Best solvent for parts washer?

F

ForceFed70

That's why they call it "dope"

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Dec 30, 2007

#1

• Dec 30, 2007

• #1

Got a parts washer for Christmas and was wondering what the best solvent to use is?

Does brake clean come in gallon jug size? Seems to work great out of the aerosol cans.

I've also been told varsol (is this a type of paint thinner) and laquer thinner also work well.

 

stanger53

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Jun 24, 2005

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San Antonio, Texas

Dec 31, 2007

#2

• Dec 31, 2007

• #2

Check to see what kind of solvent your parts washer is designed for. Some are made to use a water/soap/degreaser fluid and using a petroleum solvent may cause a problem with the pump.

Brake Kleen is too "hot" for a parts washer, and will evaporate too quickly. Some types of brake cleaner are extremely flammable.

I have always used mineral spririts (laquer thinner) and it does a great job. Don't pay extra for the "unscented" solvent. It is usually cheaper to buy it in 5-gallon pails than by the gallon. Like everything else, solvent has just about doubled in price over the last year or so.

 

F

ForceFed70

That's why they call it "dope"

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Dec 31, 2007

#3

• Dec 31, 2007

• #3

I was looking at laquer thinner while at Walmart today. $15/gallon... ouch! Looks like it's going to cost me $50+ for solvent.

The manual said to only use petroleum based solvents.

 

iskwezm

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May 24, 2005

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Rowland Heights,California

Dec 31, 2007

#4

• Dec 31, 2007

• #4

i use the Castrol purple super clean

 

F

ForceFed70

That's why they call it "dope"

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#5

• Dec 31, 2007

• #5

Hmmm.. so I was doing some googling.

Seems that Varsol and Mineral Spirits are the same thing, and that Laquer thinner is a totally different solvent?

 

F

ForceFed70

That's why they call it "dope"

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#6

• Dec 31, 2007

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iskwezm said:

i use the Castrol purple super clean

Click to expand...

Sounds expensive

 

9

96 DOHC Cobra

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#7

• Dec 31, 2007

• #7

I've heard the Castrol stuff is very bad for aluminum parts. Just something to consider.

 

iskwezm

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#8

• Dec 31, 2007

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96 DOHC Cobra said:

I've heard the Castrol stuff is very bad for aluminum parts. Just something to consider.

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I wouldnt say its very bad, but it will etch polished parts and remove paint

cost about 12 bucks a gallon i think andcan be diluted

 

enferno

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Jun 20, 2006

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#9

• Dec 31, 2007

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i've used this stuff at lowes that i can get for like $5 a gallon it's industrial purple power degreaser or something. cheap and effective.

 

Rusty67

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Dec 3, 2002

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Dec 31, 2007

#10

• Dec 31, 2007

• #10

iskwezm said:

i use the Castrol purple super clean

Click to expand...

Where are you buying this stuff ? It hasn't been legal for sale in California for over a year.

 

BarnStang

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Dec 31, 2007

#11

• Dec 31, 2007

• #11

Mean Green from the Dollar General. $4 a gal. Undiluted. Works great!

 

69 Rustang

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Dec 31, 2007

#12

• Dec 31, 2007

• #12

I ordered a 5 gallon can of solvent from a machine tool supply company out of Nevada. It did cost me $50 (shipped to my door), but I am still using it and still have a few gallons in the can. The worst part is I have to store the extra solvent (as opposed to being able to just run down and buy more), but that is part of living in California. The company I bought from was Elco Manufacturing phone (775) 788-7300. They do have a web site, but I couldn't find it on my initial search. They will send you a catalog every few months after you order--they have tons of quality machine tools and machinist supplies.

When I first got my parts washer I looked all over for solvent for it. Everywhere I went here in SoCal I was told it was not available. I initially bought some concentrate where you dilute it--totally worthless and waste of money.

 

D

danny clemens

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May 4, 2005

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Dec 31, 2007

#13

• Dec 31, 2007

• #13

I've always used mineral spirits and it works well for me. I don't believe I'd use lacquer thinner because I'm guessing that it has a low flash point and would probably evaporate fairly quick.

Here's a link that you might want to read through.

http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/parts-cleaner-128096.html?highlight=parts+cleaner

 

stanger53

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Jun 24, 2005

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Dec 31, 2007

#14

• Dec 31, 2007

• #14

Painters usually refer to a "cheap" laquer thinner for cleaning their paint guns, not for mixing with paint. This is mineral spirits.

I buy mine at Lowes in 5gal cans for about $30-$33. It evaporates cleanly, until you get it heavily contaminated. The flash point isn't too high on it, just be careful around any sparks or flame.

 

S

stang66myway2

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#15

• Dec 31, 2007

• #15

i use diesal fuel it makes a excellent degreaser.

 

Cobain03

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Dec 31, 2007

#16

• Dec 31, 2007

• #16

using brake cleaner would KILL your hands lol

what about simple green? just a thought lol

 

C

chromedog

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Dec 31, 2007

#17

• Dec 31, 2007

• #17

lacquer thinner (even wash thinner) is not the same as mineral spirits... 'spirits are only one step above common kerosene in the distillation process. thinner is a mixture of xylene, toulene, and sometimes acetone, that has a very low flash point, and as was mentioned earlier, evaporates quickly. it would work well, but my washer is filled with mineral spirits from home depot.

 

R

RedGTvert

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Dec 31, 2007

#18

• Dec 31, 2007

• #18

As stated above, lacquer thinner evaporates quickly, has a low flash point, will dissolve or ruin paint and is a bitch on your hands. The cost makes it nearly prohibitive.

I have used Mineral Spirits for years to clean parts and it has always worked well.

 

iskwezm

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Dec 31, 2007

#19

• Dec 31, 2007

• #19

Rusty67 said:

Where are you buying this stuff ? It hasn't been legal for sale in California for over a year.

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why isnt it legal??? I just bought some at Kragen's

 

B

bnickel

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Jan 1, 2008

#20

• Jan 1, 2008

• #20

just use naptha, that's most likely what the parts washer was designed for anyway. you can usually get it from fuel suppliers and sometimes even your local service station (not one of the self serve quicky mart places though)