Need a parts washer

[KRS]

Hello All!<br /><br />I need a parts washer (approx 5 gallon), and the commercially available ones are $$$.<br /><br />I wonder if anyone has made one, or used something else as a parts washer.<br /><br />I hear there are two types of solvents... the flammable kind and the water based. What do you think of the options?<br /><br />I need one to clean small parts, kids' bike chains, tools, etc.<br /><br />Thanks all!

 

[Paul Moir]

Re: Need a parts washer

Don't bother with the (so called) environmentally friendly water based cleaners. They are very strong bases which are very hard on your skin & eyes. Does a good job stripping paint off too. Not to mention the damage it does to aluminium and brass parts if you're not careful to rinse really really well. Besides, it just encourages illegal dumping of the old used up solvent. I tried them for a while and gave up. <br />Boomyal turned me on to kerosene, which though inflammable won't be set off by a spark or nearby open flame. And if you hunt you can find stuff that doesn't smell much. Haven't looked back.<br /><br />My parts washer is just a cheapo. I see them going for about $70 at the local discount tool stores. The solvent-proof pump goes for something like $40 and you'll need a splashproof switch. The cost of the tub is really minor compared to those.

 

[TexomaAv8r]

Re: Need a parts washer

How about an old sink, 5 gallon bucket, some tubing and maybe windshield washer pump-battery operated, or a small bilge pump? Fill it with Chemtool or whatever.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Need a parts washer

Get an old 55 gallon drum and build in a wire mesh shelf, get a pump and switch like Paul stated. Kero is the best IMO to use. It's even cheaper and easier if you buy the $79 one that is 40 gallons from Harbor Freight.

 

[KRS]

Re: Need a parts washer

Originally posted by TexomaAv8r:<br /> How about an old sink, 5 gallon bucket, some tubing and maybe windshield washer pump-battery operated, or a small bilge pump? Fill it with Chemtool or whatever.

Good idea, but I don't think I'd pump it through anything that wasn't spark and static safe, like a solvent pump would be.

 

[ZmOz]

Re: Need a parts washer

I used to have one I made with an old laundry sink, draining into a 5 gallon bucket, with a 100gph fountain pump. I used some water based degreaser I found at the dollar store. It worked great, but the pump died after about 6 months and I never fixed it. Harbor freight sells little fountain pumps for like $5, you could get a few and just expect them to die every few months.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Need a parts washer

Hard to beat this one for the price. No foolin around.<br /><br /> parts washer

 

[Kenneth Brown]

Re: Need a parts washer

Instead of kerosene use Varsoil. Its similiar to kerosene but doesn't dirty as quickly. Another reccomendation is to get a larger capacity. Fill it with water till its about 2-3 inches below the pickup line. Then you'll fill the rest of the way with your oil based degreaser(read kerosene, desiel, varsoil, etc). The varsoil will float on top of the water and the dirt particles will fall through the wayer to the bottom. This will keep your cleaner cleaner.

 

[KRS]

Re: Need a parts washer

... cleaner cleaner?

 

[Kenneth Brown]

Re: Need a parts washer

I guess I could have said "This will keep your degreasing agent cleaner."

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Need a parts washer

Hey in my northerntool catalog Northern Industrial 3.5-Gallon Electric Parts Washer $39 and northern has better warranty than harbor. It's small but might work. They also have one for $79

 

[one more cast]

Re: Need a parts washer

You could also use A 12 volt submersable fuel pump. If the flow rate is to high put a tee in the line and then a valve on one side of the tee to regulate the flow.