Parts washer fluid

[marcros]

I have got my dad one of these for Christmas. Bench Mounted Parts Washer / Degreaser / Cleaner

I am now looking at what fluid to get for him to go with it. does anybody have a similar one and if so can you make a recommendation?

It will be used for general cleaning of old tractor parts (obviously smaller parts) prior to reassembly and/or possibly painting. I would expect it would be engine parts or greasy nuts and bolts from ploughs etc.

from what I have read, the machine mart ones dont get a great write up, jiffa (by Swarfega) is expensive but sounds like it will do the job. I dont mind paying for the expensive one as long as it is actually good.

 

[Cabinetman]

Don’t try this at home folks!
I hesitate to admit this, but half a century ago (you don’t know how much it grieves me to say that but it’s true) I used to wash all my bike parts in petrol, yes and it was full of lead in those days. Thinking about it that might explain quite a lot ha ha

 

[marcros]

that is part of the reason that I am buying this. he isn't using petrol, but I am sure that there was a jar of thinners being used!

 

[Farmer Giles]

I've been using Bilt Hamber surfex HD Surfex HD | Multi-Purpose Car Cleaner and Degreaser (APC) - Bilt Hamber

In a parts washer it will need to be a strong solution, I think I used at least a 25% solution. Its water based. Not bad, I can't say its better than petrol/paraffin but a lot less smelly, but probably more expensive. I've used Jizer as well, I think I prefer the Bilt Hamber but its a while since I used the parts washer.

 

[Robbo3]

I've had one of these for over 20 years for cleaning greasy, oily car parts & protective coating off new metal items & all I've ever used in it is paraffin (cos it's cheap) & a pair of waterproof gloves.

 

[pcb1962]

I use a citrus cleaner in mine - something like this this one.
Surprisingly it works almost as well as the paraffin that I've used for most of my life, and it smells better too.

 

[Jester129]

Has anyone noticed what a great degreaser Fairy liquid is? AND it's cheap at Morrisons!
Just a thought.....

 

[TFrench]

I use paraffin in mine.

 

[Droogs]

Has anyone noticed what a great degreaser Fairy liquid is? AND it's cheap at Morrisons!
Just a thought.....

even cheaper at Lidl

 

[marcros]

I use paraffin in mine.

I presume that there is no issue with paraffin or a solvent damaging the motor on yours?

 

[deema]

Diesel, paraffin same stuff I believe: Except for colour and duty!

I use up Diesel we keep for emergencies once it’s about a year old.

 

[Droogs]

Just remembered what we used to use to clean all the bits we took off the buses at my dads old works - Gunk. cleaned everything. I know you can get spray tins still, don't know about bulk. If you can would recommend that highly

 

[marcros]

I looked at this online, but every comment (rare consensus online) was that the new formula was not very good at all.

 

[Bm101]

Truckwash is basically degreaser Mark that need brushing or pressure spraying.
I use a chemical cleaner at work occasionaly on badly stained glass roofs (when they are BLACK not church stained glass!) it's not particularly COSHH sensitive but it does a great job with agitation. I can't check the name right now as I have none in the van but it will be standard cleaning fluid. This ones dark blue (Lol sorry!) but it'll be someting similar to TARA.
https://shop.wessexcleaning.com/tara-universal-cleaner-5-litrePut it on neat and it with some agitation it works remarkably well. If not you have a lovely clean kitchen floor for about 5 years with the surplus from 5L.

 

[pcb1962]

Has anyone noticed what a great degreaser Fairy liquid is? AND it's cheap at Morrisons!
Just a thought.....

Fairy liquid contains quite a lot of salt, which will increase corrosion on steel parts unless you rinse it off very thoroughly.

 

[TFrench]

I presume that there is no issue with paraffin or a solvent damaging the motor on yours?

No, its been fine. I think most of them use a magnetic drive pump thats fairly bullet proof. Mines also got provision for an air line to agitate it, but its a bit of a gimmick. Just chuck stuff in and come back to it after its had chance to soak.