Crockpot cleaning solution?

Hey gang,

A while back, it was mentioned that a thrift store crock pot works excellent as a heated degreaser for smaller parts. I think at the time, Castrol's Purple stuff was recommended. However, what if you want to do aluminum parts? The Castrol stuff will eat aluminum for lunch.

I'm mostly concerned about safety. Mostly about heating something like paint thinner or denatured alcohol up. I realize that there is no direct contact with the heating elements, but...... What would you guys use with aluminum? Simple Green's aluminum safe stuff is one that comes to mind....

 

Thad something as simple as washing powder or dish washing soap will cut the greese off. When I was a kid I used to hang out at a shop that used Tide washing powders to degreese an engine before they machined it. I would probably use Simple Green though.

 

I think the guy who did the writeup for the crock pot used simple green.

Good luck. I didn't have any good result w/ using it. It made my parts worse off, so I tossed it into the garbage.

 

Really now....Did it just not clean very well? Very interested in knowing....
Details man, details!

 

It did get some of the gook off the parts, but the parts became covered with a white-powdery substance within 20 minutes after taking said part out. Over time, the gunk removed by the solution formed a thick soil bed at the bottom of the crock pot. Unless you can keep your parts suspended above that 1" thick bed of gunk when cookin', said gunk'll become one with your parts for eternity. R)

 

Hey Thad....I have been using the gallon chem dip that they sell at auto zone here in town. It is expensive, but fills my crock nicely and does not evaporate quickly at all. I drop my part in and hose it clean the next am. works like a champ. Works with Alumiuminumum too!

 

Do they still sell those gallon cans of carb cleaner with the basket in them?

 

Yea they still have those gallon cans of "carb dip" that come with a dipping basket. At least I know that NAPA has them, can't recall the cost, but it was enough to make me buy a couple gallons of the cheap stuff and a scrub brush.

 

I've been to two garage fires from crockpot hot tanks. Gotta use some common sense, might be a good one to put out in the yard with a extension cord.

 

Napa will charge an arm & 2 legs for a carb dip can w/ basket; best to go to Advance Auto or AutoZone. 10 bucks vs. 35 bucks = no brainer. Although you DO get a 10% discount at Napa on any purchase w/ your triple-A card, but still......

Daryl: I believe it! It's easy to forget that you're cooking parts out in the garage. I've gone vacation for 6 days and returned to it still cookin'.

 

That white powdery stuff is the detergent left from the liquids flashing off. You gotta rinse the part in water as soon as it comes out. It's the same with large automotive and industrial wash cabinets. As long as it's rinsed right away no worries. I've been using mine for a couple of months now with no issues. I use something called Royal Purple on most stuff. If really nasty I use Greased Lightning available at Home Despot. I haven't tried them on aluminum though so not sure how they would work. Nickmil