Panhandler
Panhandler GRM+ Memberand New Reader
7/19/24 10:39 a.m.

What are you using for cleaning fluid in your parts washer?  Just picked up a 20 gal HF washer. Seems likes lots of choices out there. What works best without breaking the budget?

ShawnG
ShawnG MegaDork
7/19/24 10:50 a.m.

Varsol

Panhandler
Panhandler GRM+ Memberand New Reader
7/19/24 11:23 a.m.

In reply to ShawnG :

Must be a Canada thing. Can't seem to buy it in the States...

stafford1500
stafford1500 GRM+ Memberand Dork
7/19/24 11:31 a.m.

Mineral spirits. Cheap, effective, not damaging to the pump or typical materials except maybe some plastics.

Panhandler
Panhandler GRM+ Memberand New Reader
7/19/24 12:03 p.m.

In reply to stafford1500 :

Looks like that's what the Varsol that Shawn suggested is, mostly. 

I saw someone suggest running like 50/50 mineral spirits and water. The idea being the the crud/dirt would sink into the water layer and keep the spirits cleaner. Any thoughts? 

Jesse Ransom
Jesse Ransom GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
7/19/24 12:25 p.m.

I use Extreme Simple Green Aircraft and Precision Cleaner. I don't know whether/how much it's less effective than mineral spirits, but it's pleasantly safe/nonflammable and the aircraft version is safe to let aluminum soak in (which the standard stuff is not).

Mr_Asa
Mr_Asa MegaDork
7/19/24 12:29 p.m.

HF has gallons of concentrate right next to the washers.  Yellow color, does a great job

Toyman!
Toyman! GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
7/19/24 12:43 p.m.
stafford1500 said:

Mineral spirits. Cheap, effective, not damaging to the pump or typical materials except maybe some plastics.

This. Works well and is cheap. 

 

ShawnG
ShawnG MegaDork
7/19/24 12:49 p.m.

Varsol, deodorized kerosene, stoddard solvent, mineral spirits. All pretty much the same thing.

If you want to be cheap, diesel will do the trick.

APEowner
APEowner GRM+ Memberand UltraDork
7/19/24 1:24 p.m.

I use the PSC 1000 Parts Cleaner from Tractor Supply.

M2Pilot
M2Pilot Dork
7/19/24 1:49 p.m.

In reply to Panhandler :

That's what I do.  Saves the cost of a couple of gallons of mineral spirits.  Works OK but spirits still get pretty nasty.  I need to filter them one of these days.

 

Panhandler
Panhandler GRM+ Memberand New Reader
7/19/24 4:23 p.m.

In reply to ShawnG :

Diesel; yeah but the smell. I changed the fuel rail on my motor home a while back and my wife wouldn't let in the house for a week...

ShawnG
ShawnG MegaDork
7/19/24 7:32 p.m.

In reply to Panhandler :

I hate diesel stink too.

That's why I buck up for parts washer solvent.

As my parts counter guy says "you want the eco-friendly stuff, or the stuff that actually works?"

twentyover
twentyover GRM+ Memberand Dork
7/25/24 12:46 p.m.

I bought a 55 gallon drum of Safety-Clean 20 years ago. Still half full

Pippins
Pippins New Reader
8/29/24 1:38 p.m.

In reply to Panhandler :

Hands down the best is cascade dish pods. Drop two or three into the soup, throw your parts in and walk away. 

Try this you'll be happy. And it costs less than a small coffee at McDonald's. 

untchabl
untchabl HalfDork
8/29/24 5:20 p.m.

PSC 1000 from Tractor Supply has always worked well for me.

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