parts washer solvent?

I use paint thinner. Cheap, and started using this after asking the same question as you did of another group.

I've always used mineral spirits with some ATF mixed in. The ATF seemed to make it a little easier on the hands, although these days I use gloves more often than not.

Stoddard solvent is the official name. It smells, feels, and acts just like mineral spirits paint thinner to me.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Keep the whole world singing . . . . DanG (remove the sevens) snipped-for-privacy@7cox.net

Yep! That's exactly what the "big boys" use, assuming they're using a hydrocarbon solvent. Anyone notice one thing about the name? Solvent? It truly is one, not a thin oil. If you let parts drip dry, they are free of oil, assuming your final wash is with oil free solvent. I *never* use anything aside from mineral spirits or Stoddard for cleaning. The use of kerosene or diesel makes no sense. Neither of them are intended to be used as a solvent, nor do they clean as well as solvents do. Further, can't stand the smell. Stoddard or mineral spirits are each much easier on the nose. In the end, if you have no way to dispose of them when they're fully contaminated, all you have to do is set them outdoors and allow the solvent to evaporate. Leaves you with very little sludge to dispose of.

Does anyone need to say anything about *not* using gasoline? Great way to reduce the family gene pool..

Harold

Pay a visit to your local petroleum distributor and you'll likely see a huge tank labeled mineral spirits. From this one tank they will fill drums labeled mineral spirits, paint thinner, solvent.

We use a 80/20 mix of Simple Green Crystal (aqueous cleaner) and Kool-Mist 77 (aqueous cutting fluid), diluted 8:1 with water. Cleans great, doesn't burn or smell, and when you're done with it, just dump it down the drain.

No I won't.......

OK, don't laugh. I have tried: Kerosene, Stoddard, diesel, Tri-cholosomething 111, and the best all-around is automatic dishwasher detergent. I get it from a food-supply house CHEAP! My tank is heated and pumped so I just come back later.

I'm having trouble finding *anything* cheap. My target price is $1/gal. Some of the paint supply places in my area want over $12 a gallon for paint thinner!

On another note, I see that Grainger's "Super Agitene" brand is 97% aliphatic petroleum spirits, in other words paint thinner, in other words mineral spirits, in other words Stoddard solvent.

By the way, I have *never* seen "Stoddard solvent" for sale. I'm sure I could find it online. I heard "it's stocked up in Canada" so one time when I was up there I tried a hardware store and a paint store. Nothing but blank looks.

Anyone actually know of a real source for paint thinner/mineral spirits in the Seattle/Eastside area that's cheap? I don't need another $15 price on 2.5 gallons, thanks.

Grant

Tom Gardner wrote:

I dont know how your gonna find anything petroleum based for $1 gal, considering where the current prices are for all petroleum distilates i.e. gasoline, diesel, heating oil, kero.

An interesting thought, Bio diesel has some extreme solvent properties. So much so that it can cause pump seals to swell. Because of this it's blended at 20% B20 with diesel or heating oil depending on the purpose. Now if one was to use B100 (100% Bio), it might do a very good job in a parts washer, be alot cheaper that Grainger, safe to use, and pleasant smelling.

I buy stanisol, or mineral spirits at a local oil supplier. Last I paid was $3 a gallon about a year ago. Good luck getting it for less! Sometimes I have seen paint thinner, mineral spirits for a dollar or so on sale at one of the chain home stores. Greg

snip----

I was paying $2/gallon routinely until the oil market went ballistic. Don't have any idea what they're asking now. I bought 10 gallons, so I still have a little left.

Harold

The last I bought about 6 months ago was $2 but it may of gone up since then. Then again they've got a pretty good sized tank of it and I doubt they sell that much. If they've had to refill I bet it'll be higher.

Wayne Cook Shamrock, TX

I've used "Solvent 365" from Tarr, Inc. in Auburn, WA 253-859-2979, they're in the phone book. It's a petro solvent, can says it contains naptha, no detail other than that. They have other stuff available, if I remember, it wasn't that cheap, but I don't use that much. Give them a call and ask what they might have that meets your needs. If I didn't still have old stock on hand, for a little while anyway, I'd consider an odorless product, like odorless mineral spirits, that is sure nice to use, but then I can't stand the smell of mineral spirits for some reason. Another thought, is Don Small & Sons in Auburn, 253-833-0430. They deal in just about all types of oils and lubes, race gas, home heating oil, etc. Check with them, they might have something. nic

We used to have an "Ozzy Juice" parts washer which didn't work too bad. We also used Stoddard for testing mechanical fuel pumps...

Grant Erwin wrote: ...

Paint thinner has a standard sale price of $1.99/gal (around here, anyhow). Amazingly, it has had that sale price for at least 14 YEARS! Through all the oil price gyrations, paint thinner goes on sale for $1.99. Bob

BBQ lighter fluid also; using mineral spirits saves a ton of $$$ when compared with buying the _same_ product with a label that says "Briquette lighter fluid".

Jon