Farmall Cub

Hi all - I wanted to share the great results I've had with a product in my parts washer. I put a number of parts in our 40 gallon parts washer, let them sit, turned them from time to time....Yesterday I pulled the air filter out of the cleaner (water-based) to find it totally shiny and new looking. Small bits of paint were still there - they just wiped off. I washed the part in paint thinner - and set it to dry.

The product I use is "Purple Power" available at lots of locations, but I get mine here.
http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_industrial-strength-cleaner-degreaser-purple-power_7040072-p

I've been using the same cleaner since we rebuilt the hydraulic motor on our Bobcat Skid Steer last year - it's still going strong. I'd recommend this product for degreasing and removing paint. For Rudi - because I know you lead the way in health and safety, I do use gloves, splash goggles and apron . I've attached the MSDS for review. The main ingredient Ethylene Glycol mono-butyl ether is commonly know as butyl cellosolve - most commonly used in charcoal fluid back in the day. It has a flash point greater >200F.

I hope you find this useful, Ken

Thanks for the info.
Berlin

Ken, are you using it full strength?

I am also using Purple Power, but my guys said to dilute it 2 or 3 parts water to 1 part PP.

Just curious.

I use it full strength in he parts washer. I dilute it (2-3) to keep in a spray bottle to clean-up grease and oil on the shop floor and small parts. BTW-diluted down even more, and it's the best thing I've ever found to remove the black oxide that forms on our 5th wheel RV. Found that out from my local auto parts store. It's a 50% less cost than the "special" streak remover they sell at RV stores.

Ken

Varsol has been the liquid of choice for me over the years. Is Purple Power safer? easier to use etc??? There have been many comments on it over the last few years. Also, cost for PP versus Varsol? And yes, eye and respiratory protection is a good habit to develop early.

Rudi - from what I can find (MSDS Attached) Purple Cleaner is a far safer product. Below I've listed some reasons why.

1. Varsol contains benzenes, cumene and xylene - the VOC's from all three of these are not good - especially the benzene.
2. The flaspoint of Varsol is 109 degrees F. Take a hot shop on a hot day and you could have vapors at flashpoint.
3. It has a very wide LEL and UEL - .8 - 5.6.....

Since PP flash is greater than 200 F with no auto-ignition temperature. Varsol auto-ignites at 500F.
If you consider Benzene alone, not mention xylene (xylol) - PP is far safer just from exposure level.



Ken

Ken:

Just checked at Autozone in Maine - $26.00 for a 5 US gallon pail. That is affordable and comparable in price to Varsol.

So far the only thing I can find here in Moncton is ZEP Industrial Purple Degreaser - 14 bucks for a gallon and 50 bucks for 5 US gallons approximately. At those prices -- I don't think so. Will keep looking. Might have to get some from the US in the fall. I don't even know if ZEP is similar or totally different. Checked with Wallyworld up here -- nope.. don't stock it. Seems Purple Power isn't available here. Super Clean is as well as ZEP but it is quite expensive - about the same price structure as ZEP. 5 gallons of ZEP is 30 bucks in Maine .. about the same as Purple Power. The reviews say this stuff is pretty strong - will remove the anodized finish off of aluminum. I imagine it will be a great parts cleaner.

Rudi, did you look on Purple Powers website for a Canadian disturber?

Ken, water based, what about winter here in the great white north? Will it freeze in an unheated shop?

Inquiring minds need to know. :^)

I did not use the parts washer this winter. I was in the barn at the farm. The good news is, if it did freeze and thaw - it still works as good as it did last year. I just went out to my shop, took a sample in of all things a Red Solo Cup - put in the freezer. If we find it does freeze - you could probably get by with a stock tank heater. I will let you know in the morning.

Regards, Ken

Will it freeze in the winter time if your washer is outside? which mine is.

Rick:

I tried multiple times. Wally World stocks it in the US but not in Canada, I don't have a Lowes, K-Mart abandoned Canada 15 years ago, we don't have Advance, PEP Boys, O'Reilly's, TSC, ACE, Fred's Blair's, Fisher or Dollar .... God only knows if NAPA has it, they usually don't have anything that is on the US site...

LIke Kroil, the FDA probably won't allow it to be exported ... which I really don't understand. First I don't want to ingest Kroil - that's what we have Crown Royal for, and I definitely don't want to ingest Purple Power -- we already have that, it is call Rutabaga

John, Ricky et al - the Purple Cleaner I placed in my freezer last evening is rock solid this morning. If you were going to use this product you'd need to put a stock tank heater in it. They don't consume much electricity.

Ken