Parts washers

[bitwrx]

Tell me about them...

I'm just starting an internet search, and don't really know what to look for.

Will be mostly used for bits of old motorbike. Have 230V, 415V and compressed air available, if it makes any difference.

I know Sealey/Machine Mart/Clarke etc are generally a bit ste, but not too bad for the money. Any other higher quality brands to look out for?

Thanks in advance,

Charlie

[russell_ram]

The MM/Clarke wash is fine to be honest. I've had one for years and use their own fluid which works much better in the summer than in the dead of winter (its outside) but thats nothing to do with the wash. You need to keep the pump filter clean but other than that its fine.

Unless you're going to buy an industrial high presuure (dishwasher type) parts wash then you'll only really be running the fluid over parts anyway, you need to agitate the dirt with a brush to get it off.

[PaulKemp]

Clark pump is weak, I've had to rebuild it a couple of times, parts are cheap and easy to fit, could do with better filters
The non volatile water based cleaning fluid is rubbish we use a Desiel mix as its cheaper than 150L of proper cleaning fluid

[bitwrx]

Nice. Thanks guys. Had a look at a MM one today. As expected it was pretty pish, but short of any other options, it seems like the one to go for.

Did speak to a guy from one of the pro companies; reckoned it'd work out at about £600p/a for their all-in service (rented machine, solvent renewed, machine maintained). Bit steep for the use it's going to get.

[Stuartggray]

I always use the dish washer (once the wife has gone out)

[phillpot]

Half a 25 litre plastic oil drum, an old paint brush and a gallon of paraffin

[Evoluzione]

PaulKemp said:

Clark pump is weak, I've had to rebuild it a couple of times, parts are cheap and easy to fit, could do with better filters
The non volatile water based cleaning fluid is rubbish we use a Desiel mix as its cheaper than 150L of proper cleaning fluid

If you mean diesel then its not water soluble like the proper stuff. Ws means you can wash the part clean afterwards.

[Sardonicus]

Easy to make if your handy around a bit of DIY I made one about 20 years back out of a steel tank (salt tank) cut in half with some legs and an old 12v K/KE Bosch Jetronic EFI fuel pump with some fuel/oil resistant hose 3 gallons of paraffin/gas oil etc and one of these attached to the end had 2 proper ones donated to me years later but this one did the job just fine make sure the pump draws the fluid from the top of the fluid reserve otherwise you will just clog up the pump with crap early on you want the contaminated silt to sink to the bottom

[MDT]

Get the concentrated MM traffic film remover sodding fantastic de-greaser just use it neat

Or if as it sounds like you have the space get onto gumtree and buy your garage its own second hand dishwasher. I am going to do this once we move and I get a bit more space.

[Mr2Mike]

Evoluzione said:

If you mean diesel then its not water soluble like the proper stuff. Ws means you can wash the part clean afterwards.

You can wash diesel/paraffin off, but you will need to use a detergent.

[Sardonicus]

Mr2Mike said:

You can wash diesel/paraffin off, but you will need to use a detergent.

I would use Paraffin over Derv its to oily

[Evoluzione]

I don't see the point in using three different liquids, or an oily one to remove an oily one, it doesn't make sense.
I just a water soluble de-greaser then water to wash off, water ranges from very cheap to free and it's very clean.
Just like I like my engines to be.