I'm looking for a general purpose parts washer and see the usual HF
stuff, Enco etc. for approx 60 to 100 bucks. Has anyone out there
bought one of these, and do they work ok? I don't like buying junk
("If you buy junk, you own junk"), but I don't want to gild the lily
either.

Or is there a better way to get the cutting oil out of every crevice
of that part you just finished on the milling machine...

Neil

I have some input on this. My first parts washer came from Grizzly and
it looked just like this one:
http://www.grizzly.com/products/item...emnumber=G4012

I think it cost $39.95 and I went to the auto parts store and asked for
solvent, and they had gallon jugs labeled "Solvent" and that's what I
put in the parts washer. That washer worked for a few months and then the
pump died. That is the problem with cheap parts washers. The pumps die.
Any pump you replace them with costs more than the whole parts washer.
I got a replacement out of Grizzly but before that one broke a guy in
my town put a nice drum-mounted Graymills parts washer in the paper cheap
and I was the first guy to his door. I put Agitene solvent from Grainger
in that one, 10 gallons and it wasn't cheap. I still use that all the
time and it works perfectly.

Anyway, there is a British chap named John Stevenson who used to frequent
this newsgroup until the political crapola drove him, like so many others,
off into the wilderness. Before he left, however, he posted this gem:

"We're talking plain Paraffin [ Kerosene to you yanks ] here so don't
start whining about fire/ozone friendly/or growing tits, use what you
have to as long as it's not water soluble.

"Standard model:-

"Get a 25 gallon open top container and solder a drain bung HALFWAY up
the side. Fit a grill plate on legs in it so that its about 8" from
the top. Make this easy to remove. Fill with water to about 1" below
the side drain bung then fill with paraffin [ Kerosene ] until just
above the top of the grill tray.

"Method of use:- Just put your parts in and brush clean. All the crap,
rust and debris will sink to the bottom into the water leaving the
kerosene clean. Every so often drain the kerosene out using the drain
bung and save for reuse. Then tip the water / crap away. If yours
neighbours dog keeps crapping on your lawn then drain the water onto
his one night - fair swap.

"Deluxe Model:- As above but stand a tray or old sink unit top on the
top of the drum and drop a pond pump onto the grill, drain back into
drum.

"These are so simple but work. I have never seen a commercial unit like
this, don't know why. I just gave my last one away the other week. Big
plastic Lin Bin for a tray, old kitchen bin for the drum and an old
pond pump that kept getting blocked by algee. Had this 3 years and
only cleaned it once."

So there you have it - a real cheap-o you can make yourself!

Grant Erwin
Kirkland, Washington

Neil wrote:

I'm looking for a general purpose parts washer and see the usual HF
stuff, Enco etc. for approx 60 to 100 bucks. Has anyone out there
bought one of these, and do they work ok? I don't like buying junk
("If you buy junk, you own junk"), but I don't want to gild the lily
either.

Or is there a better way to get the cutting oil out of every crevice
of that part you just finished on the milling machine...

On Tue, 30 Mar 2004 22:58:59 -0500, Neil wrote:
I'm looking for a general purpose parts washer and see the usual HF
stuff, Enco etc. for approx 60 to 100 bucks. Has anyone out there
bought one of these, and do they work ok? I don't like buying junk
("If you buy junk, you own junk"), but I don't want to gild the lily
either.

I have one of the $69 ones. They're fine except that the pump
won't stand up to aggressive petroleum solvents, ie carb cleaner
and kerosene. If you use Simple Green or something like that,
it should last a long time. But if you use aggressive petroleum
solvents, you'll need a better pump.

Gary

Thanks, that's exactly the kind of feedback I was hoping for. I don't
even know if I need a pump, maybe just a floorstanding bin or wash
basin and a stiff brush. Mainly it needs a lid to keep the stuff from
evaporating in between uses.

Maybe something used will show up on the wantadvertiser...

Neil

On Wed, 31 Mar 2004 02:16:11 -0500, Gary Coffman
wrote:

On Tue, 30 Mar 2004 22:58:59 -0500, Neil wrote:
I'm looking for a general purpose parts washer and see the usual HF
stuff, Enco etc. for approx 60 to 100 bucks. Has anyone out there
bought one of these, and do they work ok? I don't like buying junk
("If you buy junk, you own junk"), but I don't want to gild the lily
either.

I have one of the $69 ones. They're fine except that the pump
won't stand up to aggressive petroleum solvents, ie carb cleaner
and kerosene. If you use Simple Green or something like that,
it should last a long time. But if you use aggressive petroleum
solvents, you'll need a better pump.

Gary

"Neil" wrote in message
...
I'm looking for a general purpose parts washer and see the usual HF
stuff, Enco etc. for approx 60 to 100 bucks. Has anyone out there
bought one of these, and do they work ok? I don't like buying junk
("If you buy junk, you own junk"), but I don't want to gild the lily
either.

Or is there a better way to get the cutting oil out of every crevice
of that part you just finished on the milling machine...

Neil


I have one of the $79 (12 gal IIRC) filled with Keroseane, its been working
ok for about 3 yrs.

Andrew

On Wed, 31 Mar 2004 07:11:06 -0500, "AndrewV"
wrote:


"Neil" wrote in message
.. .
I'm looking for a general purpose parts washer and see the usual HF
stuff, Enco etc. for approx 60 to 100 bucks. Has anyone out there
bought one of these, and do they work ok? I don't like buying junk
("If you buy junk, you own junk"), but I don't want to gild the lily
either.

Or is there a better way to get the cutting oil out of every crevice
of that part you just finished on the milling machine...

Neil


I have one of the $79 (12 gal IIRC) filled with Keroseane, its been working
ok for about 3 yrs.

Andrew

Ditto. Think I paid $60. The switch broke after a couple months, the
store simply handed me a new one. Any $2 toggle switch would have been
fine if they hadn't.

Wayne

Neil writes:

Maybe something used will show up on the wantadvertiser

A new 5-gal polyethylene bucket is what, $3?

I have one of the $69 ones. They're fine except that the pump
won't stand up to aggressive petroleum solvents, ie carb cleaner
and kerosene. If you use Simple Green or something like that,
it should last a long time. But if you use aggressive petroleum
solvents, you'll need a better pump.

Gary

Heh, I bought a small $40 one about 7 years ago.
My parents were pretty apprehensive about having flammable
solvents in the basement so I ran running Simple Green
though it. Well, it took all of about 2 days before
it gummed the pump all up. I ended up switching to a
diesel/paint thinner mix and moving it to the garage.
Still works fine for me.

Nate


--
http://www.NateTechnologies.net:8000

On Tue, 30 Mar 2004 22:58:59 -0500, Neil
wrote:

I'm looking for a general purpose parts washer and see the usual HF
stuff, Enco etc. for approx 60 to 100 bucks. Has anyone out there
bought one of these, and do they work ok? I don't like buying junk
("If you buy junk, you own junk"), but I don't want to gild the lily
either.

Or is there a better way to get the cutting oil out of every crevice
of that part you just finished on the milling machine...

Neil
A friend of mine made a pretty decent one from odds and ends. You can
see it he
http://www.plansandprojects.com/My%20Machines/
Click on "It was a great day." The parts washer is on the bottom of
the page.


Ron Thompson
Was On the Beautiful Mississippi Gulf Coast,
Now On the Beautiful Florida Space Coast, right beside the Kennedy Space Center, USA

http://www.plansandprojects.com

The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly is
to fill the world with fools.
--Herbert Spencer, English Philosopher (1820-1903)

In article , thom1486
@bellsouth.net says...
On Tue, 30 Mar 2004 22:58:59 -0500, Neil
wrote:

I'm looking for a general purpose parts washer and see the usual HF
stuff, Enco etc. for approx 60 to 100 bucks. Has anyone out there
bought one of these, and do they work ok? I don't like buying junk
("If you buy junk, you own junk"), but I don't want to gild the lily
either.

Or is there a better way to get the cutting oil out of every crevice
of that part you just finished on the milling machine...

Neil
A friend of mine made a pretty decent one from odds and ends. You can
see it he
http://www.plansandprojects.com/My%20Machines/
Click on "It was a great day." The parts washer is on the bottom of
the page.

Awesome idea Ron.
--
Regards,

Rick

(Remove the HIGH SPOTS for e-mail)

Neil wrote in article
...
I'm looking for a general purpose parts washer and see the usual HF
stuff, Enco etc. for approx 60 to 100 bucks. Has anyone out there
bought one of these, and do they work ok? I don't like buying junk
("If you buy junk, you own junk"), but I don't want to gild the lily
either.



Am I the only one to pick up on the oxymoronic qualities of the above
statement?

He wants is considering the Horrible Fright stuff, but doesn't like buying
junk????

Some of the "war stories" following his original post seem to bear out the
fact that the HF stuff really isn't worth wasting your money on.

Indeed, if you buy HF junk, you own junk....


Bob Paulin - R.A.C.E.
Race Car Chassis Analysis & Dial-in Services

On Thu, 01 Apr 2004 11:52:32 -0600, "Bob Paulin"
wrote:



Neil wrote in article
...
I'm looking for a general purpose parts washer and see the usual HF
stuff, Enco etc. for approx 60 to 100 bucks. Has anyone out there
bought one of these, and do they work ok? I don't like buying junk
("If you buy junk, you own junk"), but I don't want to gild the lily
either.



Am I the only one to pick up on the oxymoronic qualities of the above
statement?

He wants is considering the Horrible Fright stuff, but doesn't like buying
junk????

Some of the "war stories" following his original post seem to bear out the
fact that the HF stuff really isn't worth wasting your money on.

Indeed, if you buy HF junk, you own junk....


Bob Paulin - R.A.C.E.
Race Car Chassis Analysis & Dial-in Services


I have a shop full of stuff that varies from top-of-the-line to
bottom-of-the-barrel. The choice of each piece based on all the usual
things - frequency of use, price, importance of time, etc. My needs
might be above average for a home shop, but there's still plenty of
"Chicago Electric", and "Ohio Forge" gems on hand. Like most, I'd have
to do without a lot of things if I decided to get into tool bigot
mode.

My favorite story on that subject comes from some years back. I was on
my POS antique road grader. One of my scarecrow neighbors had pulled
alongside to tell me that if *he* was buying a road grader, he'd get
an articulated one with AC, etc. But all the time he was yakking, I
was looking down into his fine pickup, which featured a steering wheel
with all the plastic gone... nothing left but the metal hoop.

Wayne

That's right, Wayne. I take note of things like that too. Talk is cheap, and
it's the only resource or weapon some people have.

RJ

--
"You're just jealous because the voices are talking to me, instead of you."


"wmbjk" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 01 Apr 2004 11:52:32 -0600, "Bob Paulin"
wrote:



Neil wrote in article
...
I'm looking for a general purpose parts washer and see the usual HF
stuff, Enco etc. for approx 60 to 100 bucks. Has anyone out there
bought one of these, and do they work ok? I don't like buying junk
("If you buy junk, you own junk"), but I don't want to gild the lily
either.



Am I the only one to pick up on the oxymoronic qualities of the above
statement?

He wants is considering the Horrible Fright stuff, but doesn't like
buying
junk????

Some of the "war stories" following his original post seem to bear out
the
fact that the HF stuff really isn't worth wasting your money on.

Indeed, if you buy HF junk, you own junk....


Bob Paulin - R.A.C.E.
Race Car Chassis Analysis & Dial-in Services


I have a shop full of stuff that varies from top-of-the-line to
bottom-of-the-barrel. The choice of each piece based on all the usual
things - frequency of use, price, importance of time, etc. My needs
might be above average for a home shop, but there's still plenty of
"Chicago Electric", and "Ohio Forge" gems on hand. Like most, I'd have
to do without a lot of things if I decided to get into tool bigot
mode.

My favorite story on that subject comes from some years back. I was on
my POS antique road grader. One of my scarecrow neighbors had pulled
alongside to tell me that if *he* was buying a road grader, he'd get
an articulated one with AC, etc. But all the time he was yakking, I
was looking down into his fine pickup, which featured a steering wheel
with all the plastic gone... nothing left but the metal hoop.

Wayne

"wmbjk" wrote in message
...

I have a shop full of stuff that varies from top-of-the-line to
bottom-of-the-barrel. The choice of each piece based on all the usual
things - frequency of use, price, importance of time, etc. My needs
might be above average for a home shop, but there's still plenty of
"Chicago Electric", and "Ohio Forge" gems on hand. Like most, I'd have
to do without a lot of things if I decided to get into tool bigot
mode.

My favorite story on that subject comes from some years back. I was on
my POS antique road grader. One of my scarecrow neighbors had pulled
alongside to tell me that if *he* was buying a road grader, he'd get
an articulated one with AC, etc. But all the time he was yakking, I
was looking down into his fine pickup, which featured a steering wheel
with all the plastic gone... nothing left but the metal hoop.

Wayne


I'm figuring that washing parts isn't rocket science. The thing should hold
the appropriate liquid without leaking and the motor should do its thing
when I push the switch. Both my HF parts washers I've owned have functioned
fine for the hour or two a week I use them. They are junk, but they've been
functioning junk for as long as I've owned them.

I live in San Francisco. Periodically, I've wanted a fork lift (not that I
have anyplace to put one), but the concept of owning a road grader is so
foreign to me as to be laughable. If this doesn't offer comment on the
difference between living in a city and not, I don't know what does. Given
my recent propensity for buying ancient machinery, maybe I could get one and
park it on our lawn. I'm certain that the neighbors would find that
amusing. I'd have to paint it a color that the home owners association
would like...

Peter

On Fri, 02 Apr 2004 15:35:17 GMT, "Peter Grey"
wrote:


"wmbjk" wrote in message
.. .

I have a shop full of stuff that varies from top-of-the-line to
bottom-of-the-barrel. The choice of each piece based on all the usual
things - frequency of use, price, importance of time, etc. My needs
might be above average for a home shop, but there's still plenty of
"Chicago Electric", and "Ohio Forge" gems on hand. Like most, I'd have
to do without a lot of things if I decided to get into tool bigot
mode.

My favorite story on that subject comes from some years back. I was on
my POS antique road grader. One of my scarecrow neighbors had pulled
alongside to tell me that if *he* was buying a road grader, he'd get
an articulated one with AC, etc. But all the time he was yakking, I
was looking down into his fine pickup, which featured a steering wheel
with all the plastic gone... nothing left but the metal hoop.

Wayne


I'm figuring that washing parts isn't rocket science. The thing should hold
the appropriate liquid without leaking and the motor should do its thing
when I push the switch. Both my HF parts washers I've owned have functioned
fine for the hour or two a week I use them. They are junk, but they've been
functioning junk for as long as I've owned them.

I live in San Francisco. Periodically, I've wanted a fork lift (not that I
have anyplace to put one), but the concept of owning a road grader is so
foreign to me as to be laughable. If this doesn't offer comment on the
difference between living in a city and not, I don't know what does. Given
my recent propensity for buying ancient machinery, maybe I could get one and
park it on our lawn. I'm certain that the neighbors would find that
amusing. I'd have to paint it a color that the home owners association
would like...

Peter

G Using and maintaining old heavy equipment will cure you of any
soft-hearted attachment to them. Easier to fall in love with a box of
HF hacksaw blades IMO.

Anyway, I'll keep your address on file for when that grader bites the
dust. Odds are it will be behind a mile-long windrow of boulders and
blocking the road, so be prepared to make an emergency pick-up. :-)

Wayne