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MG TD TF 1500 - OT Garage equipment ?

Bought a 20 gal parts washer the other day for $20.
Always good advise / ideas from folks on here so here goes.
Occasional user not daily, but will be nice to have one when needed.
1: My dawg lives in the garage so very concerned about his sensitive nose!
2: I do have the option of putting this in my shed behind garage where I keep mower & gas cans.
3: What to use for fluid? Lots of options here! Parts Cleaner from tractor supply ect, Mineral Spirits w or w/o a quart of ATF mixed in to lube pump, Straight kerosine.
What are you guys using?
4: In as much as "occasional use" are you guys draining back into containers and filling the washer only when needed or just letting it sit with the lid closed when not in use?

Curious what other are doing as I am sure there are more than a few here that don't use their washer on a daily bases.
Any comments or ideas welcome and appreciated.
Looking on google is confusing so thought I would put it out here to a group I trust for good answers!

David Sheward 55 TF1500 # 7427

I have a similar parts washer and use Mineral Spires w/o atf. I keep lid closed most of the time. Bought 5 gals a few years ago and a lot did evaporate over those few years. I'm due for a change as the tank is quite dirty because I use it a lot.
Vincent Piņa

I use Odorless Mineral Spirits. It still has an odor, just not as strong. I leave it in the parts washer with the lid down. I just have a small workbench-top one.

With your dog in the garage you might want to use Simple Green. However, I used it at one point and it peeled the paint off the inside of the parts washer and corroded the hell out of everything. Others claim they have used it successfully. I suppose they may drain it out every time, perhaps someone here can opine.
David Littlefield

I also use a smaller tabletop model. I use standard non-flammable water based degreaser I buy from auto shops. Better for the dog!
I've also used a mix of simple green and water and had no trouble as far as corrosion - well, no more than the degreaser was giving me. I guess using anything waterbased will create some corrosion, whereas the kerosene or mineral spirits approach will avoid that.
Geoffrey M Baker

Coat the parts with bacon grease and let Sunny lick em clean. :-)
MG LaVerne

I have the same machine. The pump gets clogged after a bit due to the rudimentary filter set up. However I like it quite a bit. I bought solvent from napa in a five gallon pale. It was stuff made for parts washers (if you believe the marketing on the pale). I leave mine full all the time. If I leave the top open I eventually get a bit bothered by the fumes, however if closed it doesn't seem to be noticeable. After a bit of time it would likely be a good idea to drain and filter out the larger solids. As the stuff gets more sedimate in it, the little filter clots pretty quickly. For a non commercial outfit/hobby guy like me, it is perfect!

Alex
Alex Waugh

I have a Safety-Kleen benchtop model (on a stand) and it has its own self-contained recycling container for the fluid. I love the unit - works great, it has a low fire risk, it's *really* easy to change out the fluid and I feel good that they are recycling the fluid and that it's at least somewhat reasonable with regard to the environment. The fluid works very well at cutting the most nasty grease and oil and does not harm rubber or plastics at all.

Although you've already got a cleaner, for those who don't, I very much recommend my setup - it ain't cheap, but it's clean, safe and works very well.

In your case, I suggest a call to Safety-Kleen to see if they can sell you a container of their solvent. If you buy a non-recyclable fluid you're left with the challenge of how to safely and legally dispose of the dirty cleaning fluid... not an easy task.

Link to my model:

http://safety-kleen.com/products-services/parts-cleaning-technologies/solvent-parts-washer/manual/model-14

kmclemore

OH, forgot to mention... to change out the fluid you just unscrew the drain insert, lift the red parts washer off the top of the black plastic container, screw the 2 large plugs into the container (that cover the drain hole and the pump pickup hole) and then ring up the nice Safety-Kleen folks... they will then come 'round to your shop, pick up the old container and drop off a new one with fresh, clean fluid. It's a really neat system. I use my washer pretty often and, even so, the fluid lasts about a year or more.

And in answer to your other question, yes, I leave the fluid in the machine - the lid closes and latches, reducing fire risk as well as any smells or evaporation.
kmclemore

David, I have the same parts washer in my basement and use mineral spirits. With the lid down you never smell the solvent. a family member use to work at AISIN, a local manufacturer that makes engine parts for Toyota. During one of their cleaning processes they use mineral spirits only one time and put it back in the original gallon jug and give out to employees if they want it. You can't even tell it has been used and it is perfect for the parts washer. She originally brought me around 20 gallon jugs. If there are any manufacturing factories near you check and see if they have any similar by-products.
Rich (TD 3983) Taylor

I use for the last 6 years " Varsol " diluted with 10 % ATF. Works like a charm here in Canada .

Gerard
Gerard Hengeveld

Industrial grade Purple Power in the washer. Just don't get it on your skin and wear a face shield. The stuff sold in auto supply stores is highly diluted, I think due to some regulation about selling to the general public. I think it has citric acid in it. OR, you could just buy a bag of oranges and squeeze them. LOL. PJ
Paul S Jennings

I use mineral turpentine, or turps over here. I know it has a 'flash point' but I've used it for years with any problems, and it works......
with a bit of nylon brushing.
Don TF 4887 TC 7730 (and an MGB)
D J Walker

Straight kero, keep the lid down, have to add a bit every now and then.

The pump died years ago and I haven't changed the kero since then. There's an inch of sludge on the bottom but it stays settled out. I just dip the brush in and work on the shelf, or, if I want to rinse, I dip some from the top and it's pretty clean looking. Almost everything I wash in it eventually gets a spray of brake clean to get the residue off or it goes in the blast cabinet.

I had Safety Kleen many years ago but they went to a "green" formula that just didn't seem to work as well as kerosine.
JE Carroll

Not having a proper degreasing cabinet I have had to use a paint brush and paraffin. However I finished off all parts with hot water and washing up liquid. In fact my engine block was machine cleaned at the reconditioners and even though it looked spotless I was amazed at the dirt left in the bottom of the baby bath I had used for the hot water and detergent wash.

Jan T
J Targosz

Dave,
i use Oil Eater in mine.
Mort

http://oileater.com/household/cleaner-degreaser/
Mort 50 TD

Mort,
Thats one I have been seriously looking at. You using clear or orange?
Definitely putting wheels on it before I set it up...I put wheels on everything! LOL
David Sheward 55 TF1500 # 7427

David, if I remember correctly, I bought my parts cleaner from Northern, along with their chemical cleaner. Left the cleaner in the parts cleaner, and within six months the cleaner had eaten through the bottom of the parts cleaner. Bummer!
Larry Brown

This thread was discussed between 21/04/2015 and 23/04/2015

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