parts washer
June 7th, 2012, 08:18 PM
#3
Just an Olds Guy
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Edmonton, AB. And "I am Can 'eh' jun - eh"
Posts: 24,525
Depends on what you're tolerance is for chemicals too. Just before I retired, we started using bio washers in the shop. The solution is a kind of bacteria that eats grease, but is environmentally safe. The rep even drank some of it in front of us to show it's not harmful to people in any way.
I could have bought one of the olds parts washers for 1$ and brought it home, but it was too big and I really had no place to store it.
I could have bought one of the olds parts washers for 1$ and brought it home, but it was too big and I really had no place to store it.
June 8th, 2012, 03:40 AM
#4
Old(s) Fart
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 48,269
I would suggest one of the new water soluble cleaners. NAPA sells some that work amazingly well. I've used naphtha previously and after a while I'd get a tingling sensation in my hands. Get chemical gloves at a minimum.
June 8th, 2012, 03:57 AM
#5
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: tampa fl.
Posts: 79
When i worked at the salvage yard we just used grease cutting dish soap in our parts washer. it was one of the presurized ones (looks and works like a giant dishwasher). It was heated to 180* which i think helped alot with the cleaning. We would put old nasty engines in there that looked HORRIBLE and in 30 minutes in the washer come out looking spotless....always amazed me how well it worked..
June 8th, 2012, 06:07 AM
#6
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Aledo, Texas
Posts: 2,502
(Quote) The solution is a kind of bacteria that eats grease, but is environmentally safe. The rep even drank some of it in front of us to show it's not harmful to people in any way.
This guy clearly did not learn anything from the Skydrol hydraulic fluid sales pitch representative!!
This guy clearly did not learn anything from the Skydrol hydraulic fluid sales pitch representative!!
June 8th, 2012, 08:19 AM
#7
Just an Olds Guy
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Edmonton, AB. And "I am Can 'eh' jun - eh"
Posts: 24,525
June 8th, 2012, 12:11 PM
#8
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Aledo, Texas
Posts: 2,502
Several decades ago Skydrol fluid was developed for aviation as a alternative to the flammable MIL-5606 fluid. The claims were that it was not only flame resistant, but very safe. Some of the older folks in aviation will tell you that the sales pitch featured a "Mr. Skydrol" who would drink the stuff to demonstrate it's characteristics. It is still used widely, but is highly irritating to skin, eyes, ect. Nasty stuff to work with, it will destroy the soles of boots, tires, and will strip urethane aircraft paint pretty quickly. Anyway, Mr. Skydrol supposedly had died from cancer as a result. I know that there is no way that I would ever intentionally ingest any form of chemical solvent, regardless of claims.
June 8th, 2012, 12:21 PM
#9
Just an Olds Guy
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Edmonton, AB. And "I am Can 'eh' jun - eh"
Posts: 24,525
That is one wicked story. Sounds like Mr. Skydrol was already a confirmed alcoholic who would drink anything. Gah! stuff that would dissolve skin and tires?? Sounds like brake fluid. uh, does in come in grape flavor??? 
June 8th, 2012, 06:47 PM
#12
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: monroeville indiana
Posts: 38
Does anyone run diesel or kerosene? That is what my dad used to use but i do remember i never liked the smell when i was a kid. I probably need 20-30 gallon. Anyone have a cost for these other products?
June 8th, 2012, 07:58 PM
#14
Connoisseur d'Junque
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: The Hudson Valley
Posts: 21,183
I'm fond of kerosene for coarse, heavy-grime wire-brusk cleaning, but I agree, it might be a bit greasy for a parts washer.
In the old days GUNK was a mix of kero and heavy-duty detergent (like Fantastik, 409, or Oil Eater), and a coarse cleaning with kero followed by a heavy detergent still works great.
- Eric
In the old days GUNK was a mix of kero and heavy-duty detergent (like Fantastik, 409, or Oil Eater), and a coarse cleaning with kero followed by a heavy detergent still works great.
- Eric
June 8th, 2012, 08:01 PM
#15
Just an Olds Guy
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Edmonton, AB. And "I am Can 'eh' jun - eh"
Posts: 24,525
June 8th, 2012, 08:33 PM
#17
Connoisseur d'Junque
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: The Hudson Valley
Posts: 21,183
June 8th, 2012, 08:48 PM
#18
Proud Viet Nam Veteran
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Rowlett, TX
Posts: 10,287
Citric acid. I have a friend who I trust completely and recently rebuilt a carb for me told me about it. He is a retired vo tech teacher and an avid Olds guy. He lives in another state so I did not witness it first hand. He did send pictures and I have the carb. It was a mess when he started. I know it sounds a little crazy. It did to me but it works. It is hard to find but I think pretty easy to find online.
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oldspackrat
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