What's new
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.

Best parts washer solvent?

Highpsi

Highpsi

Comfortably Numb
Joined
Aug 7, 2005
Posts
374
Reaction score
10
Location
Wausau,Wi
Just wondering what you guys use for solvent in your parts washers. My friend owns a machine shop and he's not able to get the "good stuff" they used to get even just a few years back from a local auto parts supplier.

I don't want the water based garbage or just simple mineral spirits, so any advice from you guys is appreciated.
 
I use Crown PSC 1000 parts cleaner from Tractor Supply. Runs about $35.00 per five gallons. Works not bad....Not as good as the "Stuff" we used years ago.:D

Your right, water base doesn't work very well.
 
Most shops here used "Safety-Kleen" solvent from a local company--not sure if they are still in bussiness or not now though...they sold parts washers and the solvent..

I used diesel fuel or enamel reducer in a home made one I had..which was a old camper's stainless steel sink mounted on a 30 gallon drum...used a 12V boat bilge pump on it,with the brush that fed the solvent thru it..worked great,I did have to put a needle valve in the hose to reduce the pressure a bit though..used a nylon stocking on the drain to catch the crud!..
 
I use this stuff from Mcmaster Carr. It's solvent. Works great but is expensive @ $99.97 for a 5 gal pale. It's worth the extra cost since it's actually solvent. In fact I need some more myself. I used to have to special order it but not they stock it. It also used to cost about $50 a pale. I'll still spend the hundred on it though. It lasts for a long time with infrequent use like I use it.


High Flash Point Lanolin Free
5 gal.3457K1599.97

<DIV style="MARGIN: 0px -192.67px 0px 12.67px; WIDTH: 348px" class=InLnOrdWebPartLayout_CntntDiv><DIV style="WIDTH: 336px" id=InLnOrdWebPart_RacingStripe3457K15 class="InLnOrdWebPartLayout_Overlay InLnOrdWebPart_RacingStripe">http://www.mcmaster.com/#
Product Detail
 
rdn2blazer said:
I use this stuff from Mcmaster Carr. It's solvent. Works great but is expensive @ $99.97 for a 5 gal pale. It's worth the extra cost since it's actually solvent. In fact I need some more myself. I used to have to special order it but not they stock it. It also used to cost about $50 a pale. I'll still spend the hundred on it though. It lasts for a long time with infrequent use like I use it.


High Flash Point Lanolin Free
5 gal.3457K1599.97

<DIV style="MARGIN: 0px -192.67px 0px 12.67px; WIDTH: 348px" class=InLnOrdWebPartLayout_CntntDiv><DIV style="WIDTH: 336px" id=InLnOrdWebPart_RacingStripe3457K15 class="InLnOrdWebPartLayout_Overlay InLnOrdWebPart_RacingStripe">http://www.mcmaster.com/#
Product Detail
Click to expand...


Fantastic. This is exactly what I was looking for. The stuff we used to buy locally here is now defunct, but it was about the same price for the 5 gal. bucket. Worth every penny too. That other cheap stuff can't hold a candle to stuff like this.

Thanks guys for input.
 
Safety Kleen sells us their solvent in 55 gallon drums for about $350, that is some seriously good parts cleaning solution
 
I don't use it in a parts washer but Schaeffer's Citrol is the cleaning-est stuff I've ever found. I used Agitene in a parts washer, it works ok but stinks like doodoo! The Citrol smells like oranges! About $135.00/5gal but can be diluted.
 
A1971Blazer said:
I don't use it in a parts washer but Schaeffer's Citrol is the cleaning-est stuff I've ever found. I used Agitene in a parts washer, it works ok but stinks like doodoo! The Citrol smells like oranges! About $135.00/5gal but can be diluted.
Click to expand...

Hmm.. Very interesting idea. Funny thing is that my friend loves Schaeffer products and I think I've even seen aerosol cans of citrol around his shop. I'm going to ask him if he's ever used it in bulk in a parts cleaner. I know he even has an account with a Schaeffer distributor.
 
Highpsi said:
Hmm.. Very interesting idea. Funny thing is that my friend loves Schaeffer products and I think I've even seen aerosol cans of citrol around his shop. I'm going to ask him if he's ever used it in bulk in a parts cleaner. I know he even has an account with a Schaeffer distributor.
Click to expand...

I first bought it in the aerosol cans but I use it in my ultrasonic cleaner to clean cutting oil and such from machined parts so bulk was the way to go for me. What I like is that it's not harsh, I keep some in a spray bottle to clean my hands sometimes, it will remove just about anything and IIRC it is biodegradable in diluted form.

Like your friend I use a lot of Schaeffer products. I run their Supreme 9000 synthetic oil in all my diesels, 7000-8000 miles usually between changes, easy starts too, even in single digit temps.
 
Well it turns out I mentioned it to my friend, and he perked right up.. Said he'd never though of trying that in bulk due to the price of the little aerosol cans he has sitting all over his shop. He loved the idea and priced it through his distributor right away at about $120 for 5 gal.

I think it will be a great fit for my garage parts washer because now I won't be as concerned about the nasty fumes getting into the house. Wife would be none to happy with stinky solvent.

We're gonna try it, but I'm still curious if it will perform as well as the solvent that was talked about above. I guess I'd be willing to sacrifice a little performance though for the "friendly" value of Citrol.
 
Highpsi said:
Well it turns out I mentioned it to my friend, and he perked right up.. Said he'd never though of trying that in bulk due to the price of the little aerosol cans he has sitting all over his shop. He loved the idea and priced it through his distributor right away at about $120 for 5 gal.

I think it will be a great fit for my garage parts washer because now I won't be as concerned about the nasty fumes getting into the house. Wife would be none to happy with stinky solvent.

We're gonna try it, but I'm still curious if it will perform as well as the solvent that was talked about above. I guess I'd be willing to sacrifice a little performance though for the "friendly" value of Citrol.
Click to expand...

Let us know how it works out.....I don't think you will be disappointed. Just be sure and try it on any surfaces that you may be concerned about.
It's pretty powerful at full strength.
 
Stoddard solvent is what you want. I used it for many years when I had my machine shop and that stuff cleans good.
 
A1971Blazer said:
Let us know how it works out.....I don't think you will be disappointed. Just be sure and try it on any surfaces that you may be concerned about.
It's pretty powerful at full strength.
Click to expand...


You got it. I'll post my results. Mostly, I'll be using it for cleaning up nasty parts from underneath the truck / my axle rebuilds etc. so we'll see how tough this stuff is!
 
I use old gasoline. Works fantastic. Obviously make sure you are well ventilated.
I also drain it back into 5gal buckets when not using
 
Use kerosene in mine for years, I keep the lid down when I'm not using it. Never had a problem works great.
 
I did actually end up with a 5 gal bucket of Citrol. I haven't put it in the washer yet but I hope to get it up and going soon. I'll let you guys know how it works out.

I really wanted something safe for just in my garage attached to the house. I think my wife would probably have a few words for me if I started using kerosene or gasoline in there!

I had considered Kerosene though at one point. My dad showed me that trick as a kid I'd just about forgotten it though!
 
Citrol experience - update

So I've been using the Citrol in the parts cleaner now for a while and I've got nothing but good to report back about this stuff.

Straight out of the 5 gal. bucket and not thinned at all, it is almost a thin, oily consistency. (A bit like brake fluid almost) I kept it this way, although 5 gal is barely enough to get the whole tank filled 4" deep. This is a problem for my pump that has a pickup screen about 6" high, so my cheap a$$ solution was to fill up 1/2 gal. milk containers with water and stuff them under the working plate! Voila.. Now fluid level high enough. :D

But that's the great part about this stuff too - it is sooooo non-toxic! Won't rot through plastics, etc. I use gloves while working with it but you don't really even need to do that, you'd just end up with super clean hands. The type I got has to be washed off with water after you finish and when you do that even the nastiest, greasy, oily parts come clean as a whistle.

I would highly recommend Citrol in its concentrate form like that for anyone using a parts washer / tank in your garage connected to the house. Non-toxic was one of my requirements and I thought I'd have to sacrifice strength for it but no way. The wife even loves the smell of the garage now after I'm done working with that stuff!
 
Highpsi said:
So I've been using the Citrol in the parts cleaner now for a while and I've got nothing but good to report back about this stuff.

Straight out of the 5 gal. bucket and not thinned at all, it is almost a thin, oily consistency. (A bit like brake fluid almost) I kept it this way, although 5 gal is barely enough to get the whole tank filled 4" deep. This is a problem for my pump that has a pickup screen about 6" high, so my cheap a$$ solution was to fill up 1/2 gal. milk containers with water and stuff them under the working plate! Voila.. Now fluid level high enough. :D

But that's the great part about this stuff too - it is sooooo non-toxic! Won't rot through plastics, etc. I use gloves while working with it but you don't really even need to do that, you'd just end up with super clean hands. The type I got has to be washed off with water after you finish and when you do that even the nastiest, greasy, oily parts come clean as a whistle.

I would highly recommend Citrol in its concentrate form like that for anyone using a parts washer / tank in your garage connected to the house. Non-toxic was one of my requirements and I thought I'd have to sacrifice strength for it but no way. The wife even loves the smell of the garage now after I'm done working with that stuff!
Click to expand...

Good to hear! The only drawback is that it's kinda pricey.
 
Good to know, but I think I would have to dilute it at the cost. I've been looking for a good solvent like that that I can use in my parts washer, same type of setup in the attached garage, so the odor factor would be really nice. Guess I will have to convince the wife that the extra cost is worth it.:grin:
 
Been watching this thread. My issue isn't smell, it's flammability as my shop is wood heated. Subscribed for future reference.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest Posts

Top Bottom