What degreaser?
 

What are you guys using for degeaser in your parts cleaner?
I am going to buy a parts washer from Harbor Freight and not sure I want to use the water based degreaser. Im afraid it will rust parts and the washer.

Good luck- I'll be interested to see some responses. My parts washer went in the scrap pile, since I never found anything that worked worth a darn. Back to using old gasoline and parts cleaning brushes for me...

I've been using mineral spirits with good results.

Mineral spirits with a little trans fluid. Was in the same situation as you, buying a washer and skeptical about what to use, no regrets now.

Ive heard about using mineral spirits. Isnt that flamable?

I don't smoke while I'm cleaning parts. LOL Yeah it's flamable, it's like diesel so the flash point is not like gasoline. I think just about anything that is not water based will be flamable. I do keep mine in an out building. I did make a provisions (fittings and valve) to easily drain it back into the 5 gal drums I purchased it in but I have ended up only doing that once in a few years when I wanted to clean it. Other than that I just keep the lid down when not in use.

Thanks for the info guys!
Quicksilver97TA- Why do you put a little tranny fluid in the mix?

I was told it will help save your skin from drying out so bad. It also has alot of detergent in it which should help when cleaning parts. Maybe just a quart or two for each 5 gallon barrel I put in. I usually wear the light blue gloves from HF when doing any cleaning though. They stand up to the mineral spirits well, unlike the dark blue ones.

We use a product called Spray Nine here at work. Works great.

I noticed that Bill Hirsch makes a parts wash solution. I've never tried this product, but every other product I've used from this company was very high quality.

From web site:

Powerfull formula, enviornmentally friendly.
For use in parts washers, dip tanks etc. Can also be sprayed on.
One gallon makes four gallons of the best parts wash you have
ever used. Completely re-useable. Non-flammable and biodegradeable.
A must for every garage and restorer.
Not recommended for use on aluminum

$21 / gallon

http://www.hirschauto.com/prodinfo.asp?number=4001

Hi, for years I have used GUNK S-C. Its concentrated and you mix it 1 to 10 with Kero.When the part is clean hose it with water. Regards Bruce.

I have some stuff called "Purple power" sold at parts stores. Around $5.00 a gallon rinses with water. I do not add water to my parts washer. My parts washer is made of plastic and all the metal inside is made from stainless steel. I left an oil pan soaking in it for a few days and it came out spotless.

I use odorless mineral spirits and ATF.
Also top off with a gallon of water.
the water will float to top and seal off evaporation of the solvent.
It will also make the grease float on top so as not to clog the pickup.
The ATF will be kinder to hands but I still wear rubber gloves as much as possible.
Oh and the odorless MS isnt really odorless but you wont like the kind that isnt.

I know this is an old thread but "Odorless" Mineral Spirits works great in a parts washer and it doesn't stink up your shop. Regular mineral spirits works but the fumes are not pleasant.

Vibrator
 

Don’t buy a parts degreaser
with a recirculating pump.

None last because the chemicals
and solvents just destroy them.

Get a vibrating pan to use
with solvents and degreasers
to break up grease - scale - rust.


Jim