Parts Washer - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

lyonstexas · #1 01-05-2006, 10:28 PM

I bought a washer from Northern Tool and it works just fine. I believe I paid $79.00 on a sale. Highly recommend it for the casual home mechanic. Before you put cleaning fluid in, get a ballcock valve and put it in the drain outlet. It makes a mess if you try to drain it by just removing the plug.
Tim

Saint · #2 01-06-2006, 02:19 AM

I have an old air operated 30 gallon (maybe 30) tank made by Sioux. Shortly after I got it (free from employer who signed on with Safety Kleen), I realized that it takes waaaaaaay too much air to operate this thing. If air compressing was free...maybe...but my compressor seems to draw lots of amps...and edison seems to have their hand out. I yanked that air pump, and put in a $30 dollar replacement pump from Northern that is electric. Been over 10 years...narry a problem with the pump.

Since I dont need 30 gallons of solvent, I buy a 5 gallon pail of Agitene from Airgas for about $50 dollars, and place it inside the 30 gallon drum. It sits on a lift to get it closer to the drain pipe I installed.

I have used most of the cleaners mentioned. Agitene is probably the best one in terms of all the usual criteria. It doesnt smell bad or put out noxious fumes. It cleans very well, and hardly leaves any residue if you fall to blow off excess.

The best tip I can give anyone who cleans soiled parts....get a pass through brush. The difference is night and day....you will wonder how you lived without it. The brush attaches to the end of the spout, and the solvent comes right out through the bristles. You are scrubbing and washing away crud at the same time...and there is no splashing on you. I paid a Safty Kleen driver $15 dollars for one 10 years ago. Since then, I had to cut off that overhose and tapped the handle directly with 1/8 npt, and installed a fitting instead. Now my hose it hard wired directly to the brush permanently.

About 25 years ago....as a teen...buddy of mine (rather a nut) tried and tried to get solvent to catch on fire. He even vaporized it, and could not get it to burn. I know the can says flammable...but I would like to know what it takes. In my 25 years of always being around solvent...I have never seen one burn. Maybe you need a burning building or something to get it boiling first.

haasman · #3 01-06-2006, 02:40 AM

It is my understanding that with a lot of these solvents, it is best to wear heavy non-permeable gloves. I hear it isn't good to have one's skin absorb the additives of these cleaners. Is that your understanding?

Haasman

riethoven · #4 01-06-2006, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by haasman

It is my understanding that with a lot of these solvents, it is best to where heavy non-permeable gloves. I hear it isn't good to have one's skin absorb the additives of these cleaners. Is that your understanding?
Haasman

I have a friend that has a real reaction to the Safety Clean solvent. His skin gets red and raw from direct contact with the solvent. I on the other hand, am not bothered by it, but I want a set of non-permeable gloves just in case. I am sure that long term contact with any solvent can not be good for you.

I was planning on just using mineral spirits. I figure if I close the cover every time so that it doesn't evaporate it should be fine.

#5 01-06-2006, 08:31 AM

As far as skin contact goes, I think that any of the safety solvents are WAAaay better on your skin that diesel, gas, naptha or kerosene. Of those four naptha and kerosene are less offensive to your skin.

When I was a kid my Dad used Naptha and he said it was because it didn't bother his skin. There probably were vendors like Safety Kleen in the fifties, but you couldn't have proved it by me. My Dad is so tight with his money, that he probably just elected to go the cheaper route.

Have a great day,

riethoven · #6 01-06-2006, 08:39 AM

[QUOTE=LarryBible]As far as skin contact goes, I think that any of the safety solvents are WAAaay better on your skin that diesel, gas, naptha or kerosene. Of those four naptha and kerosene are less offensive to your skin.
QUOTE]

Once when I was working on a Volvo IO carburator inside the boat, I didn't realize it but gas was going onto the deck of the boat that I was sitting on while working on the engine. The deck was already wet and it was a scorching Florida day so I didn't mind sitting in the water to keep cool, but then my skin started to burn, and I realized what had happened. Sitting in the gas gave me a really bad rash, and my skin burned to the touch.

Maybe that is why I like diesel so much.

Kestas · #7 01-06-2006, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by riethoven

...I was planning on just using mineral spirits....

Our parts washer at work uses mineral spirits. It's a fancy washer where you can press a button and the solvent is cleaned by distillation overnight.

boneheaddoctor · #8 01-06-2006, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kestas

Our parts washer at work uses mineral spirits. It's a fancy washer where you can press a button and the solvent is cleaned by distillation overnight.

Showoff.................

stephenson · #9 01-06-2006, 09:16 PM

I can't imagine an American made unit costing $100 - that's what the Communist Chinese versions cost ... and, they are made by people making $5 a day, maybe children, possibly criminals ... I, too, bought one of the ChiCom versions - no other reasonable choice for two hours a year use.