[Shop-talk] Parts Washers

[Doug Braun]

For really nasty gunky parts, especially those with a
cement-like crust of road dust and dried grease,
Easy-Off Heavy-Duty Original Oven Cleaner (in the
yellow spray can) works better than anything else I
have ever tried.

On my '31 Model A, I had many engine and drivetrain
parts with that crust on them.  I tried soaking some
in a kerosene-based parts cleaner for 3 months, and it
had no effect.  I tried boiling some in a 50/50
water/Simple Green solution, and it had little effect.
 But the oven cleaner melted the crud in a few hours.

One big catch: It WILL remove any paint.

Also, accept no substitute.  I tried the supermarket
house brand, and it barely worked.

Doug



--- David Scheidt <dmscheidt at gmail.com> wrote:

> 
> They tend to need heat to work well.  If you can
> keep a tank at 120F
> or so, plain old dishwasher detergent (the powered
> stuff you put in
> the machine) and water do a fine job, better than
> room-temperature
> mineral spirits.