Parts washer solvent

[Tim Ayers]

Hey Folks:

I recently moved and had to dump my parts washer solvent in order for the mover to take it. It is a Saf-T-Kleen machine and came with what ever solvent they used.

I'd like to replace it with some aluminum-safe solvent and read recommendations from K-1 kero to mineral spirits. It will be in my garage so I'd something fume friendly if possible.

What you folks recommend.

Thanks,

Tim

[4t8v8]

I'm using mineral spirits. We used to call it Stoddard solvent in my old Navy days. I get it an oil distributor. It's expensive but works excellent.

[Lawson Cox]

Mineral spirits. Less odor.

[BUBBAS IGNITION]

We use a product called purple power from Advance Auto , fairly cheap and works good. You can buy it in a five or one gallon jug...

[Tim Ayers]

Originally Posted by BUBBAS IGNITION

We use a product called purple power from Advance Auto , fairly cheap and works good. You can buy it in a five or one gallon jug...

Jim:

Does it harm the aluminum? Folks have said that the purple or other citrus-based stuff harms aluminum.

Tim

[Ross F-1]

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I use Purple Power on aluminum that isn't "finished", like transmission cases and suspension stuff. On polished aluminum wheels, never. If you leave it sit on any aluminum long enough, it can discolor it.

My only caution is that it doesn't work at all on actual grease, like wheel bearing grease, where it is in a thick lump.

[Henry/Kokomo]

Stoddard Solvent, if you can find it. Used to buy it by the 55 gal. drum for cleaning large diesel (locomotive) parts. Some mfgrs. used to produce a variant which had an extremely high flash point. They marketed it as "Safety Solvent" since it was hard to ignite.

[TomT/Williamsburg]

I use kerosene - not the best but it seems to do the trick as long as it's not too thick. If it is, I usually take a plastic bristled brush and scruff up the area that's heavily loaded ....

[alan]

I have one that had purple power in it--it stripped off the painted surface in sheets, paint became brittle and just flaked off--probably "cut" it with kero or mineral spirits and it would work good

[Pete]

I use kerosene.
It's cheap.
It has an old time pleasant smell.
It doesn't evaporate from the tank very fast.
It washes off easily with a plain water hose.
It has a relatively low flash point and it's auto ignition point is slightly over 400F.

[Walt Dupont--Me.]

I use Mineral Spirits in my wash sink. Use to be 2 bucks a gal at Wall Mart, after gas started going up now it's 10 bucks a gal. But I figure it's cheaper than some fools spend on smokes. Walt

[Reds34]

I've used the purple power with good luck. I haven't used it on any aluminum though.

Red

[mrtexas]

I'd recommend diesel. I use it. Cheaper than anything above mentioned, available at every gas station, and relatively safe. Boiling point of diesel is around 500F+ so you don't have to worry about it evaporating. Also has a very HIGH flash point. The flash point being the minimum liquid temperature that an open flame will ignite the vapors given off at the liquid surface.

[Bruce in southern OH]

Diesel here

[FRITZ47]

Originally Posted by 4t8v8

I'm using mineral spirits. We used to call it Stoddard solvent in my old Navy days. I get it an oil distributor. It's expensive but works excellent.

Expensive?? When I was 16 my dad let me drive his 1937 Hudson Terraplane to the bulk fuel distributor in Youngstown, and I brought our 5 gallon can to pick up some Stoddard Solvent. My dad owned a small dry cleaners and we used Stoddard Solvent to clean felt hats. At the time (1947) Stoddard Solvent cost 20c per gallon, so a 5 gal. can was $1.00 and I think they charged Ohio Sales Tax of 3%. $1.03 total - not too bad. As I recall, they pumped it into our can.

Back then I used to block hats at the cleaners after school to pick up a few dollars spending money. The old Terraplane finally gave up, and I bought my first car - a 1937 Ford 4-door in running condition for $50 (The used car dealer filled up the tank with gas too - now you can't even buy a fill up for $50!). I drove the '37 for awhile - it used a quart of oil every 50 miles, so I used bulk oil at 15c per quart and the gas station owner saved some used oil for me from oil changes of newer cars. Later I bought a real nice 1938 Ford Standard Coupe for $100 and it was a beauty with no rust - nice car. (Green with ivory wheels). I wish I had kept that one!

Fritz

[PhoenixFear]

I use Purple Power or have used Simple Green as well. It takes longer to work than the petroleum-based stuff I think but it works. If I need it cleaned fast I use a gallon of Chem-Dip. It's great for carbs but I've used it on a ton of stuff and for some reason it keeps working to break loose the grease that Purple Power can't get in time.

[G.M.]

Mineral spirits here. G.M.

[john in illinois]

Stoddard solvent-mineral spirits.Get it at Ammoco bulk dealer. 6.50-7.00/gal.
Safety Klean barrel takes 9 gal.

John

[Ed Pitts]

Whatever happen to Varsol? This was a really good cleaner. Ed

[Tim Ayers]

Originally Posted by john in illinois

Stoddard solvent-mineral spirits.Get it at Ammoco bulk dealer. 6.50-7.00/gal.
Safety Klean barrel takes 9 gal.

John

So Stoddard is the same thing as mineral spirits? What are mineral spirits?

[bbrust]

I also thought that Varsol was a great cleaner. Haven't seen it for years. Just did a search and saw this: "White spirits, Stoddard solvent and Varsol are all the exact same thing". The Exxonmobil site also calls Varsol "Mineral Spirits".

[keith oh]

I used to use concentrated "Gunk" that was mixed with Kerosene worked very well.

[jake197000]

I use mineral spirits menards has it 5 gal pail is 43 bucks

[BUBBAS IGNITION]

Originally Posted by Tim Ayers

Jim:

Does it harm the aluminum? Folks have said that the purple or other citrus-based stuff harms aluminum.

Tim

Yes it will etch aluminum if you leave it in too long..we blast aluminum then allow a few minutes before a rinse with water and a blow dry. Makes a early ford distributor look really good.
Let dry add a coat of clear spray at it's perfect...

[4t8v8]

Originally Posted by Tim Ayers

So Stoddard is the same thing as mineral spirits? What are mineral spirits?

Yes Stoddard is now called mineral spirits. Be a little careful as hardware stores call Turpentine mineral spirits. Not the same thing. Little confusing!

[cmbrucew]

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You can smell the difference between Turpentine and Mineral spirits.

Bruce

Works good
Lasts long time

[Cool Hand Lurker]

"I use Mineral Spirits in my wash sink. Use to be 2 bucks a gal at Wall Mart, after gas started going up now it's 10 bucks a gal. But I figure it's cheaper than some fools spend on smokes. Walt"

Gee, Walt, I didn't even know that smokes would work at all to clean parts!

[funrunr]

I buy my mineral spirits at a paint company who makes their own, fairly cheaper that way.

I don't remember the name but if your in the downriver MI. area its in Taylor on Beech Daly and Van Born RD. on the corner.

[tiger.1000]

Here in the UK we have a product caller JIZER.....brush it on and hose it off with cold water the if required dry with and air line. I suspect that it's similar to GUNK ?. Oil and grease no problem

[oliverguy]

I use kerosine or diesel. When it's dirty I can take it to a friend who has a drain oil furnace.

[FLA48]

We tried to find Varsol lately and was told it was no longer made.

[Robert Dip]

FLA48....I have been using Varsol for over 50 years, but it is now called 'paint thinner'. Years ago, thinner was used to dilute lacquer....so names have changed. The now 'paint thinner ( Varsol ) is used to dilute and clean paint brushes when using enamel paints. Now, they are banning oil base paints, so how long are we going to be able to buy Varsol. Anyhoot, Varsol has always smelled like Varsol, no matter what they call it. I keep my parts cleaning tank cover closed and there is no smell. For evaporation, it take a long time to disappear when the cover is closed. Great stuff....I better buy a whole lot of this stuff...it might just disappear from the shelf. Robert

[danliveshere]

guys keep in mind to use good rubber gloves and avoid skin exposure, as hydrocarbons like diesel are absorbed into the skin easily. that's why a lot of "purpose" made cleaners don't seem to work as good as the old stuff as manufacturers have to make them safer to use. just my 2c

[desotoguy]

If you have one of the plastic 5 gal type of parts cleaners from Saf-T-Kleen, check around town with some of the shops to see when the STK truck services them. Talk to the truck driver, almost bet you can get a new container for say $50 or so. Actual experience, not a guess.

[El Rat]

Varsol = Mineral spirits NOT lacquer thinner!

[Tim Ayers]

Originally Posted by desotoguy

If you have one of the plastic 5 gal type of parts cleaners from Saf-T-Kleen, check around town with some of the shops to see when the STK truck services them. Talk to the truck driver, almost bet you can get a new container for say $50 or so. Actual experience, not a guess.

I have the old, style metal barrel that the cleaner sit on top of. Thanks for the tip...