Cleaning Chemicals - Experiences

[cygnusx1]

More often than not I find myself reaching for a can of WD-40 or a can of carb spray and a bristle brush to clean a car part. I usually have limited success or think the part could have come cleaner. I see junkyard parts come back from professional machine shops looking like they just came out of the factory casting brand new. Engine blocks, heads, carbs, they get so clean somehow. What chemicals can be used to make aluminum look like it was just cast? What cleans steel? What is safe for rubber? What isn't? Are there dips available so we don't have to scrub and scrub for hours with limited results? Any special techniques? What dissolves the most stubborn grime and carbon deposits? What is safe and what isn't?

 

Go to the auto parts store and it's like looking for a needle in a stack of needles! Everyone and their brother claims to have the BEST cleaning solution.

 

I searched, and considering the amount of work we do on our cars, this could be a very useful thread and save someone lots of time, money, and pain.

[johnc]

Media blasting is what's typically used to get parts back to an original condition. I have a tank of minerals spirits (Paint Thinner) that I use to soak greasy parts before I take them to the blast cabinet. Brake Clean is about the best for quiclly removing grease and grime. Acetone works to remove grease and paint. Simple Green also works but you have to scrub a bit. MEK will basically remove everything but since its a Ketone I try to avoid using it.

[JMortensen]

Sounds like someone needs a solvent tank. I got one from Harbor Freight a couple years ago and it was really a lifesaver, especially when I first tore into my project. Now just about everything is to a level of clean where I don't really need it in the garage anymore, but it was really handy when I started out.

 

I ran mine with Oil Eater which is one of those citrus based cleansers (eats aluminum too if you leave it in there too long) but many people use mineral spirits or Varsol or similar. These things are a great buy from Harbor Freight at about $60 on sale. The other thing I would tell you about Oil Eater is that it ends up crystalizing in the tub so now if I actually wanted to run the pump I'd need to replace it. But when I was working on my diff I put the diff in there half submerged, came back about a week later and when I pulled it out it had stripped all the paint off the outside and the inside looked like a fresh casting. This thing had years of BURNT oil inside it, and it came out looking really good.

 

The ULTIMATE is a real parts washer. They use hot soap and water and are essentially a gigantic dishwasher for parts. They do an amazing job and the chemicals used aren't nearly as harsh, but they're also big bucks. I could afford the $60 parts washer and $50 or $60 in chemicals to fill it. Parts washers are $2500 for a shop size one and require more expensive maintenance.

[mikeatrpi]

Vinegar works great to remove rust. Its slow- you need to soak the part for a week or two- but the mild acid is great for nuts and bolts.

 

A 50/50 mix of rubbing alcohol and water is excellent for cleaning between stages of wet sanding or compounds. Its also a good prep before paint.

 

That said, I use brake cleaner and lacquer thinner the most when washing greasy parts.

[Cody 82 ZXT]

Here's the stuff I use.

 

PowerClean-Avalible at Autozone works good but, you have to scrub. Don't use on plastic.

 

Carb Cleaner- Easy and avaible anywhere. I usally buy the cheap stuff and keep plenty onhand.

 

Chemdip- Comes in a gallon can with a parts basket inside. Works well if you let parts sit in it for awhile. Horrible smell and will stink up everything including your house. The most effective stuff I've used for making bolts and stuff look new.

 

Lacquar thinner- Works on all kinds of things. Don't use it anything that has paint on it unless you want it to come off.

 

Acetone- I use this before welding parts and general cleaning for lots of things.

 

 

 

 

I've used MEK before and I think that is the craziest stuff I've ever used.

[DavyZ]

I like Castrol SuperClean for greasy steel things, but the stuff is nasty and don't ever breathe the mist if you spray the stuff--ask me how I know. It's bad for aluminum, but steel and other materials is OK.

 

I like JohnC's list and I also use BrakeKleen for fast degreasing. Carb cleaner works, although it puts down a slightly oily film. It's better for steel in my opinion.

 

I like Berryman's B12 chemtool for a lot of things. I wash the dog in it.

 

 

Davy

[Cody 82 ZXT]

Carb cleaner works, although it puts down a slightly oily film. It's better for steel in my opinion.

Davy

 

Out of Cali it's a differnt type of product. It completly evaporates.

[Cruez]

Like johnc said... parts washer and media blaster.. I love the media blaster makes parts look new in no time..

 

I have even used it to take overspray of wiring and not damage it.. with glass beads on low pressure..

[BirdmanZ]

I do a lot of work with stainless and i use a chemcial called compound 302 to clean up the welding area. Takes away the discoloration from the weld and surrounding area. Nasty stuff though i always wear rubber gloves.