I've been using Varsol 1 (designer-brand paint thinner) in my parts washer for years. The pump motor died yesterday and I need a replacement. Well, like so often when you start working on something, I'd like to improve it a bit. The best improvement I can think of would be to get rid of the Varsol; the MSDS warnings about central nervous system problems bothers me, and frankly I've never liked the smell. Maybe it's an acquired taste, but I never had this problem with scotch.
A year or so ago I was buying tubes at a bicycle store, and they had this citrus based cleaner. The guy said it would clean bicycle chains, and he was right. Stiff price, though, about 8 bucks for 16 ounces.
Now, everybody and their brother has a branded citrus-based product out there on the market. The prices vary wildly.
Apparently, the active stuff is "d-limonene", which is distilled from citrus skin pressings. Go figure.
Some products have an emulsifier that lets you cut them with water, and some don't.
That's the extent of my knowledge on the subject :-)
I'd like to pop for a 55 gallon drum, but I know so little about it that I thought I'd ask you all for your experiences:
1) Is the citrus stuff OK with ordinary buna-n / nitrile pump seals? 2) Any particularly favorable (or unfavorable) product reviews? 3) For a Varsol-replacement application, go full strength or cut with water? 4) Are there any common materials out there that were OK with Varsol but the citrus stuff will tear up?Thanks very much for your help! Dave