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02-26-2024, 10:00 AM | #1 |
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Join Date: Feb 2022
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Parts Cleaner Suggestions
So as I keep working my way through my build, I was starting to try and clean up some of the parts I had taken off the truck. I don't have a parts washer or anything like that. I am wondering what solvent you guys use to wash your parts? I have heard that most of the brand name parts cleaner solutions are basically mineral spirits. Is that true?
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02-26-2024, 11:49 AM | #2 |
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Re: Parts Cleaner Suggestions
I buy "Varsol" locally, it is stronger than typical mineral spirits, but I bet it's from the same family.
Wear nitrile gloves and eye protection.
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1961 Apache: "Grabber Orange" Shortboxed, pancake, step-notch, air-ride, boosted-LS 1977 Silverado: Shortboxed & dropped, potato-potato V8 Pontiac Firefly (Chevy Sprint): The ultimate engine swap: 5.7L in a 1.0L bag Lotus Super 7 Replica: Scratch-built street-legal rollerskate |
02-26-2024, 11:11 PM | #3 |
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Re: Parts Cleaner Suggestions
I've even used GoJo hand cleaner as well as Dawn and Simple Green.
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02-27-2024, 12:58 AM | #4 |
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Location: los angeles
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Re: Parts Cleaner Suggestions
Diesel and a good brush. I actually read about diesel as a cleaner on this forum. I didnt believe it, but after trying it, Im a fan. I spray it with brake clean after to remove the oilyness that diesel might leave.
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02-27-2024, 10:12 AM | #5 |
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Re: Parts Cleaner Suggestions
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02-27-2024, 10:14 AM | #6 |
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Join Date: Feb 2022
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Re: Parts Cleaner Suggestions
I might try that as well along with the varsol. Looking for something effective and doesn't break the bank. I don't do this everyday so would like to avoid spending a ton of money for a cleaner.
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02-27-2024, 10:22 AM | #7 |
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Re: Parts Cleaner Suggestions
A pressure washer with siding cleaner sprayed on full strength and left set for a few minutes.
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02-27-2024, 11:58 AM | #8 |
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Re: Parts Cleaner Suggestions
I heard Easy Off Oven Cleaner works also. Wear gloves.
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02-27-2024, 04:15 PM | #9 |
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Re: Parts Cleaner Suggestions
Easy Off works great at removing carbon, I use it in rebuilding engines; works great. For aluminum I will spray it on for 10 seconds, and then rinse off - it will etch aluminum if left on too long. YOU are a carbon-based life form, and it will dissolve YOU. Wear gloves and eye protection.
I've found that diesel removes grease and oil, but not the nasty carbon staining that you'll have inside an engine. Way back in the day I used commercial heavy duty degreaser, which works wonders but turns your skin leathery and your fingernails black. Wear gloves and eye protection. There are some versions of Simple Green or Purple Power that do not etch aluminum, but I've only discovered the etching kind.
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1961 Apache: "Grabber Orange" Shortboxed, pancake, step-notch, air-ride, boosted-LS 1977 Silverado: Shortboxed & dropped, potato-potato V8 Pontiac Firefly (Chevy Sprint): The ultimate engine swap: 5.7L in a 1.0L bag Lotus Super 7 Replica: Scratch-built street-legal rollerskate |
02-27-2024, 08:31 PM | #10 |
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Re: Parts Cleaner Suggestions
For old gas-varnish, acetone cleans it almost on contact. I’m not sure what it will do to “softer” metals if left on too long, so use your best judgment. It took the sludge offa the bottom of my fuel tank, inside my sending unit/pickup tube and carb easy sneezy. And cleaned my nail polish off.
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02-28-2024, 09:55 AM | #11 | |
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Re: Parts Cleaner Suggestions
Quote:
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02-28-2024, 08:24 PM | #12 |
Luchador
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: ATL, GA
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Re: Parts Cleaner Suggestions
It may seem strange but I recently have started using Dawn Power Wash for heavy grease and grime. It cuts through everything and works rather quick.
Diesel has been a great degreaser in the past for me but handling the cleanup has always been a pain. Oven cleaner is good for the dense stuff too but the fumes are intense. If you have the money the best parts washer I have ever used was the CRC Smart Washer that use microbes to "eat" the oil. It's expensive but the chemicals are perfectly safe and it has an amazing performance. |
02-28-2024, 09:59 PM | #13 | |
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Re: Parts Cleaner Suggestions
Quote:
I try to avoid the toxic cleaners since it goes on the ground and gets on my skin. A good stiff plastic and also a wire brush always help. Dawn or GoJo work just as good if you don't have simple green though. |
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02-29-2024, 06:30 AM | #14 |
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Re: Parts Cleaner Suggestions
For tar, oily, and greasy parts maybe with dirt or caked or both, I scrape off the chunks. Since some of the cleaners above are also volatile, I will say when I can clean outside, -guess- is hard to beat - I use a paint type nylon brush. It does not take that much and can be reused from a catch pan then I use a detergent degreaser. If appropriate I lightly cinder - TSC- pot blast to taste. I have a large gravel drive in front of my building.
A pressure washer with detergent especially a hot water one is definitely hard to beat. USING ANY VOLATILE FLAMABLE LIQUID NEEDS TO BE USED WITH MUCH CAUTION. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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1942 Chevy 1/2 ton Rod, 1959 GMC 1/2 ton Fleet Stepside, 1967 Chevy SWB K10, 1985 Corvette Coupe 4+3, 2015 Chevy Duramax reg cab 4WD W/T Last edited by dennislbrooks; 02-29-2024 at 07:07 AM. Reason: words |
02-29-2024, 09:30 AM | #15 | |
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Re: Parts Cleaner Suggestions
Quote:
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03-05-2024, 09:37 AM | #16 | |
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Re: Parts Cleaner Suggestions
Quote:
soak/brush scrub with cancer causing solvent without gloves or eye protection liberal amount of simple green <-------------------------------------- high pressure garden hose spray off air/wipe dry, light oil and put away spotless guns in 20-30 minutes per gun vs the three cleanings spread out over 3 days as required by the TO. I still love simple green but think it was stronger back in the day.
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03-05-2024, 09:38 AM | #17 |
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Re: Parts Cleaner Suggestions
double post - oops
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Denver/Big Island -- Instagram: Slammed66c10 '46 Fleetmaster Coupe '64 C10 on Ridetech Air Ride '66 C10 on GSI Bagged Chassis - in progress '12 FLHR '11 Custom Homebuilt Chop/Softail Last edited by Cohi; 03-05-2024 at 10:04 AM. |
03-06-2024, 04:24 PM | #18 |
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Re: Parts Cleaner Suggestions
I bought a cheap ultrasonic cleaner from Amazon. It works well enough. The best thing I found though is a 5 gallon bucket and some drain cleaner. Drain cleaner contains caustic soda (sodium hydroxide) which will remove most grease, dirt etc. When I worked for an earthmover we used that to clean all engine parts and such after a tear down so everything was nice and clean to rebuild.
A word of warning - use rubber gloves and wash everything really well when you pull it out of the solution. It can burn through your skin. |
03-07-2024, 10:44 AM | #19 | |
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Re: Parts Cleaner Suggestions
Quote:
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03-07-2024, 12:45 PM | #20 |
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Re: Parts Cleaner Suggestions
A cheap degreaser that seems work decent is the stuff Sam's sells in gallon jugs. It works about like the purple power.
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03-10-2024, 12:45 AM | #21 |
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Location: Anderson SC
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Re: Parts Cleaner Suggestions
A turkey fryer and LA's Totally Awesome works great to get steel parts super clean. It'll darken/etch aluminum so use something else on aluminum/magnesium parts.
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03-11-2024, 09:52 AM | #22 | |
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Re: Parts Cleaner Suggestions
Quote:
And dumb question, but do you turn the heat on the fryer? When I worked in the a machine shop, we had a hot tank for washing motors. Do you heat the solution? |
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03-12-2024, 12:44 PM | #23 | |
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Re: Parts Cleaner Suggestions
Quote:
https://www.lowes.com/pd/LA-s-Totall...ner/5013109115
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Project Goldilocks '66 C10 Short Fleet BBW Build '65 C10 Highly Detailed Stock Restoration Thread '78 Camaro Targa Roof Build '55 International Metal/Body/Paint Work '66 F100 Full Rotisserie Restoration '40 Packard 120 Convertible Coupe Restoration How To Restore and Detail an Original Gauge Cluster How To Detail Sand Body Panels, Edges, Corners, Etc |
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03-14-2024, 08:44 AM | #24 |
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Re: Parts Cleaner Suggestions
Exactly. I picked up the 64oz Pequa brand for under $15, poured it in a 5 gallon bucket and put my parts in there to soak overnight. Again, use caution. I pull the parts the following day and hosed them down on the drive. They come out like brand new. DO NOT use on aluminum parts, you won't have parts to pull the next day.
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03-14-2024, 07:16 PM | #25 |
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Re: Parts Cleaner Suggestions
I just got this in my Hagerty newsletter and it reminded me of this thread: https://www.hagerty.com/media/mainte...2444fb07c4a1c7
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