Question about degreasers for parts washer

After recently wondering this same thing, I switched from Graymill's Super Agitene (now an astonishing $15/gallon) to mineral spirits cut slightly with ATF. It works fine but is a bit smelly. - GWE

I too have used mineral spirits and ATF in both of my HF washers (20 and 5 gallon) and have had no problems.

Peter

How smelly is a "bit smelly"? Do you mean when you are using the tank or just having it filled with MS+ATF is causing the odor? My main concern is that while I'd be using it with the garage door opened it would normally be sitting in an enclosed room that is connected to the house. I did think about putting some kind of foam or rubber seal on the lid and switch box to keep the smell in if it turned out to be annoyingly strong or I could modify the unit to let me drain off the cleaner into a sealed container when not in use.

Bill

Thought of something after I hit send. Do you have any problems with painting items cleaned in the mixture? I was wondering since I figured the ATF would leave a slight oil film on the piece. Mainly what I need to do is dunk a part in and get it clean let it dry and then paint it. I'd possibly run it through the sand blaster if there is rust or flakey paint on it but I'm looking to keep the procedure short and sweet since I'd like to take the entire mower apart and restore it and there are a fair amount of parts.

Bill

Mine is only smelly when the lid is up. I have no "gasket" around the lid on mine and the smell is non-existent when the lid is down.

You will not want to paint after washing parts in your washer pretty much regardless of whether there's ATF in the fluid. After you use the washer for a little bit there'll be dirt and other contaminants mixed in anyway. I always wipe down parts I'm going to paint with rubbing alcohol after washing.

Peter

I swear by powdered Cascade automatic dishwasher detergent. I like it better than kero, tricloroethelene 111, Stoddard, spirits. I know it goes against the grain but you will be amazed...especially if it's heated. WOW!!! ...and it's cheap and low enviro impact.

What's the purpose of the ATF?

So you just have detergent added to water in a regular parts washer? What's the ratio? How did you make the switch and why? How do you heat it up? Tell me/us more, this is interesting!

Said to make it a little easier if it gets on your hands. - GWE

A couple scoops of any dishwasher detergent, plus a squirt of Dawn, plus a dash of drain cleaner.

Simple Green - full strength.

Rinse in clear water before painting.

My only comment is about your suggestion of using kerosene for cleaning. It's not a solvent, and stinks like hell. Are you familiar with Stoddard

*solvent*? It evaporates to total dryness, unlike kerosene, and is every bit as safe to use for cleaning, if not more so. The smell is even somewhat better, although not great. Kerosene for cleaning makes very little sense. It leaves your parts with a covering of oil that would also prevent painting, and has a lesser capacity to dissolve hydrocarbons than does kerosene.

Harold

Do you have any kind of problems with the tank itself rusting from having a water based cleaner in it full time??

Harold, when it comes to grinding or machining I consider you our guru, but surely your last sentence (quoted below) doesn't make any sense! - GWE

My parts washer has a heater. I have added "Finish Aid", available from a plater supply to prevent rust. We make a solution with no real protocol, so just guess at the concentration. The solution feels pretty slimy and the parts need a good wash afterwards.

I used Kerosene in mine. The pump gave up after a few months. During that time I replaced the switch twice. Plan on buying a new, upgrade pump early on, unless they have improved in the last couple years.

Someone (here?) recently suggest liquid Tide. Sounds like a good idea, and one I will try. An alternative is the Purple Cleaner - Castrol or one of the store-brands. I have no running water at my shop (will do rainwater catchment). I use a Milton siphon spray from a 5-gallon jug of water to rinse things.

- - Rex Burkheimer WM Automotive Fort Worth TX

Bill wrote:

I have kerosene in my big parts washer, a converted 55-gallon drum. I agree that it's a pretty mediocre cleaning solvent, but it was the only thing I could buy in qunatity locally. It works OK, but it doesn't cut oil and grease very well at all. Parts certainly require soap and water before painting.

You guys could always buy 10 gallons of Safety Kleen.

I think a 25 gallon drum is about $80

Gunner

Rule #35 "That which does not kill you, has made a huge tactical error"