Parts Washer?

reffug · 06-01-05, 07:25 AM

Anybody got any advice as to what to look for in a parts washer. Would like to add one to my inventory of goodies but having never used one I'm not sure what would be a good investment. Its not something that I would use all that often but would come in very handy from time to time. Just wondering what some of you other gear heads have in your arsenal and what requirements would be desireable for a home wrencher.

haystax · 06-01-05, 08:22 AM

We get by with a cheapo Harbor Freight benchtop washer - nothing fancy but it is pretty handy for light use. For really gnarly stuff we hit it with the pressure washer in a homeade steel basket and then take to our neighbors shop and dunk in the heated 55 gallon barrell of super-potent-illegal-as-hell-circa-1965 solvent, no comparision to what is available today for solvent.

I would suggest a Northern Tool or harbor freight special with the flow through brush - or a couple cases of Brake Kleen

nuclearlemon · 06-01-05, 08:25 AM

i've got the harbor freight cheapy and it's great...definitely got my moneys worth, but i use it constantly also, so eventually, i'll upgrade to one that filters.

reffug · 06-01-05, 09:06 AM

Is this the harbor freight item you guys are referring to?

And is it big enough to accomodate birfs?

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=38347

cruzer · 06-01-05, 10:07 AM

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=37485

You will be happier with this one, think of it as trying to wash your dishes in the bathroom sink, you can do it but its a PITA.

Stew

reffug · 06-01-05, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cruzer

You will be happier with this one, think of it as trying to wash your dishes in the bathroom sink, you can do it but its a PITA.

Stew

Thats kinda what I was thinking.

Seen those on e-bay for 49.99 but then you gotta add 54$ for shipping. Does harbor freight include shipping in there price?

reffug · 06-01-05, 10:48 AM

Nevermind I answered my own question.

Arya Ebrahimi · 06-01-05, 01:31 PM

Let me know when you add a hydraulic shop lift to the arsenal and I'll hang out with you all the time

Ary

flintknapper · 06-01-05, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cruzer

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=37485

You will be happier with this one, think of it as trying to wash your dishes in the bathroom sink, you can do it but its a PITA.

Stew

The 20 gallon is the exact one I got from Northern Tool. I holds about 12-15 gallons of "Varsol" and I wish I had bought one about 20 yrs. ago. I consider it indespensible.
I have have used it extensively for 5 yrs. with no problems.

reffug · 06-02-05, 06:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arya Ebrahimi

Let me know when you add a hydraulic shop lift to the arsenal and I'll hang out with you all the time

Ary

When the house and garage are done this is next on the list.

But don't tell the

.

Dunbar · 06-02-05, 07:23 AM

I bought the HF 20 gal model like the one in the link but mine has a blue tub. Both were on sale for $70 and the clerk said the blue one was able to use volitile solvents where the red one could only use bio degradable non volitile stuff. I have no idea if he knew what he was talking about.

I was going to use Castrol Superclean in it but could not find any that day so I bought the HF solvent that you are supposed to dilute 20 to 1 but I only cut it by half with water. I think Superclean will work much better.

I decided to finally get one when I did my knuckle rebuild as I knew it would be a nasty job. It worked great and I had no problems getting the birf's in there.

For $70 you can't go wrong. If you have the space get one. I am glad to see that someone's has lasted for 5 years because I was worried about the pump life on such an inexpensive unit.

Dunbar

tornadoalleycruiser · 06-02-05, 09:35 AM

The water based solvent killed my pump in a year.. After replacing the pump I run plain ol paint thinner.. It's cheap and works..

alstaz · 06-02-05, 03:17 PM

I got the 20 gal one and they price matched it to an advertised one for $49. Screaming deal. Works great.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...temnumber=7340

reffug · 06-02-05, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alstaz

I got the 20 gal one and they price matched it to an advertised one for $49.

Hot damn

nuclearlemon · 06-02-05, 07:41 PM

i got the 20 gallon one too...i wouldn't go any smaller. for small stuff, it comes with a little basket (not as good as a wire basket, but works).

flintknapper · 06-02-05, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tornadoalleycruiser

The water based solvent killed my pump in a year.. After replacing the pump I run plain ol paint thinner.. It's cheap and works..

The water based solvent I first tried "etched" some metal parts I put in it and left to soak. It was dismal at cutting grease and didn't last anytime at all.

I use nothing but "varsol" (mineral spirits) that I can buy bulk at my local oil co.

Fairly safe and lasts a long, long, time!

NJFJ40 · 06-02-05, 08:50 PM

Here ya go - works well for me..........

Junk · 06-02-05, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NJFJ40

Here ya go - works well for me..........

That looks familiar and it's heated

06-01-05, 07:25 AM	#1
reffug grown up MOD Join Date: May 2004 Location: 'in dat der briar patch' TLCA# 14549 Posts: 3,772	Parts Washer? Anybody got any advice as to what to look for in a parts washer. Would like to add one to my inventory of goodies but having never used one I'm not sure what would be a good investment. Its not something that I would use all that often but would come in very handy from time to time. Just wondering what some of you other gear heads have in your arsenal and what requirements would be desireable for a home wrencher. __________________ "If it wasn't a Landcruiser and hadn't been built the way it was you do realize you would be DEAD." VA State Police Officer

06-01-05, 08:22 AM	#2
haystax GreatBasinCustomHomes.com Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Diamond Valley, Nevada TLCA# 14279 Posts: 945	We get by with a cheapo Harbor Freight benchtop washer - nothing fancy but it is pretty handy for light use. For really gnarly stuff we hit it with the pressure washer in a homeade steel basket and then take to our neighbors shop and dunk in the heated 55 gallon barrell of super-potent-illegal-as-hell-circa-1965 solvent, no comparision to what is available today for solvent. I would suggest a Northern Tool or harbor freight special with the flow through brush - or a couple cases of Brake Kleen __________________ '76 FJ40 - 2F,SO,SR,RDB,PS,4.88,Q78TSL,earlydizzy,mod'd carb,Aussie'd front,weld'd rear,MetalTech'd...still too fast in 4LO Great Basin Custom Homes

06-01-05, 08:25 AM	#3
nuclearlemon IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: meh-ico, colorado TLCA# 1431 Posts: 7,997	i've got the harbor freight cheapy and it's great...definitely got my moneys worth, but i use it constantly also, so eventually, i'll upgrade to one that filters. __________________ seven cruisers and 3 of em run and four are for sale

06-01-05, 09:06 AM	#4
reffug grown up MOD Join Date: May 2004 Location: 'in dat der briar patch' TLCA# 14549 Posts: 3,772	Is this the harbor freight item you guys are referring to? And is it big enough to accomodate birfs? http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=38347 __________________ "If it wasn't a Landcruiser and hadn't been built the way it was you do realize you would be DEAD." VA State Police Officer

06-01-05, 10:48 AM	#7
reffug grown up MOD Join Date: May 2004 Location: 'in dat der briar patch' TLCA# 14549 Posts: 3,772	Nevermind I answered my own question. __________________ "If it wasn't a Landcruiser and hadn't been built the way it was you do realize you would be DEAD." VA State Police Officer

06-01-05, 10:07 AM	#5
cruzer IH8MUD Addict Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 579	http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=37485 You will be happier with this one, think of it as trying to wash your dishes in the bathroom sink, you can do it but its a PITA. Stew

06-01-05, 01:31 PM	#8
Arya Ebrahimi Something clever Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Blacksburg, VA Posts: 2,486	Let me know when you add a hydraulic shop lift to the arsenal and I'll hang out with you all the time Ary __________________ HOKIES UNITED Arya Ebrahimi '94 FZJ80 200k miles, locked, 285 Revo's, ARB Bullbar, Hella 4000's, homemade drawers My mini-truck buildup thread...updated 9/10 Mini-truck's first trip!! With PICS! 11/10

06-02-05, 07:23 AM	#11
Dunbar IH8MUD Regular Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 212	I bought the HF 20 gal model like the one in the link but mine has a blue tub. Both were on sale for $70 and the clerk said the blue one was able to use volitile solvents where the red one could only use bio degradable non volitile stuff. I have no idea if he knew what he was talking about. I was going to use Castrol Superclean in it but could not find any that day so I bought the HF solvent that you are supposed to dilute 20 to 1 but I only cut it by half with water. I think Superclean will work much better. I decided to finally get one when I did my knuckle rebuild as I knew it would be a nasty job. It worked great and I had no problems getting the birf's in there. For $70 you can't go wrong. If you have the space get one. I am glad to see that someone's has lasted for 5 years because I was worried about the pump life on such an inexpensive unit. Dunbar __________________ Dunbar TLCA # 14016 1988 FJ62 ~285k miles H55F Dobinsons suspension Hot Rod 3FE 8274 ARB Tomball Texas

06-02-05, 09:35 AM	#12
tornadoalleycruiser IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: KC Mo TLCA# EVP #5303 Posts: 1,091	The water based solvent killed my pump in a year.. After replacing the pump I run plain ol paint thinner.. It's cheap and works.. __________________ Erik FJ45, FJ40, FJ62 TLCA #5303 I'm nervous, my hands are sweating, Legs shaking, totally having a blast !

06-02-05, 03:17 PM	#13
alstaz IH8MUD Regular Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Near Madison, WI Posts: 272	I got the 20 gal one and they price matched it to an advertised one for $49. Screaming deal. Works great. http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...temnumber=7340 __________________ Al http://www.fjforty.com 69 FJ40 4"lift, 33x12.5 BFG MT, Optima, XD9000i... 78 FJ40 Under Restification - Very Slowly!! 69 FJ40 SOA 39.5x18 Boggers, SBC 400, 8274 winch... 79 FJ40 Stockish! 71 FJ40 for Parts, 78 FJ40 For parts 83 FJ60 Hmmm, what to do? 99 4Runner SAW/Downey lift, 285 REVOs... 97 FZJ80 Collectors Edition - OME 850/860s, CDL, Nav, 285 MTs

06-02-05, 07:41 PM	#15
nuclearlemon IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: meh-ico, colorado TLCA# 1431 Posts: 7,997	i got the 20 gallon one too...i wouldn't go any smaller. for small stuff, it comes with a little basket (not as good as a wire basket, but works). __________________ seven cruisers and 3 of em run and four are for sale

06-02-05, 08:50 PM	#17
NJFJ40 IH8MUD Regular Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Near Junk Posts: 461	Here ya go - works well for me.......... __________________ ".....and the meek shall inherit the Earth." 1966 Series IIA 88" SWB 1976 FJ40 2003 Honda Pilot (family chariot) 2004 LR Disco S (some mods) Last edited by NJFJ40; 03-24-06 at 07:58 AM.

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