Parts Washer Liquid

[Stretch Cab]

I've read the former posts and see a variety of options for the cleaner liquid used in a parts washer. My wife got me a washer for Christmas and I need to decide on the cleaner. Has anyone used the cleaner HF sells? It is a concentrate that is mixed with water.
Thanks

[gilitos]

I use Mineral spirits. I've never seen a water based cleaner that works.

[CarlG]

I use Stoddards Solvent

[Mitch//pa]

we use mineral spirits

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by gilitos

I use Mineral spirits. I've never seen a water based cleaner that works.

X2 ..............water is for drinking, not cleaning car parts.

I bought low odor paint thinner for $1 a gallon at Fleet Farm about 8 years ago. Right after I bought it the price went to $5 a gallon. I know I should have stocked up when it was cheap.

I use gas in a pan outside for most of my cleaning, but for my inside cleaning tank, when the paint thinner runs out, I will use diesel or mineral spirits.

[Purdy Swoft]

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I also use mineral spirits. Mineral spirits can be purchased reasonably by the gallon at Walmart. I would be concerned about rust if a water based liquid was used .

[Ron Lowe]

I also use solvent. Works great and lasts a long time. That's a nice gift!

[MikeK]

Mineral spirits, but beware- there is now a lot of "enviro friendly" mineral spirits out there. it is ~20% mineral spirits, 2% emulsifier and 78% water. It smells lightly like mineral spirits, makes a lousy thinner for oil base paint, does a poor job of cleaning brushes, and if you use it as recommended for cleaning metal 'stuff', it leaves a slimy residue that only MEK and acetone will cut.
DONT BELIEVE THIS LABEL - NOT MINERAL SPIRITS

[spdway1]

I used the Harbor Freight green gallon jug stuff, It worked great on my AA project.

[Synchro909]

We use different terminology so I don't know what mineral spirits is. I suspect it is what we call Kerosene. That's what I use. It's very good and lasts a looonnng time.

[Keith True]

I've never been a big fan of mineral spirits in a parts washer.Probably bacause I was always comparing it to the other stuff that was available,(Safety Kleen was one of them).I used a lot of Agitene,parts stores here sold it with no paperwork like some of the others.Three gallons of kerosene and two gallons of naptha worked pretty well,but you had to keep the lid shut on the parts washer or the naptha would evaporate.It still cleaned well,but would leave a residue on the parts once the naptha was gone.I used to use two parts washers,one with old juice in it to pre-wash,and the second one with cleaner stuff in it.The John Deere dealer I worked for years ago did that too.They had a gas bucket/tray outside under a roof,when the heavy muck was taken off the parts then we brought them in to the real parts washer.After a couple of uses you couldn't light that tray off with a torch.

[Jim/GA]

Originally Posted by Synchro909

We use different terminology so I don't know what mineral spirits is. I suspect it is what we call Kerosene. That's what I use. It's very good and lasts a looonnng time.

mineral spirits = white spirit in the UK. I don't know about in Oz.

it is very similar to but lighter than kerosene.

[29Otis]

I use Zep on just about everything.

[fundytides]

I used the enviornmental friendly stuff from Princess Auto (Canadian version of Harbour Freight) and it was next to useless to clean up a Modfel T differential. Switched to Varsol/Mineral Spirits and it did a great job

[Big hammer]

Mechanical clean and then I use Simple Green straight for light cleaning inside
,gasoline outside when weather permits.

[Ted Duke]

Mineral spirits smells, kerosene sticks?

Just a worthless comment for the heck of it. Merry Christmas to all from Virginia, USA.

[Ted Duke]

oops should have read before I posted. kerosene stinks?

[Vic in E-TN]

MikeK:
Thanks for the info on the pseudo mineral spirits. I was using it to clean brushes for stain and varnish. It was not even good for that. Real low odor mineral spirits now sells for over $12 a gallon at Home Depot. Kerosene now sells for $4 per gallon. I will be using $3 per gallon #2 diesel for most of my parts washing now. I am disassembling a differential and some really greasy backing plates soon.

P.S - the price of crude is now approximately $55 per gallon. You think it might be reflected in the price of mineral spirits, heating oil or kerosene now but you would be mistaken. Maybe it takes a little longer to work through the system but don't hold your breath.

Vic

[C26Pinelake]

I use Varsol and it works great. Is Varsol mineral spirits ? Wayne

[C26Pinelake]

Originally Posted by Stretch Cab

I've read the former posts and see a variety of options for the cleaner liquid used in a parts washer. My wife got me a washer for Christmas and I need to decide on the cleaner. Has anyone used the cleaner HF sells? It is a concentrate that is mixed with water.
Thanks

By the way how do you know what she got you for Christmas ? Oh I know, you mean last Christmas, right ( lol ) ?
Wayne