What's your favorite degreaser?

[SmallChange]

I was thinking of getting one of those plunger cans, to make it more convenient and spill proof to get some solvent on a rag or paper towel. But what degreaser to use? I find myself using toluene pretty often, or Goof-Off (which I think has a lot of toluene in it). But I'll sometimes use 91% isopropyl alcohol if I'm worried about damaging paint or plastic, or if the contamination is very light. I might use something more aggressive to prepare metal for painting. I used some paint thinner the other day, but it seemed to take such a long time to dry. And at work I used to use Zep Safety Solve, which was chlorinated and therefore not flammable.

What general purpose solvent do you like for working on your tractor? How about for other shop duties?

I'm tired of degreasing the FEL by leaning against it in a clean white shirt when we were just about to go out....

 

[caver]

CRC Brakleen in aerosol cans. Often local Dollar generals have it at a reasonable price. Back when I was working we used CRC Electraclean. Then they would only get the newer version which everyone hated. it left and oily film and didn't work very well.

 

[espacef1fan]

Naphtha and wd40 degreaser


Brakleen if I’m unconcerned about the finish.

 

[orezok]

Brake clean is 99% acetone. But a gallon of acetone and save a bundle.

 

[spruce Deere]

Mineral spirits

Brake clean

Purple cleaner

First two I use the most. They don't freeze, brake clean is portable.
Purple cleaner is strong stuff and can be deluted from melting grease and etching aluminum power to general soap cleaning

 

[CausticUrbanCoast]

Depends what you are degreasing ...

 

[WranglerX]

Petroleum Spirits (paint thinner), spray can of carb cleaner (careful around paint), GUNK foaming engine cleaner and Simple Green....... What I use depends of what needs to be cleaned....

 

[caver]

Brake clean is 99% acetone. But a gallon of acetone and save a bundle.

Not the stuff I buy called Brakleen in the red can. It's mostly tetrachloroethylene. I hope I got the name correct. It's non flammable.

 

[orezok]

Not the stuff I buy called Brakleen in the red can. It's mostly tetrachloroethylene. I hope I got the name correct. It's non flammable.

Per their SDS it’s acetone

http://docs.crcindustries.com/msds/5151.pdf

 

[CausticUrbanCoast]

Depends on the brand what's in it, acetone is common though since it's a cheap industrial byproduct.

 

[caver]

Per their SDS it’s acetone

http://docs.crcindustries.com/msds/5151.pdf

Not the stuff I use. http://docs.crcindustries.com/msds/1003707E.pdf

 

[Mrsig]

Simple Green is all I use. I use it on my Jeeps & tractor. The best part it dose not hurt plastic parts or wire coatings.
Simple Green Household Cleaning Products Line

 

[workinonit]

For a degreaser I use B52 or Powerhouse. For a parts cleaner I use CRC Brakleen or Carb cleaner. For electrical parts I use CRC contact cleaner.

 

[TractorGuy]

My favorite spray on degreaser is Oxygen Orange from the Dollar Tree.

For wiping off excess grease I use dry paper towels. If I want to get it any cleaner I will use the above mentioned spray or sometimes I use WD 40.

For small cleaning that needs to be dry and oil free I use the red can brake clean or the walmart equivalent.

FYI 91% alcohol can damage some plastic. 70-73% is as strong as you want to use.

 

[newbury]

What general purpose solvent do you like for working on your tractor? How about for other shop duties?

For removing grease I generally use diesel when I'm working on the tractor. Other shop duties there is an entire range - Kroil for really "frozen" stuff, PBlaster is always handy, WD40 to get rid of moisture.

 

[5030]

The old cleaning elixirs, like fuel additives, many to choose from.

I tend to use Berryman's carb dip in my heated ultrasonic cleaner (rinses with water), ZEP Purple Power and the cheapest auto parts store car wash in my foam cannon coupled to the end of my pressure washer which will run hot, cold and wet steam if I want to. Don't like putting chemicals through the pressure washer pump, hard on the ceramic pistons. A foam cannon is a much better alternative and cheap on Amazon (less than 15 bucks).

 

[orezok]

Not the stuff I use. http://docs.crcindustries.com/msds/1003707E.pdf

That ozone destroying stuff has been banned out here. And don’t use it if you are welding as it produces phosgene gas which will kill you.

 

[WranglerX]

That ozone destroying stuff has been banned out here. And don’t use it if you are welding as it produces phosgene gas which will kill you.

Thought products that convert to phosgene gas when exposed to welding have been outlawed by EPA... IF your cleaning product does not contain "chlorinated hydrocarbons" I believe it is safe to use around welding...

 

[5030]

IF your cleaning product does not contain "chlorinated hydrocarbons" I believe it is safe to use around welding...

That is correct and only non chlorinated brake cleaner is sold here.

 

[TractorGuy]

The non chlorinated brake cleaner will destroy some rubber and plastics while the chlorinated brake cleaner doesn't. The non chlorinated brake cleaner will melt my nitrile gloves but the chlorinated brake cleaner does not so using it with care seems to be safer for me.