Who has a parts washer?

[MOfj40]

But do the cheapo ones from china actually hold up for a few years of cruiser rebuild abuse?

yes.

2 years of regular use and it still looks and works good. The only caveat is the sheet metal isn't all that thick, so I'm careful not to just drop heavy parts (tcase, etc) in there. It's not real weak, but the stand is just thin angle so I try to be careful. parts under 15-20 pounds just get dumped in.

The pump has been submerged in diesel since day one, and still works fine.

Like all things, you get what you pay for. However, the HF el cheapo is actually a pretty good deal.

 

[IH8Wood]

I had a Harbor Freight 20 gallon model. I used it for one knuckle rebuild and threw it away. It was messy, stinky, and hard to clean. Now I use a 5 gallon plastic bucket for big stuff and an 1.5 gallon heated ultrasonic cleaner smaller stuff.

 

[Gumby]

i had some problems finding a solvent I liked. Safety Kleen is expensive. Simple GReen doesn't really work, and most other stuff is hard to dispose of. I started using this 140* flash point stuff that comes with filter bags from 1st Ayd. Every once in a while you plug the pump into a filter bag and run it over night. the solvent comes out clean and renewed.

When I gave Safety Kleen back their unit, I bought a 20 gallon HF tank. the pump died quickly, but I just bought a better one from Grainger

 

[nuclearlemon]

I started using this 140* flash point stuff that comes with filter bags from 1st Ayd.

details? is 1st ayd the name? i need something that cleans up. i also have the cheapa%$ h.f. cleaner. my pump's lasted four years now (barely), but, as mentioned, one knuckle job and you're afraid to stick anything in their. someone was sellign the filter bags, but everytime i went to order them, they were backordered.

 

[CruisinGA]

I have the Northern Tool 20 gallon. Have had it and the same batch of mineral spirits in it for 4 years now. Pump is now dying, but I can't complain for the money.

 

[Gumby]

details? is 1st ayd the name? i need something that cleans up. i also have the cheapa%$ h.f. cleaner. my pump's lasted four years now (barely), but, as mentioned, one knuckle job and you're afraid to stick anything in their. someone was sellign the filter bags, but everytime i went to order them, they were backordered.

1st ayd is the name of the company. they are out of Elgin, il. http://www.1stayd.com/

I've got one of the filter bags sitting on the shelf. I don't know if it works with any mineral spirits or just the stuff they sell it with. i can tell you it works freakin great with the stuff i bought with the bags.

 

[Junk]

1st ayd is the name of the company. they are out of Elgin, il. 1st Ayd Corporation - Specialty Chemicals for ALL Your Industrial Needs

I've got one of the filter bags sitting on the shelf. I don't know if it works with any mineral spirits or just the stuff they sell it with. i can tell you it works freakin great with the stuff i bought with the bags.

Gumby, you still like that stuff? That's a pretty high flash point compared to the stuff I've seen like mineral spirits etc. Just picked up a new parts washer and need some solvant for it. It's in the attached garage so dangerous fumes and wicked foul smells are greatly frowned upon.

 

[John Smith]

Gumby, you still like that stuff? That's a pretty high flash point compared to the stuff I've seen like mineral spirits etc. Just picked up a new parts washer and need some solvant for it. It's in the attached garage so dangerous fumes and wicked foul smells are greatly frowned upon.

My parts washer lives outside on the side of the garage. No way I could take that smell unless I am actually using the thing. Unless your washer is hermetically sealed once the fluid gets some gear oil and grease in it the stink factor goes way up. I am using whatever solvent you buy at the parts store in 5 gallon cans that will evaporate away after a few months.

I worked at a bike shop that used a SafetyClean machine and that solvent cleaned great and somehow kept the stink to a very low level. Perhaps that is why they charge so much for it?

 

[webelk6]

I use a 5 gal bucket with the contents being diamond vogel gun cleaner. It is used for instance to remove paint from an airless spray gun that sprayed 200+ gallons(lots of gunk). It is a little harsh for cruiser parts, but will strip any paint.

For milder solutions, I go with mineral spirits in the same size(but different) bucket. Hard on the hands however. Use Cupran special to clean hands, but that is another thread....

 

[Junk]

Gumby, you still like that stuff? That's a pretty high flash point compared to the stuff I've seen like mineral spirits etc. Just picked up a new parts washer and need some solvant for it. It's in the attached garage so dangerous fumes and wicked foul smells are greatly frowned upon.

Paging Gumby Paging Gumby .... don't make me open my can of whoopass.

 

[Gumby]

Sorry. Don't browse the home improvement aisle much.


Yeah. i still like it. I don't notice any smell. The filter bags work great if I can just get a damn pump to live.

hardly any evaporation, even when the kids leave the lid up. Almost all of the loss is from carry-away. it's lasted a really long time.

 

[Junk]

Sorry. Don't browse the home improvement aisle much.


Yeah. i still like it. I don't notice any smell. The filter bags work great if I can just get a damn pump to live.

hardly any evaporation, even when the kids leave the lid up. Almost all of the loss is from carry-away. it's lasted a really long time.

Thx fkr

 

[Koffer]

Thx fkr

Hey if your picking some of this up I'd like to get some too and maybe save a couple of bucks too

 

[Junk]

Hey if your picking some of this up I'd like to get some too and maybe save a couple of bucks too

I'll get a few quotes and PM them to you.

 

[Koffer]

I'll get a few quotes and PM them to you.

Thanks Junk
I got a cheap 20 gal unit (almost a year ago) and haven't filled it yet

 

[Hugh Heifer]

I had a Harbor Freight 20 gallon model. I used it for one knuckle rebuild and threw it away. It was messy, stinky, and hard to clean. Now I use a 5 gallon plastic bucket for big stuff and an 1.5 gallon heated ultrasonic cleaner smaller stuff.

I have one and like it fine. Found no issues. Using the biodegradable s*** in it at full strength and does a decent job. I want to upgrade solvent to thinner or diesel though. Am sure I will have to replace the pump at that point with a Northern replacement. I just like the big tub.

 

[yooper]

I have the cheap 20 gallon one and I love it. Mine is the "Tool Shop" brand from Menards, identical to the Harbor Freight one.

I use Castrol Super Clean for solvent. It is water based. It cuts grease as well or better than the organic solvents but without any smell, is nonflammable, and biodegradable. You have to wear gloves or it will eat up your hands. You have to be careful with aluminum parts - don't soak them for more than about half and hour, as the solvent will etch the metal and eventually eat it up. With 12 gallons of Super Clean I can get through two full knuckle jobs before it's got too much crap in it. It's more expensive than other parts solvent but you don't have to buy it very often.

I think Castrol sold this product and it's just called "Super Clean" now.


EDIT. I've had mine for three years. Three full knuckle jobs and some other stuff. Zero problems. The "filter" is just a piece of nylon mesh stuff, not very efficient.

 

[flintknapper]

I have the 20 gallon model as well. I couldn't get along without it.

I buy Varsol (mineral spirits) in bulk at a local oil company for use as a cleaning agent (lasts forever).

This is an item I wish I had bought 20 years ago. Mine has lasted fine (pump too) for the 5-6 years I've had it, and it gets used often.

 

[Junk]

Hey if your picking some of this up I'd like to get some too and maybe save a couple of bucks too

Finally got a quote from them:
For 6 5gal jugs, price is $49.23 each plus shipping which is $102
For 12 5gal jugs, price is $45.59 each plus shipping which is still $102 (they have a per pallet price)
Both of the above is for the odorless recirculating solvent which has the flash point of 130

If you go to the 142 flashpoint stuff, which has a strong odor, the prices drop to:
For 6 5gal jugs, price is $45.05 each plus shipping which is $102
For 12 5gal jugs, price is $41.40 each plus shipping which is still $102

Koffer, I'm leaning towards getting 6 5gal jugs of the odorless. It's pretty $ compared to mineral spirits etc, but it's odorless and has a high flash point. Only thing they couldn't answer was my question about polarity. Supposedly if you use mineral spirits and fill your drum with 5 gal of water first, whatever gunk you accumulate will drop out of the spirits into the water. I guess it stays seperated pretty well. That's a big benefit in my book of mineral spirits. I know the advance auto stuff supposedly would work similiar to mineral spirits but I've also heard the odor is pretty strong.

BTW, even though this stuff is petro based, they have no problem shipping it to buggerville. Let me know your thoughts.

 

[Koffer]

Koffer, I'm leaning towards getting 6 5gal jugs of the odorless. It's pretty $ compared to mineral spirits etc, but it's odorless and has a high flash point. Only thing they couldn't answer was my question about polarity. Supposedly if you use mineral spirits and fill your drum with 5 gal of water first, whatever gunk you accumulate will drop out of the spirits into the water. I guess it stays seperated pretty well. That's a big benefit in my book of mineral spirits. I know the advance auto stuff supposedly would work similiar to mineral spirits but I've also heard the odor is pretty strong.

BTW, even though this stuff is petro based, they have no problem shipping it to buggerville. Let me know your thoughts.

Mike
I'll take 2) 5gal jugs of what ever you order. Also did you findout about the bags too ?

Thanks