AZ & CA Members Help!

69 Rustang · May 21, 2005

I am trying to find where I can buy "real" parts cleaning solvent for a parts cleaning tank. I live in SoCal and have been told they don't sell the good stuff anymore. All I can buy is the stuff in a spray can. Do they sell the good solvent in Arizona or does anyone in California know where I can get some in gallon(s) size? I will be going to Arizona in a few weeks and could make it a driving trip if they sell it there.

If you can't get solvent anymore--what are you doing for parts cleaning? I need to clean up my engine parts and want to do it at my own pace. Thanks!

valley82 · May 21, 2005

I live in san diego, You can get mineral spirits/acetone/M.E.K.(nasty stuff) at Home Depot or Lowes. I don't know about "in a tank" but for cleaning parts by hand Mineral Spirits works pretty good.

DPMAZ · May 21, 2005

Harbor Frieght sells the degreaer (pretty good stuuf) it's in the area where they sell the parts cleaner units..probably go to Harborfreight.com and check it out..and order it over te phone

2nd Mustang · May 21, 2005

There's a Harbor Freight Store on Tustin Ave., just south of the 22 Fwy. I always go there when I'm working nearby, lot of cheap stuff.

As far as cleaning, I use Simple Green, and old toothbrush and air spray from my compressor. Simple Green cleans up just about anything and is safe too. There's also this stuff called Dawn Power Dissolver sold in the household cleaning section. It's pretty potent, but becareful, it has taken off a layer of latex paint in my kitchen.

65ShelbyClone · May 21, 2005

I got a 5 gallon can parts washer solvent from Enco Manufacturing. It came from work because they didnt want to use flammable solvent and also didnt want to pay to dispose of it(they just wanted it to disappear). Its a clear kerosene base, but actually does evaporate and doesnt smell nearly as much/bad as kero. Works great if you can soak the crusty parts.

I think this is the same stuff I have. The picture looks the same as my container.

69 Rustang · May 21, 2005

65ShelbyClone said:
I got a 5 gallon can parts washer solvent from Enco Manufacturing.

Thanks a bunch 65ShelbyClone!! I had already bought the stuff that Harbor Freight sells and it isn't even good for washing the driveway before it gets greasy. I ordered a can this just now and it will be on its way. Thanks to all for responding.

zookeeper · May 21, 2005

valley82 said:
I live in san diego, You can get mineral spirits/acetone/M.E.K.(nasty stuff) at Home Depot or Lowes. I don't know about "in a tank" but for cleaning parts by hand Mineral Spirits works pretty good.

I don't want to sound like the safety police, but you're litterally taking your life in your hands by using any sort of acetone or thinnner-type solvent. Did you know that when your hands are in thinner, it takes 6 seconds from contact for the solvents to reach your liver? Not good. Since a good freind of mine died from Renal cancer from solvent exposure, I don't make a move without nitrile gloves. If it takes ten pair to do a job, so be it. Be careful, guys.

96 DOHC Cobra · May 22, 2005

I bought some solvent from a place called "Rosemead Oil Products" in Santa Fe Springs. I haven't had a chance to use it yet so I can't tell how good it is yet.

fastaggie · May 22, 2005

Try diesel fuel. It works for me.

65ShelbyClone · May 22, 2005

69 Rustang said:
Thanks a bunch 65ShelbyClone!! I had already bought the stuff that Harbor Freight sells and it isn't even good for washing the driveway before it gets greasy. I ordered a can this just now and it will be on its way. Thanks to all for responding.

I guess working in a machine shop has its benefits.

Zookeeper - I agree. My great uncle, a career machinist through the '50s, '60's, '70s died about a month ago from lung failure. Presumably from long-term solvent, particulate, and chemical exposure. I use alot of brake cleaner as a general solvent and it has some horrible things in it (xylene, toluene, acetone, and methanol to name a few). Guess I should use that organic chemical respirator sitting in my toolbox....

zookeeper · May 22, 2005

65shelbyclone,
I'm a machinist also as was my friend that died way too young. We're constantly exposed to solvents and oils, and some guys get away with it for decades, some aren't so lucky. My Dad was a truck mechanic before he retired, and used to use an air hose to clean the asbestos out of the brake drums before a brake service! I can just imagine a huge asbestos cloud in the air, my Dad smoking a cigarette in the middle of it all. He has been retired for several years and has no lung probs, go figure. There are lots of non-toxic cutting oils and cleaners out there. For instance, we use Blaser Swisslube in the CNC milling machine I run, it's kind of like baby oil and it's not only non-toxic, it's also far superior to any cutting oil out there and it's actually good for your skin!

2nd Mustang · May 22, 2005

zookeeper said:
65shelbyclone,
My Dad was a truck mechanic before he retired, and used to use an air hose to clean the asbestos out of the brake drums before a brake service! I can just imagine a huge asbestos cloud in the air, my Dad smoking a cigarette in the middle of it all. He has been retired for several years and has no lung probs, go figure.

I was the same way. I used to crawl around in ceilings and basements full of asbestos running phone wires. I also used to smoke up to 3 packs of cigs per day. Luckily everything is cool with me, well except for usual old age stuff.

One thing I can warn everyone of is the good old electric/telephone wooden poles. A long time ago, the power company put out a warning about the toxic chemicals they put inside of the poles to help curb insects and wood rot, yet I see people banging nails into them to hang signs. They warning said that it could be fatal if the fumes were inhaled or ingested. Of course they assumed no one else was abusing the poles except for utility workers because it is illegal to post anything on utility poles without the permission of the utility company.

Max Power · May 22, 2005

zookeeper said:
I don't want to sound like the safety police, but you're litterally taking your life in your hands by using any sort of acetone or thinnner-type solvent. Did you know that when your hands are in thinner, it takes 6 seconds from contact for the solvents to reach your liver? Not good. Since a good freind of mine died from Renal cancer from solvent exposure, I don't make a move without nitrile gloves. If it takes ten pair to do a job, so be it. Be careful, guys.

Agree in principle, but I find the 6 seconds stat a little suspect. My body doesn't do anything in 6 seconds amymore!!

Use gloves!!

1967stang302 · Jun 17, 2005

2nd Mustang said:
There's a Harbor Freight Store on Tustin Ave., just south of the 22 Fwy. I always go there when I'm working nearby, lot of cheap stuff.

As far as cleaning, I use Simple Green, and old toothbrush and air spray from my compressor. Simple Green cleans up just about anything and is safe too. There's also this stuff called Dawn Power Dissolver sold in the household cleaning section. It's pretty potent, but becareful, it has taken off a layer of latex paint in my kitchen.

I'm with this guy, Simple green cleans everything, it just disolves the grease and add in a little elbw grease and you can clean anything.

yeloxr7 · Jun 17, 2005

Simple green works well, so do Castrol Super Clean and Purple Power. 99 cent stores sell a product called "Awesome Automotive Degreaser" that works really well also. Use rubber or latex gloves when using the last three products to save your hands.

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