Parts Washers: Recommendations

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  • Gerta
    R3VLimited
    • Sep 2009
    • 2119

    #1

    Parts Washers: Recommendations

    R3V'ers:

    For those of you with experience ... first hand experience is preferred, I'm looking at restoring one or both of my 2002's. I have think that I might want to acquire a parts washer for the rusty bits that I want to package and save during the rebuilt. Some guidelines:

    1. Doing this out of my garage, not out of an industrial area.
    2. I want something that has reasonable cleaning power
    3. Something not too caustic that I cant easily dispose of the cleaning agent
    4. Something with a reasonable cost

    What do you fellers recommend? Is there a better solution than a harbor freight jobbie?

    Gerta
    Parts Collector and Former Houndstooth interior junkie.
  • djjerme
    R3V Elite
    • Sep 2010
    • 5082

    #2
    How big of pieces are you thinking of cleaning?

    I have access to a Hot Tank, which is nice, but for smaller parts unnecessary.

    For smaller bits of have a jar of "stuff." It's a cocktail of what ever was near the bench when I needed to clean some bolts/brackets..etc. So there some Simple Green, some White Vinegar, some Goof Off, and maybe some cheap Harbor Freight degreaser. If I'm not working on something, I usually am cleaning bits. But I also don't usually have a lot of free time to do it, so often I will just load the "Stuff" jar full of bits to be cleaned, and then either later that day or later that week - I'll fish the bits out, and wipe them off good as new!

    For larger parts that I don't want to throw in the big parts washer because they are heavy or I just don't want them in the back of the Saab - I have a big plastic tub that I use with a cheap pressure washer, some of the cheap HF degreaser in a spray bottle and/or Simple Green.

    HF has brass and steel brushes for cheap, and their degreaser gallons are rock bottom as well. If you just keep recycling the fluid, you can actually get a lot of cleaning done (that's what their ghetto parts washer does anyways!)

    I know it's probably not the answer you were wanting, but I am garage size challenged - so I tend to look for options that take up ZERO floor space.
    1991 325i MT2 Touring (JDM bro)
    2016 Ford Flex
    2011 Audi A3 - wife's other German car

    Comment

    • Gerta
      R3VLimited
      • Sep 2009
      • 2119

      #3
      That is some good advice there! Thanks! I'm really looking for something that I can soak the random nuts bolt small parts .. etc .. .not big stuff.

      I have a local HF so I'll take a gander there too!
      Parts Collector and Former Houndstooth interior junkie.

      Comment

      • djjerme
        R3V Elite
        • Sep 2010
        • 5082

        #4
        Just make sure you get yourself some good Mason Jars with lids. You can clean a hell of a lot that way, and if they are the glass, you can shake 'em like a salt shaker with really helps I find.
        1991 325i MT2 Touring (JDM bro)
        2016 Ford Flex
        2011 Audi A3 - wife's other German car

        Comment

        • prasina2
          Advanced Member
          • Oct 2010
          • 117

          #5
          fb: @WerkstattEuropa

          Comment

          • djjerme
            R3V Elite
            • Sep 2010
            • 5082

            #6
            ^^^That too..

            But man, it's gotten expensive in recent years. Can you even still by the big 5 gallon buckets of it anymore?
            1991 325i MT2 Touring (JDM bro)
            2016 Ford Flex
            2011 Audi A3 - wife's other German car

            Comment

            • kid325e
              R3V OG
              • Sep 2007
              • 6421

              #7
              I have the one from HF - i'm sure you've seen it in my garage. Not the best but it's priced reasonably. I got a 5 gallon bucket of solvent from Motor Oil Supply, was about 50.00 or so. I love my HF one, even though I havn't used it in months.
              clutchCTRL!
              Move with a purpose.
              - 1991 325iX 4dr/5spd
              - 1976 2002 SlickTop/2.7i M20/G260
              - 2000 323i AT
              2016 Mazda CX3 Sport AWD

              Comment

              • Mlarsen
                R3V Elite
                • Feb 2010
                • 4082

                #8
                Just buy a Cuda.... duh.

                Comment

                • Gerta
                  R3VLimited
                  • Sep 2009
                  • 2119

                  #9
                  Originally posted by kid325e
                  I have the one from HF - i'm sure you've seen it in my garage. Not the best but it's priced reasonably. I got a 5 gallon bucket of solvent from Motor Oil Supply, was about 50.00 or so. I love my HF one, even though I havn't used it in months.
                  You around tonight? I need to get some steelies for the yellow '02. I have some lies to tell you too ...
                  Parts Collector and Former Houndstooth interior junkie.

                  Comment

                  • Gerta
                    R3VLimited
                    • Sep 2009
                    • 2119

                    #10
                    Originally posted by Mlarsen
                    Just buy a Cuda.... duh.
                    What is this "Cuda" you speak of? This better not be a Brad with lots of hand lotion type of parts cleaner.
                    Parts Collector and Former Houndstooth interior junkie.

                    Comment

                    • kid325e
                      R3V OG
                      • Sep 2007
                      • 6421

                      #11
                      Steelies are long gone just installed with fresh firestones on a customers 76 2002

                      Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
                      clutchCTRL!
                      Move with a purpose.
                      - 1991 325iX 4dr/5spd
                      - 1976 2002 SlickTop/2.7i M20/G260
                      - 2000 323i AT
                      2016 Mazda CX3 Sport AWD

                      Comment

                      • Gerta
                        R3VLimited
                        • Sep 2009
                        • 2119

                        #12
                        Damn! It's a true you snooze you lose deal!
                        Parts Collector and Former Houndstooth interior junkie.

                        Comment

                        • Mlarsen
                          R3V Elite
                          • Feb 2010
                          • 4082

                          #13
                          The #1 brand of automatic parts washers in the USA. Call us to connect with a distributor in your area, or qualify your business to be a part of our national accounts program.

                          Comment

                          • BraveUlysses
                            No R3VLimiter
                            • Jun 2007
                            • 3781

                            #14
                            HF one looks pretty good

                            some threads about em

                            Just before Thanksgiving I was forced to rebuild my wifes trans and during the process we bit the bullet and bought the HF 20 gal parts wahser to help clean things up. (wanted one for a while so this was just a good excuse :lol:) Having seen a couple threads on mods of these things I knew it...


                            I was long overdue in adding a parts washer to my arsenal so I went to HF and bought the ubiquitous 20 gallon job. I originally planned on adding mineral spirits and being done with it, but my plans changed real quick once I saw the cost of mineral spirits. After reading more about alternative...

                            Comment

                            • Gerta
                              R3VLimited
                              • Sep 2009
                              • 2119

                              #15
                              Originally posted by BraveUlysses
                              HF one looks pretty good

                              some threads about em

                              Just before Thanksgiving I was forced to rebuild my wifes trans and during the process we bit the bullet and bought the HF 20 gal parts wahser to help clean things up. (wanted one for a while so this was just a good excuse :lol:) Having seen a couple threads on mods of these things I knew it...


                              http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/s...d.php?t=200871
                              Sweet. Thanks!
                              Parts Collector and Former Houndstooth interior junkie.

                              Comment

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