Best Solvent for New Parts Washer

[Norm C.]

I have what I believe to be a Bowtie candidate. I've purchased a parts washer tub, and looking for the best cleaning solvent to use. (wanting to avoid media blasing) After telling him I was looking for a product not overly aggresive, the supplier suggested using Mineral Spirits 365, which is supposedly a low fume & low flash point solvent.
1. Has anyone used that product? 2. Is there a better product when wanting to clean but not damage the original finish?

[Jim T.]

Re: Best Solvent for New Parts Washer

I buy mineral spirts in plastic container at Wal-Mart, Home Depo, or Lowes and keep it in a 5 gallon plastic sealable bucket for cleaning parts.

[Chuck S.]

Re: Best Solvent for New Parts Washer

Yep...I agree. Mineral spirits or paint thinner (mostly mineral spirits) at Lowes or Home Depot will probably be half the price of a supplier's named product for parts washers, and it is essentially the same thing. Storing a large volume of any hydrocarbons in a parts washer is a bad idea; do as Jim says...when you're done drain the washer solvent into a suitable storage container.

Further advice I would give you on parts washer solutions is: DO NOT BE FLIM-FLAMMED with environmentally friendly water-based solutions. They clean the parts fine, providing you then either finish them or oil them. They WILL, however, literally eat a parts washer up...steel+water+air+time=rust.

Personally, I think you should re-think the use of a parts washer if you have a Bowtie candidate, and you want to KEEP it a Bowtie candidate. There are judges here that can give you more detail, but essentially you do not want to remove parts from any Bowtie candidate for cleaning in a parts washer. Bowtie judges are looking for fasteners that have been disturbed, which may indicate parts have been exchanged or serviced. I would think cleaning "in situ" is OK, but be careful not to destroy any marks, or solvent-soluble finishes. Basically, if you want a car to "fool around with", a Bowtie candidate is a poor choice.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Best Solvent for New Parts Washer

Agreed.

If you think you have a Bowtie candidate, DO NOT TOUCH ANYTHING on the car. Don't even think of replacing anything. Have it judged and evaluated first. the last think you want to do is "clean" or "prep" yourself out of a Bowtie.

Patrick

[John D.]

Re: Best Solvent for New Parts Washer

Norm, Listen to what the boys are telling you about bowtie cars. Don't clean anything except maybe heavy grease and dirt. But forgetting about the car if you want to use a nice enviromentally safe and inexpensive cleaner in your tank go to Home Depot and buy Zep all purpose cleaner. Get the pale green stuff. Comes in gallons and 5 gal tubs. One gal is about 8 bucks. Mix it 50-50 and watch how good it cleans. You can experiment with the mixture to make it stronger or weaker just by adding more water. I use it for filthy FI parts for the first step and it never fails to do the job. Don't buy the purple stuff as it will burn the part. For aluminum make the solution week and don't leave the part in too long. Not the greatest for that alloy but a good first step. I use it in my ultrasonic cleaners and in short order the steel, copper, or brass part is clean. If you have a heater that speeds up the process. No chance of fire and doesn't smell bad at all. Use Zep all purpose cleaner for house hold cleaner also. I should get a commiss from Zep as I have told 100's of people. Love the stuff but worry it will be discontinued. You don't save anything buying the 5 gallon tube and it's too bulky. Zep has been around for ever. Home Depot is the exclusive distributor I believe. John

[Peter L.]

Re: Best Solvent for New Parts Washer

John - I'd suggest "BEER" but I hate to waste it on car parts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Pete

[John D.]

Re: Best Solvent for New Parts Washer

Pete, Now I know why certain keys turn out round 'stead of octagon. Beer is culprit. Probably "the Beast" in you. CC said at Marlborough didn't like Jr round key. He said it probably came from A Corvair.- Hear in heaven there is no beer. Also no more beer at NCRS meets. Don't drink anymore but gonna start if any more posts like this one come up. I also hear "orange" cleaner good stuff for parts cleaners. Zep makes good "orange" cleaner in spray bottles. Good for cleaning your rusty spare tire locks. That was a nice display of Corvair locks at the show. Too bad you didn't have any Corvette ones though. John

[Jim K.]

Re: Best Solvent for New Parts Washer

For what its worth, I use kerosene in my parts washer, it has the safety fusable link and I always have an ABC dry chemical fire extinguisher (20#) right there...
Jim