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Pete C.

wrote:

On Wed, 08 Jun 2011 19:52:46 -0500, "Pete C."
wrote:

Stormin Mormon wrote:

I'd be thinking kerosene, instead of gasoline. Kero
evaporates more slowly, and much less flammable. Sorry you
aren't finding naptha as camp stove fuel. I'd be tempted to
buy a gallon of camp stove fuel and try it out, as
degreaser. Might be just relabelled.

Purple degreaser can be found at HVAC / R supply houses,
under brand names like Alkli Foam, or Nu Brite. Hydroxide
and some soap. Usual precautions, gloves, safety goggles,
etc. If it gets on skin, it turns oil to soap, makes the
skin slippery. A splash of diluted vinegar makes your skin
feel normal again.

I get the Zep brand purple degreaser in 5 gal pails at 'Depot. Actually,
the last time I needed some specialty Zep product it seems 'Depot
couldn't get it and I ended up buying it direct from Zep and picking it
up at a Zep facility not too far away to save shipping costs.

I use the Zep Heavy Duty version (gray bottle). I have not found
anything that works better.

If I want things *really* clean I do a two stage process:
1) Varsol to get the worst of it
2) Zep followed by successive hot water rinses.

Usually after this the piece will pass the Waterbreak test.
Word of caution - if used on steel make the final rinse with distilled
water. Delays the onset of rusting.

Michael Koblic,
Campbell River, BC

Oddly enough, the specialty Zep product I got was their Anti-Rust (5gal)
that I use in the water table of my small CNC plasma cutter.