wrote:
On Jun 8, 10:28 am, wrote:
'Varnish Makers and Painter's' naptha is the only way
I've found for removing baked-on grease from metal surfaces:http://paint-and-supplies.hardwarest...t-thinners/vm-...

It's disappeared from the shelves at all the hardware stores in
my area. Some now carry a 'substitute' product in gallon cans,
but I don't want to spend over 20 bucks and then have to drive
it to Hazmat Disposal if it works as well as do most
'substitutes'.

What's a practical alternative? Gasoline?

Thanks!

--Winston

At a guess, you're in CA and CARB has struck yet again at the VOC
chimera. Gasoline isn't a substitute for paint prep, even the
leadless stuff you get these days has additives. Also a lot more
hazardous to use as a solvent.

Used to watch my father clean carburetor parts in straight
gasoline with a lit cigarette dangling from his mouth.

Amazing.

In other, less controlled areas of the
country, V.M.& P. naptha is on the hardware store shelves, although
not as cheap as it used to be before the present oil-supply
manipulations. If there are any left out there, you might see what
the body shop suppliers sell for paint prep. Probably water-based,
but it might do a job of degreasing. For cooking greases, lye-based
cleaners work, assuming no aluminum in the area. I get dollar store
oven cleaner to clean off the stainless parts of the grill. Just need
to let it set more the longer the stuff has been cooked on. For wheel
bearing grease and the like, it's already soap, lye won't do much for
that and you'll need some kind of solvent. Finding one in CA that
CARB hasn't banned will be the trick.

Indeed. Thanks, Stan.

--Winston