What Washer Solvent

Barnyard

Barnyard

Moderator
Staff member
I'm getting ready to buy a parts washer. What do a lot of you use as a solvent? Washer solvent is sky high and I have heard of using kerosene. Opinions please.
 
Last time I checked, kerosene was sky high, too. I use diesel. I don’t have a real parts washer, just a plastic mortar mixing tub. Then I use the waste to start the burn barrel. :D
Make sure you use the proper PPE.
 
Don McCombs":3lo9nv1l said:
Last time I checked, kerosene was sky high, too. I use diesel. I don’t have a real parts washer, just a plastic mortar mixing tub. Then I use the waste to start the burn barrel. :D
Make sure you use the proper PPE.
Click to expand...
Kerosene here is $2.80 a gallon. Solvent is around $10.00 a gallon at Rural King.
 
In my part of the country kerosene is normally a lot higher than that. My preference is PSC 1000 solvent from TSC. It is not cheap either, at $39.99 for 5 gallons, but it does cut grease better than kerosene or diesel.
 
Barnyard":35jbr8yu said:
Are there any particular wash tanks that are better than other or they all about the same?
Click to expand...
I don't think there is a lot of difference in parts washers other than the price.

I'll look up the name on our parts washer tank tomorrow. Purchased years ago at auction for around $20-. The pump gave up last fall. Replaced the pump for another $20-.

I use diesel because it's readily available, cheaper than kerosene, and doesn't freeze like water based cleaners.

Drained and cleaned the parts washer last week. Let the trash in the diesel settle for several days. Then poured the clear diesel back into the washer. Sludge and the darker diesel was used to start a trash fire.

OH! the pump for the parts washer is the same identical pump used in aquariums. If you have access to a barrel or some kind of tank you could easily fabricate a parts washer.
 
My issue with either diesel or kerosene, is that it leaves an oily film on the items you clean. Since I still do the occasional automatic trans rebuild, that's important to me. The specified fluid is crazy expensive, for mineral spirits! My alternative is the cheapest, mineral spirit, paint thinner I can find. I try to get it in a 5 gal. pail but it's getting hard to find anything but gallon jugs these days. The last time I bought some, Lowe's had the best price.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top