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Solvent Question

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Project Paladin, Dec 31, 2012.

  1. Project Paladin
    Joined: Nov 10, 2012
    Posts: 229

    Project Paladin
    BANNED

    I just got a small parts washer. What's the best solvent to use for cleaning parts? Someone said to use mineral spirts, and suggestions?

    The parts are not rusted, just oil and grime.

    Thanks,
     
  2. ems customer service
    Joined: Nov 15, 2006
    Posts: 2,634

    ems customer service
    Member

    i use kerosene cheap, easy to find
     
  3. Fat47
    Joined: Nov 10, 2007
    Posts: 1,454

    Fat47
    Member

    Locla NAPA store should have bulk fluid for parts washer. Mix in a couple of qts of tranny fluid.
     
  4. I've used Mineral Spirits for years, it works great and rinses off clean. But the last time I bought some it was fairly expensive. Now I hear it's even worse so now I'm looking for something as well.

    This seems to defeat the purpose of "cleaning" a part.
     

  5. I use to buy a product from Napa called Stanosol? They carried it in a 55 gal drum and sold it by the gallon, bring your own container. Worked well and was cheap.
     
  6. 3wLarry
    Joined: Mar 11, 2005
    Posts: 12,804

    3wLarry
    Member Emeritus
    from Owasso, Ok

    If you use Mineral Spirits or Kerosene, after a while you will get tired of the smell. I like to use OMS...Odorless Mineral Spirits...yes, it is more expensive, but I feel it's worth it.
     
    kidcampbell71 likes this.
  7. lawman
    Joined: Sep 19, 2006
    Posts: 2,665

    lawman
    Member

    That's what I use , But it is about $8.00 a gal here.
     
    kidcampbell71 likes this.
  8. i have stoddard solvent in my parts washer... does a good job , very little smell and won't hardly burn
     
  9. dirty old man
    Joined: Feb 2, 2008
    Posts: 8,910

    dirty old man
    Member Emeritus

    Last mineral spirits I bought was about $450 for a 55 gallon barrel, no doubt it's more now. I'd like to find a suitable substitute.
    Been thinking of geting a 5 gallon bucket with lid and putting maybe 4 or so gallons of the new ultra low sulfur diesel fuel in it. Wish I could find the #1 diesel instead of the slightly oiler and more viscous #2, but the #1 just isn't found here in the South. If it worked OK then I would use next time I need to fill my 35 gallon capacity parts washer.Kerosene is just about as expensive as mineral spirits, and about 3 times the price of diesel.
    Also considering buying one of those cheap Harbor Freight type washers to pre wash with diesel before using the big washer with the high dollar mineral spirits, or maybe vice versa? Just getting crowded in my shop already without another parts washer!
     
  10. i just recently used some Purple Power to clean up some pistons and rods, it did a fine job. if i ever replace the stoddard solvent in my parts washer i will probably use that
     
  11. evintho
    Joined: May 28, 2007
    Posts: 2,363

    evintho
    Member

    I use 10 gallons of Purple Power in my HF washer. It cuts through the thickest of grease. I'm real happy with it. It's about $20 for 5 gallons at AutoZone. Smells good too!
     
  12. gas pumper
    Joined: Aug 13, 2007
    Posts: 2,957

    gas pumper
    Member

    I put the new #2 low sulphur Diesel in my washer a few years ago when it first came out. Very little smell, good cleaner and it seems to "settle" and is mostly clean every time I use it.

    It's a very light product, much less oilier than old #2.

    Frank
     
  13. Project Paladin
    Joined: Nov 10, 2012
    Posts: 229

    Project Paladin
    BANNED

    Thanks for all the advise.
     
  14. dirty old man
    Joined: Feb 2, 2008
    Posts: 8,910

    dirty old man
    Member Emeritus

    My concern about the Purple Power and other strong water based cleaners is that the main ingredient is a caustic, IIRC Sodium Hydroxide. I am concerned that it could cause corrosion in my parts washer, which is a big industrial unit,, forget the brand, but I remember looking it up in an industrial supply catalog and it's very expensive, don't want to screw it up!
    Rather use something a little oily and then spray down with Purple Power or similart, then hose off and blow dry than take that chance!
     
  15. fsae0607
    Joined: Apr 3, 2012
    Posts: 872

    fsae0607
    Member

    Using mineral spirits in my 5gal washer. Solvent is $$$!
     
  16. looking at a jug of Purple Power i see the ingredients are listed as: water, sodium silicate, edta , butoxyethanol , and surfactants

    i'm not a chemist ......what does that add up to?
     
  17. fsae0607
    Joined: Apr 3, 2012
    Posts: 872

    fsae0607
    Member


    Sounds like water-based "soap" solvent. Not too crazy about water-based solvents. At my work because of EPA/CARB requirements, we've switched to them. They work okay once heated. But if you let them sit too long, bacteria builds up and the solvent will smell like ass!
     
  18. well , i guess it's just soap then..it did do a fine job for me when i tried it

    as i said before , i have stoddard solvent in my parts washer
     
  19. Fenders
    Joined: Sep 8, 2007
    Posts: 3,921

    Fenders
    Member

    Kerosene, diesel fuel, or home heating oil.
     
  20. Nitro is for racing
    Alcohol is for drinking
    Gasoline is for cleaning parts ! !

    Isn't that how it goes ?
     
    30dodgeboy likes this.
  21. slammed
    Joined: Jun 10, 2004
    Posts: 8,150

    slammed
    Member

    If you have smaller parts or a container with a snug lid, cover the part with rags or paper towel and let is sit. Soak it.
     
  22. dtracy
    Joined: May 8, 2012
    Posts: 223

    dtracy
    Member

    I just bought 5 gallons of solvent at the NAPA store retail $15.00 per gallon, sold it to me for $12.00 per gallon. The 5 gallon can was $60.00. It's good stuff, cleans very well, but expensive.

    Dave.
     
  23. CutawayAl
    Joined: Aug 3, 2009
    Posts: 2,144

    CutawayAl
    Member
    from MI

    Mineral spirits, naphtha, Varsol, Solvasol, and stoddard solvent, Coleman fuel, and hardware store paint thinner are all different grades of the same basic product. A good grade cleans well and doesn't leave an oily residue.

    These solvents are flammable, but not dangerously volatile like gasoline of lacquer thinner. Health wise they are relatively safe to use. Considering effectiveness the price is not prohibitive.

    New school is water based cleaners.
     
  24. Jimbo17
    Joined: Aug 19, 2008
    Posts: 3,959

    Jimbo17
    Member

    I have used mineral spirits for years for cleaning parts and also for keeping my pinstripping brushes like brand new.

    I lay the brushes in a tupperware container about half full of mineral spirits and then snap the lid on.

    Some of my brushes are over 15 years old and just like new.

    Great product Jimbo
     
  25. fordor41
    Joined: Jul 2, 2008
    Posts: 1,011

    fordor41
    Member

    Ditto. It's not that expensive, can buy it at any home center and if put in a jug the dirt, etc will settle to the bottom and can pour off clear/clean OMS.
     
  26. Some of the petroleum based solvents are very "dry" and really hard on your hands. Especially when the solvent was fresh. It used to be common practice at our shop to add a quart of oil or ATF to the new solvent when it was changed out. But I don't know if they still bother to do this with some of the newer solvent blends.
     
  27. I've been using the purple power a lot have had about 15 gallons in my parts washer going on 2 years now still works great , settles well, still smells like the day I poured t in , use it about 3 days a week pretty solid , (and being biodegradable (with out the oils and greases)it makes great weed/ veg. killer around the fence posts I hear)
     
  28. Project Paladin
    Joined: Nov 10, 2012
    Posts: 229

    Project Paladin
    BANNED

    Thanks again for all the advise and answers.
     
  29. HUSSEY
    Joined: Feb 16, 2010
    Posts: 628

    HUSSEY
    Member

    I used K1 kerosene in a pinch and was very satisifed. I was cleaning some really nasty parts and it turned all the kerosene black. After is sat a a couple of days everything settles out on the bottom. I'll then us a squeze type sypon pump and pump it back into a 5 gallon gas can and then clean the bottom of the parts washer tank. K1 kerosene at the hardwar store is high. There's severa gas stations and rental supplie shops around town that sell it. I picked it up for $4.17/gal a few weeks ago.
     
  30. CutawayAl
    Joined: Aug 3, 2009
    Posts: 2,144

    CutawayAl
    Member
    from MI

    t's even cheaper if you buyt it in bulk from an industrial supplier rather than in hardwqare store quantities. It doesn't go bad. So long as the lid is tight it will be there waiting when you need it.
     

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