what cleaner/solution do you use in parts washer?

[JohnnyDark]

what type cleaners does everyone use in their parts washers?i was using straight simple green, but was wondering if there are better options.

 

[Farwell]

I have used kerosene and have had good luck with it. I am not sure about the safety issue involved with using it.
I have used Simple Green and it has also worked well in many situations.
When I was a kid and worked on my vehicles I used gasoline but was never comfortable with using it. I didn't use a pump on the gas, just a heavy brush and manual labor.
If you aren't worrying about the paint on the parts a hot tank set up does a great job of removing grease and paint. The solution I used was a lye type solution. You can't put non ferrous metal in this type of solution or it will dissolve.
There are chemicals sold for commercial parts washers but I do not know what they are.

 

[Soundguy]

I use mineral spirits.. though in the past have used diesel and kerosene..

soundguy

 

[Renze]

Now JohnnyDark has raised the subject, i have a question too:
Will kerosene eat away rubber parts of a standard water pump ?

I want to make a parts cleaner from an oil drum, but i was warned by a friend: He made a heated one from an old laundry washer. 30 minutes after filling it, the rubbers were eaten away and the kerosene flowed out...

My band saw was missing a coolant pump, so i put a pond fountain pump in the coolant liquid reservoir, which works great.

If i buy another pond fountain to build a parts washer, will kerosene eat away that plastic jet pump ?

 

[Bird]

I used Varsol that I bought from the local Exxon fuel distributor, although since then they say they only have naptha which they claim is the same.

 

[Timber]

My buddy Tom a transmission guy use a mix of Mineral Spirit and Karol. He is a builder and all I have to say about working over a vat of solvent for your entire life is use a proper respirator. Nobody ever wants to hear it but inhaling solvent and soaking it through you skin will kill you

 

[Renze]

Thats true, from the days that i worked as a mechanic, i remember getting a white, dry cracked skin from the degreaser liquid... its just nasty stuff.

 

[Bird]

i remember getting a white, dry cracked skin from the degreaser liquid

I learned very quickly that the Varsol would do thar really bad if you let it dry on your skin. I could work with my hands in it for long periods of time with no problem at all as long as I kept my hands wet with the Varsol, but as soon as I got my hands out of the Varsol, I dried them off quickly with a towel, and then washed them with the orange GoJo and water.

 

[Wayne County Hose]

Now JohnnyDark has raised the subject, i have a question too:
Will kerosene eat away rubber parts of a standard water pump ?

I want to make a parts cleaner from an oil drum, but i was warned by a friend: He made a heated one from an old laundry washer. 30 minutes after filling it, the rubbers were eaten away and the kerosene flowed out...

Pumps made to transfer water use different compound o-rings and gaskets than pumps made to transfer petroleum products. Just go to Harbor Freight and get a parts washer pump.

 

[JohnnyDark]

was thinking of going with mineral spirits. simple green is okay but you have to was it off, then blow off with an air hose. i know with a switch to a petro based cleaner gloves will become mandatory.