Jim Warman Posted June 8, 2007 Share Posted June 8, 2007 Has anyone had any experience with aqueous parts cleaners? We are considering purchasing a Safety-Kleen parts washer and I'd like to know what techs think of them,.... Work as good/quick as varsol? How about disposing spent cleaner? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Browning Posted June 9, 2007 Share Posted June 9, 2007 Jim, Maybe ten years ago we had two Cuda aqueous parts washers that used hot water with a granular alkaline soap. We had one horizontal machine with a large surface area and one vertical unit that was great for standing transmission cases in. They actually worked really well, when they worked and were properly kept. The solution tends to lose its punch after a while if not changed and tended to leave parts with a grungy film though still clean. Since nobody cared to make the effort and I got tired of being the only one, maintenance all but ceased and of course the company did not care to pay for servicing. For some reason, things like shop rags, cigarette butts, aerosol can snorkels and pieces of gaskets would clog up the spray jets. The shop rags just got caught in the pump. I cant explain how much of that crap got in there but it did. The machines eventually seized up and were left sitting in the shop unused for a couple of years before we scrapped them. We are now back to a good 'ol Safety Clean washer... and of course, there's always Brakleen! /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif Yes, there are times that I am amazed I have spent all 20 years of my career with the company I work for... http://www.karcherpartswashers.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Warman Posted June 9, 2007 Author Share Posted June 9, 2007 http://www.safety-kleen.com/SKInternet/SKShoppingDetailParts.aspx?ItemCode=6510 is the one that has our DPs interest. Worst comes to worst, I imagine I could use solvent 3139 (varsol) in it. We have the luxury of having a "yard man" and maintaining the parts washer is one of his jobs. Waste disposal is becoming a big bone of contention for us. I recycle antifreeze but everything we see takes gold.... So, I try to find people with leaky in floor heating and charge enough to do little better than break even on recycling costs.... We do use some recycled product in the shop, but we still make more than we use. I know the people at our local oil reclaimers quite well and they would occasionally take a barrel or two of unsuitable antifreeze and gunk along with our waste oil - but even that was heading towards more made than dealt with. Now, they can take the slime without "cheating" but it costs $100 CAD per 205 litre drum. We are doing our best to be good corporate citizens and hope other shops follow suit.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LARRY BRUDZYNSKI Posted June 11, 2007 Share Posted June 11, 2007 We use the Cuda cleaner as well, works very well but it does need frequent maint. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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