Switching from 'environmentally friendly' stuff to Varsol?

[Paul Moir]

I have one of those little 5 gallon parts washers which I've only used those 'environmentally friendly' solvents in. To say the least, I'm not entirely happy with them. It seem to me to be painful to use even when wearing gloves as inevitably a little gets splashed occasionally. And once when it somehow managed to get into a cut, my finger swelled up for a week. Plus it attacks aluminium pretty quickly, which is usually what I'm cleaning. I now strongly suspect it's little more than caustic soda in a can for $20.<br /><br />Oh and besides all that, it doesn't seem to work very well. Lots of scrubbing is required.<br /><br />So I'm thinking of switching it over to a solvent, and I'm thinking it's going to be Varsol. But I'd like to hear some opinions, especially from people who have this setup. My tank is inside, in a basement so odor is an issue. If it's bad when the lid is closed, I'll go back to the cursed stuff. When I am using the tank it doesn't matter as much.<br /><br />Thanks for your thoughts!

 

[dolluper]

Re: Switching from 'environmentally friendly' stuff to Varsol?

Varsol is a little potent I use it in mine in the garage [WF Zone]I usually have the doors open so in a house it would be worse and not a W Free Zone If you do use it make sure your far away from your furance or other ign source I'am used to it but the wife no way ,it keeps her out so there are some benifits

 

[Grant S]

Re: Switching from 'environmentally friendly' stuff to Varsol?

I use kerosene for the small amount that I do.

 

[cajun555]

Re: Switching from 'environmentally friendly' stuff to Varsol?

Thats what I use in my parts cleaner--Kerosene, Its outside under the leanto. Never had no problems.

 

[Paul Moir]

Re: Switching from 'environmentally friendly' stuff to Varsol?

Thanks for your responses!<br /><br />So it seems that I'm just going to have to like the nasty expensive stuff, since Varsol appears to have too strong a smell for indoor use. I imagine even triple filtered kerosene would be worse than varsol, so that's out too. The tank currently sits directly next to the furnace, but I had planned to move it if I switched anyway.<br /><br />Perhaps I should try an immersion heater or something to improve the water based stuff?

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Switching from 'environmentally friendly' stuff to Varsol?

Just use Kerosene Paul. It doesn't smell that strong, has a low evap rate, cuts the grease without burning you like that high alkaline ovencleaner stuff, doesn't oxidize aluminum and won't kill ya. And it's cheap.

 

[Paul Moir]

Re: Switching from 'environmentally friendly' stuff to Varsol?

Ok, I'll try an experiment then and leave a tray of it open in it for a week and see if it amounts to anything. It's really the smell when the tank is just sitting closed that I'm concerned about.<br /><br />Thanks!

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Switching from 'environmentally friendly' stuff to Varsol?

Originally posted by Paul Moir:<br /> Ok, I'll try an experiment then and leave a tray of it open in it for a week and see if it amounts to anything. It's really the smell when the tank is just sitting closed that I'm concerned about.<br /><br />Thanks!

Ok, but do put the lid down! I bet you'll like it.

 

[kenimpzoom]

Re: Switching from 'environmentally friendly' stuff to Varsol?

Try baby oil (yes really).<br /><br />They even have "odorless" kerosene.<br /><br />Varsol works great, but it stinks bad.<br /><br />Any oil will work good, but you really need aromatics to make it work good. The problem is that the aromatics are what stink.<br /><br />You cant have it both ways.<br /><br />At work we use "safety kleen premium gold solvent". Do a google search, looks like most of the US military uses it.<br /><br />Ken

 

[Paul Moir]

Re: Switching from 'environmentally friendly' stuff to Varsol?

Thanks! Strangely, I know what brands of kerosene around here smell stronger than others so I'm going to give that a try first. <br /><br />As for the baby oil, is that as an additive to improve the smell? Or do you mean as a spot cleaner? I think I would get strange looks if I went out and bought a few gallons of it.

 

[kenimpzoom]

Re: Switching from 'environmentally friendly' stuff to Varsol?

Sorry, I meant use baby oil as the sovent.<br /><br />Your right, you probably would get some very strange looks if you bought that much of it.<br /><br />But then again, you hands would be as soft as a baby after cleaning with it. Perhaps that could earn points with the wife. <br /><br />Ken