Hey everyone I hope I am not posting this in the wrong spot. If so can the mod's delete it or repost in the right spot for me. I was not sure if it was really a tech article or just me babbling. Here is a link for the pictures.. http://gallery.12thfloor.com/gallery2/v/users/Jeepfreak/Parts+Washer/ I'll start off with this ting is OLDDDDDDD well to me anyway. Its at least 25 yrs old. It used to be an old Safety Kleen unit. My dad and I got i back in the late 80's and cleaned it up and repainted it RED/BLACK. Well the pump finally crapped out a while back and I never replaced it. Since I have been cleaning up te garage in the anticipated move to SAN ANTONIO, Texas, I decided to rebuild it before I got moved up there. I looked around the net, and here locally and finally found that Granger had a really nice pump, that was similar to the original. I guess after 25 yrs it was ok for the old pump to die. It really wasnt dead, but it was a sealed unit and the wires were so hard and dried out they finally broke off. I spent about $125 on the pump, new hose and clamps. I had another switch(it will bereplaced with a sealed one once I move) New wire and a Plug. I thought about giving it up and jus tbuying a new one, but after having heart failure on the price of a similar Parts Washer I decided my $125 to rebuild this one would be worth the effort. Now for the real question I will more than likely run VARSOL in it. What do you guys run in yours? I thought about the aqueous soulutions, but I really dont want the nasty oily film left behind. I normally use gloves when using the washer so cancer from the solvents and stuff like that do not worry me. I was looking at some of the ZEP products, and on monday will try and find a local dealer with pricing. I can get a 55 gallon drum of varsol for $153 here locally. What are you guys paying for your parts washer solvents? Again I hope this is posted in the right spot.
I use Varsol at home, but at work we have both Varsol and a bio/water based parts cleaner from a company called Walter. It leaves a slimy film, but is a lot easier on the nose and skin. From habit, I prefer the Varsol. Biological stuff worries me a bit... Flatman
always used cheap laquer thinner. very combustable though! wreaks havoc on the soft parts so I go thru pumps maybe once a year or so. adapted my washer to use the cheap sealed units u find at swapmeets.
From what I understand, Varsol and mineral spirits are very close to being the same thing, if not the same thing. I go to a local home heating oil company to purchase mineral spirits at the pump. Bring my containers, drive up to the pump and fill up what I can afford. Pay the man by the gallon. Not cheap, but convenient. Can't remember how much per gallon.
im goinna hit up a few places, wally world, dollar tree, dollar general etc. to see if they have mineral spirits cheaper than $6 a gallon that home depot and lowes have it priced at. To me thats just highway robbery. When I called about the varsol, it was $121.00 for 25 gallons or $153 for 55. So I wasopting for the 55 gallons, since I have a pump for a drum already. I also need a 5 gallon pail of gear lube for a pump I have as well. I called Oil Patch they are an oil company here, they gave me the Varsol pricing, and I will be setting up an account with them regardless of wether I get the Varsol there or not. Super nice people and priced fair to me. I will be price checking though this afternoon at some of the chain places. I am dieing to put some fluid in there and flip the switch I've got 2, 5 hp briggs Go-Kart engines to rebuild, and they are gonna break it in. I read somewhere in a post a while back that the varsol and mineral spiris were basically the same, something about them being STODDARD solvent? I guess ill ask for MSDS sheets while im there as well.
Try Safety-Kleen mineral spirits for your Safety Kleen pw. They sell it online: http://www.safety-kleen.com/SKInternet/SKShoppingListPartsWasher.aspx?cName=Chemistries Try 105 Recycled one...As compard to other stuff it might be a little more, but it certainly is better quality.
My cousin runs a repair shop here in cleveland,I will give him a call today and see if I can wheedle some info out of him as to who services his parts cleaning stations as he has two of them. I used to go there right before they would change out his drum and he would let me take a few gallons outa it to put in mine. Yea I am that cheap!
O.K. I called my cousin. He has his tank changed every 6 weeks for 68.00 by a company called Kwik Kleen here in Cleveland ohio. Hell if I can rotate mine for 68 bucks that sounds like a plan....
If you are looking for service, you can also get service from Safety Kleen. They have a local branch in Corpus Christi, and also in San Antonio...The Corpus Christie branch details are: 3820 Bratton Rd Corpus Christi, TX 78413 Phone Number:361-854-9471
See if your local chevron jobber sells # 325 thinner. BTW, whatever you end up with in your tank...when it's clean and fresh put a 1/2 pint of motor oil in it and turn on the pump for a few.... It will lube the pump and keep the solvent from evaporating too quick. Dave
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