This is not necessarily related to diesels alone but i thought I'd share with you guys in the 7.3 forum since this is where I typically hang out. Let me know what you think







I decided to make my own parts washer. It's only good for aqueous solutions, but so are most cheap ones from the stores. Here's a basic run down.........
Bar sink drain with strainer
4x toilet tank bolts
fountain pump from harbor freight <$10
tubing
pvc fittings.
vacuum line couplers from an assortment pack I had running around (spray nozzles)
two buckets, one resevoir, the other suspended underneath drain with its bottom turned to swiss cheese with some shop rags in it for basic filters.
Pipe strapping and rivets to secure the fittings.
Tub is a feed trough from a farm supply store.

Let me know what you think

Chad.

 

I like it!! Hope it works well for you

 

Nice job- thats a great idea.-How much did it cost you all together?

 

honestly I don't know all together I've slept since then. in know the tub was near $30 new. and the fitting's and pipes were near $20. Everything but the buckets I bought. Should give ya some ideas though. If you have things laying around you can put them to good use and get out cheaper than me. I wanted to design one that I didn't have to interact with. Hence the nozzles. Kinda like an automatic dishwasher for parts. There is still a hose for manual application of solution though.

 

Yeah - I got a bucket about like that in the garage already -

 

those buckets are from my pool chemicals. so they have threaded tops, which I think makes it easier to open them. the tub is the hard part to find. Wanted something small for easy storage, but large enough to fit some medium sized parts. I think I got pretty close with that. and being steel it shouldn't deform too much. Gonna try some regular out of the bottle degreasers to start, but also want to try some of the aqueous parts solutions out there. the have better rust inhibitors to prevent flash rusting.

 

great idea and it looks good...but i think the chemicals are going to eat that pump up in a short time....

 

Nice job on the washer.

 

Thats a nice little set-up. When I first read the thread title, and then opened up the post and read the first one, I was thinking you were brewing beer in that thing. This was scaring me looking at that galvanized tub.

 

the ideas on the forums i hope this one works well il looks good but when i first saw the first pic, i thought u were trying to brew methonal for a gas car
\

 

yeah pump longevity was my concern as well. Ran it for several hours last night to make sure I at least got all my seals right. The pump's are <$10 at the local harbor freight, so replacing it won't be too bad. I wasn't worried about the detergents so much as what they will clean off. But it's a fairly generic design so I can replace the pump with whatever as needed. The drain for the bar sink has a strainer/stopper built in. So the parts can get a shower or a bath if I close it up. Also want to build a lid for it as well as a spray brush.
Chad

 

There are products available on the market that will use enzymes instead of solvent to dissolve grease.
I did a quick internet search for something that you could use in your parts washer and came up with this.
It is specifically designed for clearing out greasy sink traps and drains.
But my guess is that it would work just as well as a parts washer.
And I think it would be compatable with your pump too.
.
TDW Bio-Enzyme Grease Treatment, Grease Fighter, Industrial Strength Detergent - Shaban, Inc.- New Jersey, Greater New York

 

I sell a variety of these trap and drain cleaners, they are great for cleaning out clogged drains, but do not work quickly enough for a parts washer application. This stuff is like draino, it must be added to hot water, and allowed to sit in the drain pipes. initial treatment takes few days to see results, but if you keep adding it to your pipes after initial cleanig they will run free.

 

Ah, well, I guess something else then.
Thanks for the voice of experience.

 

Northern tool has an aqueous solution that I though I'd give a try. If it trashes the pump, oh well, I'll just replace it with the same or a cheap parts washer pump However I don't know that the cheap parts washer pumps are built any better. They are usually labelled "aqueous solutions only" unless you cough up some money. worth a shot. Monster Parts Wash Concentrate — 1 Gallon | Parts Washers Accessories | Northern Tool + Equipment

Chad