Parts Washer Solution Recipe ?

Arborist Forum

Help Support Arborist Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
Joined
Sep 23, 2013
Messages
933
Reaction score
2,367
Location
Virginia
My wife gave me a 20 gallon parts washer for our 45th anniversary.
It says water based solution only 4 times in the paper work.
After checking prices of such, I'm looking to make my own.
I'm considering concentrated Simple Green and others. Greased Lighting is not for aluminum or painted parts.
DON"T suggest a oil based as it will be in my basement.
Thanks for any help.
Parts Washer.jpg
 
Congratulations! (did she crash the car?)

It depends on what you're washing. I run a little cleaner as possible and change it more often to fit the need.

Simple Green is mild, the purple stuff is stronger but can etch some things, pro degreaser is great but don't breathe it and be careful what you clean with it. Dilute any of them to your need.

A WD40 afterbath is sometimes a good option, depending...
 
Congratulations! (did she crash the car?)

It depends on what you're washing. I run a little cleaner as possible and change it more often to fit the need.

Simple Green is mild, the purple stuff is stronger but can etch some things, pro degreaser is great but don't breathe it and be careful what you clean with it. Dilute any of them to your need.

A WD40 afterbath is sometimes a good option, depending...
Thanks Brad
I'll be cleaning mostly chain saw parts.
Purple Power had come to mind also.
I've read citrus water based products will work better.
Clint
 
Try Dawn H/D. I use it in my ultrasonics. Very happy, but definitely brush everything off first. Hooking some sort of heater will make a enormous difference.
Those super cleaners all give off noxious fumes.
Keep that in mind, or your new toy might disappear
as quickly as it appeared. LOL
 
Try Dawn H/D. I use it in my ultrasonics. Very happy, but definitely brush everything off first. Hooking some sort of heater will make a enormous difference.
Those super cleaners all give off noxious fumes.
Keep that in mind, or your new toy might disappear
as quickly as it appeared. LOL
Thanks much.
I will scrap and blown off with the air hose as much as possible like I always have before cleaning.
I've been using mineral spirts with a brush and pan since I was a teenager. I just need to do better.
 
There is an "oil eating bacteria" product available. McMaster Carr , for one, sells it. Totally non-toxic, no smell, non-flammable, and very effective.

you gotta keep the little buggers alive though. Proper temperature and feed I think.

a friend of mine has a parts washer with this solution. I know nothing about it, really. I just know it works very well.
 
Thanks much.
I will scrap and blown off with the air hose as much as possible like I always have before cleaning.
I've been using mineral spirts with a brush and pan since I was a teenager. I just need to do better.
We use mineral spirits in the parts washer at works. It works great. Somewhat reasonably priced.
Don’t know if you will find better, with the exception of the “ Universal Solvent”
Water based solvents have limitations unless you mortgage the house for high tech cleaners.
I tried a $$$$ white powered cleaner from graingers. Destroys your hands and was mediocre on bar oil.
Again, heat makes a big difference. Even in my ultrasonic cleaners.
The “best” is only opinions. That’s why Dawn is my go to cleaner for indoor use.
It works meh, but it’s not killing me slowly.
 
When I had a 3-gallon, water-based parts washer, I started with concentrates designed for them, like this product:

https://m.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200641908_200641908
They seemed to work better when heated, so I tried using a magnetic, automotive, block heater. I also tried a used crock pot from Goodwill.

Now I used water-based degreasers with sodium hydroxide (lye) (‘Super Clean’, and some, purple, ‘Zep’ products) in a plastic basin, in my laundry tub, so I sold my little parts washer.

Philbert
 
Why do you use Dawn ? Over the the years I have tryed many different detergents for washing the grease off my hands and have always returned to Sunlight. Dawn was one of the weakest way low on the cleaning scale.
 
For some oils Dawn works really well; before phosphates were banned it seemed to work better.

The natural orange based cleaners work well for pitch and tar (usually).

Lye (and cleaners containing it) works pretty well all-around, though aren't heavens gift to cleaning.

There's no "one" best cleaner, which is why I use small batches at a time in order to change to the cleaner that works well for the job. Even with saws it depends on what part is being cleaned and what gunk needs removal.
 
Yep ^^^. I use 409, ‘SuperClean,’ ‘LA Totally Awesome’, Simple Green, a variety of citrus-based spray cleaners, a few different types of goo-removers, etc.

The other thing to think about are the tools you use. I collect all the old toothbrushes in the house when replaced (put them in a 10% bleach solution for about 30 minutes). I keep a box of toothpicks nearby. I cut the ends off wooden popsicle sticks at a sharp angle to make non-scratch scrapers. I have regular and no-scratch ScotchBrite pads. Old dental type tools. Etc. Used to have a small ‘nipple brush’ for cleaning baby bottles (from when my kids were little) which I have been trying to replace. A few metal kitchen strainers. These all reside in an old, plastic, dishwashing basin that I keep next to the laundry tub.

Compressed air outside.

Philbert
 
Super clean is great stuff.Years ago when I worked for CN rail as a signal maintainer we got 5 gallon cans of degreaser for cleaning switch machines.I cannot think of the name it is on the tip of my tongue. This stuff was amazing you sprayed your truck motor rinse imediately or it would eat the rubber parts.Same with an aluminium boat rinse quick shiny leave to long dull.
All I know is if the product says does not contain this anymore it is now junk.If it says enviormently friendly it is usually junk.
The most overrated product in my book is CLR
Best cleaner for varnished goo hardened tanks is MEK it is hard to find nowadays but it really works.Five minutes of shaking and clean as a whistle.
 
The most overrated product in my book is CLR
CLR is great for removing rust stains and calcium build up on plumbing parts, sinks, etc. It is also good for removing rust stains on clothing, with just a little brushing. I would not use it to de-rust a chain.

Each product for its use!

Philbert
 
Maybe an aquarium heater or two would work. Heat is the key for water based cleaner. IMO
I've seen water based setups that are heated, and the do a great job.
It's a shame that all the work to clean a saw is wasted after 5 minutes of cutting.
 
Back
Top