works real well. The Simple Green dries my hands out every bit as much as the Mineral Spirits. I have a wash sink right next to the parts washer and get the stuff off me as quick as I can...

[69hugger]

I have a 30 gallon Snap-On parts washer -- running Mineral Spirits. I don't think it's bad smelling at all and it works real well. The Simple Green dries my hands out every bit as much as the Mineral Spirits. I have a wash sink right next to the parts washer and get the stuff off me as quick as I can...

Greg,
Do you actually run that much solvent in it? Last I looked, mineral spirits runs $8 or $9 per gallon. I suppose a bit less in 5's. Still, a pretty spendy fill....

[GregWeld]

Greg,
Do you actually run that much solvent in it? Last I looked, mineral spirits runs $8 or $9 per gallon. I suppose a bit less in 5's. Still, a pretty spendy fill....



Yes I do. Didn't realize the cost was that much per gallon.... My 30 gal parts washer is also one that runs a large (huge) cartridge filter in the tank - so with "home use" I've never had to add Mineral Spirits or replace the filter so far.

[Sieg]

Volume, filtering, and cleaning performance over the long term definitely factor into the expense/value analysis.

[silvermonte]

I buy the 5 gallon bucket of parts cleaner from menards and my washer takes 10 gallons. No idea what it is but its pretty harsh and cleans grease and oil of parts pretty fast. I use gloves to rubber gloves to keep my hands from drying out.

The only time you can smell the cleaner is if I have the top up on mine and have spent alot of time cleaning something. I've seen people who keep the solution in the bucket and run a filter and a pump to it so that there is no fluid sitting in the bottom of the parts washer to stink up the place.

[69hugger]

Decisions, decisions...

Thanks for all the input.

[69hugger]

After looking at many options, I decided to talk to Safety Kleen. They have 2 candidates... "4 in 1" water based concentrate that is diluted 20:1. It is an Arm & Hammer product that Safety Kleen markets. It is warned that it may discolor non-ferrous metals, and should be rinsed well from all surfaces. It also works better at heated temps.
They also have a stoddard type solvent with a 140 F. flashpoint. It is (according to the S.K. rep), safe for all electric pumps. At this point, this is what I have decided to go with. It is about twice as expensive as home store mineral spirits, but if it is far less flammable, I am willing to pay it. I just can't get comfortable using highly flammable solvent in an inexpensive pump with electricity in the mix.
As it turns out, S.K. has a home user promo going on where they will come to your house & fill your parts washer with up to 10 gallons of either product for $99. The contract calls for a replacement in 6 months where they will recycle the 1st 10 gallons, and refill you for another $99. So, the commitment is $200 & you should be covered for at least year. I'm not sure if I will use the washer that much, but I can't use it at all empty, and this seems like the safest path.
As always, any input is appreciated.

[GregWeld]

The actual "liquid" is never the part you need to worry about ----- it's the FUMES that can be easily ignited.


If you think mixing electricity and flammables is a dangerous idea. Please don't drive your new vehicle as the fuel tank has an electric pump inside of it smothered in volatile fuel.












After looking at many options, I decided to talk to Safety Kleen. They have 2 candidates... "4 in 1" water based concentrate that is diluted 20:1. It is an Arm & Hammer product that Safety Kleen markets. It is warned that it may discolor non-ferrous metals, and should be rinsed well from all surfaces. It also works better at heated temps.
They also have a stoddard type solvent with a 140 F. flashpoint. It is (according to the S.K. rep), safe for all electric pumps. At this point, this is what I have decided to go with. It is about twice as expensive as home store mineral spirits, but if it is far less flammable, I am willing to pay it. I just can't get comfortable using highly flammable solvent in an inexpensive pump with electricity in the mix.
As it turns out, S.K. has a home user promo going on where they will come to your house & fill your parts washer with up to 10 gallons of either product for $99. The contract calls for a replacement in 6 months where they will recycle the 1st 10 gallons, and refill you for another $99. So, the commitment is $200 & you should be covered for at least year. I'm not sure if I will use the washer that much, but I can't use it at all empty, and this seems like the safest path.
As always, any input is appreciated.

[GregWeld]

My parts washer hold 30 GALLONS of mineral spirits - has a lid - which is down unless I'm using it. Has an electric pump AND a light on a gooseneck. THERE IS ZERO "SMELL" from the solvent unless you're standing there washing parts and even then it's MINIMAL. In fact -- I've never even thought about the "smell" until this thread came up and then I had to replay the tape in my head to think if it did or didn't.

[69hugger]

Greg,
I agree with everything you've said. The submerged fuel pump in all modern cars is a great example. But they are designed to do so.
I understand your Snap-on washer runs solvent, as do many. From what I have found, they are far more expensive machines than the cheapie I bought. And my limited/ occasional use doesn't call for a high-buck machine.
When I shopped for washers, the $75 to $200 dollar ones at Harbor Freight, Sears, etc. all say they are for water based fluids only. To get one that says it is for solvent, you gotta spent at least $500, & that is for a used one. Are there design differences in the pumps & switches that enable flammables? Maybe or maybe not, but can't find anyone that knows definitively.
My washer's instructions specifically say to only use a water based cleaning solution.
I am worried the seals in my low dollar pump may degrade over time using petroleum based fluid (against the mfrs instructions) & allow leakage into the motor. Turn it on, maybe months down the road, & a spark ignites it. That could be a problem with my insurance company.
At least by using a flammable product with a 140 flashpoint, (which Safety Kleen endorses in my type of system) I think I am minimizing the fire hazard. It may or may not make a difference, but I guess it will give me some peace of mind. I will still be a bit nervous starting it up for a while. But the extra $100 over store bought mineral spirits (which has a flash point of about 100 deg. F.) seems worth it to me.