At 11:26 AM 11/23/98 -0800, you wrote:
>Back to the original reason why I'm posting; parts washer solvents. Now I
know this
>was covered a little while back, but I have somewhat different questions.
I'm trying
>to fill my HF cheapie 20 gallon washer; I figure 10 gallons of some solvent
should
>be enough. Due to space constraints, it located in the garage diagonally
across (a
>3 wide garage) from the gas furnace/hot water heater, to try and reduce any
chances
>of starting a fire. This also happens to be right next to the breaker box,
but is
>about the best I can do. So I really want to find something safe to put
into it.
>I seem to recall Agithene (sp?) from Grainger was the ideal choice, but
it's beyond
>what I can justify. I'm thinking kerosene, mineral spirits, or something
non-petro,
>like Simple Green, or that bid-degradeable stuff HF sells. Safety-Kleen would
>be good also, although I think they won't sell to home users. I'm guessing
that
>kerosene or mineral spirits would be effective, though there's the fire hazard
>(someone told me he put a cigarette out in the stuff, though I don't want
to try
>it....), and there's a warning label on the washer which specifically
states that
>it would kill the pump. I just don't think that Simple Green has enough
"tooth"
>to really get through old grimy muck though.... Has anyone found a safe
solvent
>that really works?
>
I've got the same HF parts washer with the same label and I've been using
mineral spirits in mine for a couple years now with no problem. I bought
the mineral spirits in the paint section of the local Home Improvement
warehouse (Lowe's in this neck of the woods) for less than $10 per 5 gal. I
use the approach several other people mentioned as far as replacing the
solvent and don't. I scrape the crud out of the bottom occasionally and add
more as necessary to keep the level up. I haven't use 15 gallons up yet.
Yes, mineral spirits is flammable and yes, I'm told you can put a match out
in it, but I haven't tried it.
I've tried straight simple green as a parts cleaner and wasn't impressed,
but it is good as a paint prep (reduced with water) after cleaning in solvent.
Ben Zwissler, zwissler@hsonline.net
Columbus, Indiana
1980 TR-8
1966 TR-4A IRS OD
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