Topic: cheap parts washer??

[wannabridin]

hey guys!!  just wondering if anyone here had some ideas for a nice inexpensive parts washer??

i was thinking i could get a cheap fish pump and use some cheese nets for a filter screen?  then use a simple green and water solution.  do all of this in a plastic tub and get a hose and one of those parts washer brushes?  i figure all this could be done for 30-40, as opposed to $90 at harbor freight!  and it would be more compact??  i'd put some feet on the bottom along with installing a drain (maybe) to make it easier to get the solution out. 

thoughts or ideas???

[Hoosier Daddy]

One of the auto shops I worked at in the late '80's literally had an old bathtub and a 55 gallon drum of mineral spirits with a hand pump, when the solvent got really dirty you pulled the drain plug and pumped in fresh solvent buy hand... and this was a Chevy / Cadillac Dealership 
Yours is pretty high tech compared to that.

[Nikkisixx]

Around here, Habitat for humanity runs a thrift store that has recycled building materials.  An old sink from such a place may suit your needs.  I thought about maybe a plastic tote or a small plastic water feature pond from the home improvement store but I'd worry about it breaking.  A pump for a pond would probably work and move more volume than any but a large aquarium pump.  I think HF sells the pump separately? 


I bought a Harbor Freight parts washer on sale for $70 and really like it.  Simple Green is great in the washer but as everyone will tell you, it can tarnish aluminum.  Many recommend the aluminum safe simple green because of the cases and what not.

[wannabridin]

which one of the simple greens is aluminum safe?  i found the simple green pro HD, says its safe for aluminum?

http://www.simplegreen.com/products_pro_hd.php


i bought a pump at northern tool today

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200006774_200006774

so i think i'll be in good shape!  i'm going to use a normal tub and mount it on a stand and then have an offset drain (so i can tip it on the side for draining) and then have a Homer bucket or similar tub underneath with the pump in it so the drained fluid can be recycled.  hopefully this can work well!  i just need to make a little cart for it or something...

[Nikkisixx]

Yup, sounds like you're all set.  The HD stuff is forum approved:

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=61778.msg683581#msg683581

[mcuozzo]

Wait till the parts washer is on sale for $70.  Buy motorcyclist magazine and get the 20% off coupon.  Buy the HF parts washer for $56 bucks. It'll save you time and money in the long run.

Really with Harbor Freight around I don't see why any one would try to re-invent the wheel.  People make there own blast cabinets too.  They have one on sale for $79 every so often, again with the 20% off coupon it would be $63.  Can you really build one that cheaply that will work as well?  Plus you don't have to go shopping for the parts and build it from scratch.  Just tighten a few bolts and your ready to go.


Just my humble opinion obviously...

Matt

[wannabridin]

ya, HF is nice sometimes, but if i spend $30 building one myself, vs. $60 at HF, that's $30 i have left over for something else.

the reason i don't want the HF one is because it's tiny.  i'd like to have something i could put my whole cylinder head into without splashing everywhere.  so i just found a pump at northern tool for $24, and i'm patiently awainting my mom to get rid of her old utility room sink so i can retro-fit this pump and fluid bin in there!!  i got lucky with her not wanting it anymore, so i don't have to build anything!!  woo!!!

i'll post pics of my stuff soon