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Parts Washer Fluid

Discussion in 'The Tool Shed' started by Ol Fogie, Nov 27, 2022.

  1. Nov 27, 2022
    Ol Fogie

    Ol Fogie 74 cj5 304, 1943 mb

    Southern...
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    So, I got a parts washer cabinet for free from a guy cleaning out a shop building he had bought. I was wondering what fluid is best used for cleaning. In the past I have used mineral spirits or kerosene, in a 5 gallon metal bucket, worked fairly well. Are there commercial cleaning fluids that work better?
     
  2. Nov 27, 2022
    Frogfarm

    Frogfarm 1978 CJ5 2023 Sponsor

    Cottage Grove, OR
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    Bang for the buck mineral spirits. That is what I have in my tank now. My tools are retired, and just a hobbyist now, but even when I had a heap of guys working, it was the best option.
     
    Ol Fogie likes this.
  3. Nov 27, 2022
    Ol Fogie

    Ol Fogie 74 cj5 304, 1943 mb

    Southern...
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    Ah, thanks. I suspected mineral spirits might be hard to beat. It also is probably harmless to bare skin too.
     
  4. Nov 28, 2022
    73 cj5

    73 cj5 Not ready for the junkyard yet

    Clinton, Mississippi
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    I've been using diesel. It was free and cleans well.
     
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  5. Nov 28, 2022
    Frogfarm

    Frogfarm 1978 CJ5 2023 Sponsor

    Cottage Grove, OR
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    Ha, I would burn the diesel in my truck and buy mineral spirits
     
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  6. Nov 28, 2022
    Frogfarm

    Frogfarm 1978 CJ5 2023 Sponsor

    Cottage Grove, OR
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    None of it is harmless. First 30 + years I was working in the shops nobody wore gloves. What I know now we were ignorant
     
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  7. Nov 28, 2022
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
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    Another vote for "odorless" mineral spirits. It's readily available for a decent price and isn't as harmful to humans as a lot of the other solvents. That's what I use in my small solvent tank.
     
    NH Charlie, dnb71R2 and Ol Fogie like this.
  8. Nov 28, 2022
    PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Hills of NH
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    Just wondering how fire-safe "mineral spirits" is. That stuff can be very flammable, depending on the formulation.

    I used to use a "Gunk" product that was added to kerosene.
     
    Ol Fogie likes this.
  9. Nov 28, 2022
    Ol Fogie

    Ol Fogie 74 cj5 304, 1943 mb

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    I wonder if it is much more flammable than Kerosene? :shrug: I would guess most all products capable of cutting grease/oil would have some degree of flammability unless it is something water based.
    I do have one of those 1 gallon buckets of carburetor soak cleaner, water based will rinse right off with water, really good stuff, BUT YOU ABSOLUTLY CANNOT get it on your skin even for a second. Got it on my finger tips and caused the skin to peel off for months, made the skin very tender. Can only guess what it might do to your eyes. Thanks for your help, please continue with your comments.
     
  10. Nov 28, 2022
    PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Hills of NH
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    Ummm... yes.

    Although what you and I call mineral spirits is hard to get these days. Most places now sell "thinner" which is adulterated and recycled who-knows-what. I stopped buying that garbage when I found it would freeze in my truck during the winter. :susp:
     
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  11. Nov 28, 2022
    wheelie

    wheelie beeg dummy 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor

    York, PA
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    I use PSC1000 from Tractor Supply. I can't say that it works better than kerosene but it claims to have a high flash point, it is not super stinky, it works fairly well, and it isn't (or at least WASN'T) too expensive. I haven't checked the prices recently. I still wear gloves when cleaning parts. I've had enough chemicals soaked into my skin that I don't care to increase the parts per million in my bloodstream.
     
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  12. Nov 28, 2022
    Jw60

    Jw60 Sitting up n buckled down. 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Sedalia MO.
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    Simple green here.
    Not as much to worry about with all my kids and pets.
     
    Last edited: Nov 28, 2022
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  13. Nov 28, 2022
    89/01 XJ

    89/01 XJ New Member

    Temple, TX
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    Post takes me back to my childhood in the 1960s. Dad operated a service station. He kept a gallon or so of gas in an open 5 gallon metal can to wash his tools, no gloves.
    I was always afraid it would catch on fire.
     
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  14. Nov 28, 2022
    Frogfarm

    Frogfarm 1978 CJ5 2023 Sponsor

    Cottage Grove, OR
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    I starting out working on dirty greasy mini bikes and go-karts in the early 60's and would wash parts with gasoline and bare hands. So over 60 years of working with and around this issue I sure have seen an evaluation. What I know now I wish I would on known then.

    Read the MSD sheets!
    Even tho it is a pain in the *** wear your PPE, hard to find any buddy to hate it and bitch about it more than I but we need to!
     
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  15. Nov 29, 2022
    Richard in AZ

    Richard in AZ I just don't understand the like of patina

    PHX AZ
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    This is what I use.....from my memory is was about $85 for 5 gallons...

    [​IMG]
     
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  16. Nov 29, 2022
    Lockman

    Lockman OK.....Now I Get It . 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Silver Hill,...
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    .....Kerosene & old tranny fluid mixture.
     
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  17. Nov 29, 2022
    Steamboat Willys

    Steamboat Willys Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Paddock Lake, WI
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    I've cleaned a lot of parts with Diesel fuel. I've been using mineral spirits lately.
    Diesel fuel leaves an oily residue, mineral spirits not so much.
    I think a variation of mineral spirits is what commercial parts cleaners use.
     
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  18. Nov 29, 2022
    SFaulken

    SFaulken Active Member

    Bellevue, WA
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    The "Parts Solvent" I buy from the local FLAPS is mostly mineral spirits, if I remember the MSDS right.
     
  19. Nov 29, 2022
    nickmil

    nickmil In mothballs.

    Happy Valley, OR
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    I use paint thinner. Readily available, effective, and has about the same flashpoint and other characteristics as Stoddard solvent which is what was originally used in most commercial parts washers. Other products are being used commercially now but many have to be warmed up to be effective.
     
  20. Nov 29, 2022
    Cj5dale

    Cj5dale Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Knoxville, Tn
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    I know what you all will think about this but…..

    when I removed my transmission to replace my clutch, I didn’t have anything else in my garage at the time to clean grease, so I thought I would just experiment a bit with what I had.

    so I stole my wife’s Dawn Dish detergent “Platinum” from the kitchen.

    Put a hefty amount in a tub and filled it with hot water. Stirred it up a lot to get the bubbles working.

    dumped my bell housing in there. Let it sit for a while then did some light scrubbing with a nylon brush.

    here’s how it turned out (no painting of the bell housing was used)

    Here’s the before:
    upload_2022-11-29_20-49-41.jpeg

    here’s the after:
    upload_2022-11-29_20-50-10.jpeg

    Not saying this is a replacement for the proper cleaning chemicals but it sure smelled better :beer:
     
    Lockman, w3srl, Glenn and 10 others like this.
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