firstgear

When you clean old parts what are some of your methods?

Mine? Parts I can fit in a can of carburetor cleaner go in there for a few days and then after wiping them down get a final wipe/dunk with acetone.

Bigger parts I use degreaser cleaners you can buy at auto parts stores and use a rag or wire brush on them.

So what do you do?

Frankie the Fink

Its hard to beat a media blaster... I've used a friend's a few times and its quick, does an outstanding job and is kinda fun actually... Best to degrease the part first so it doesn't assimilate into the media as much...

wmf62

parts washer basin

Bill

firstgear

What solvent do you use?

firstgear

Roger that.....I have one of those too, but really need to make sure the air coming in is dry, otherwise they are a PIAto use...

AZDoug

Use 9 parts pure mineral spirits and one part Dexron ATF. You can add 1 part anhydrous lanolin if you wish (it helps with direct skin contact).

That duplicates the Safety Kleen formula.

Doug

DAN70

I’m still using good old Varsol, in my old Safety Kleen Parts washer, still have 10 fresh gallons left...

GCD1962

Greasy dirty stuff I put in a jar or can with a lid and put in gasoline and shake it around and wipe off any remaining stuff with a rag

Pop Chevy

I haven't used gasoline to clean parts since I was a kid. I much prefer kerosene to degrease then into the bead blaster.

tgtexas02

Hard to beat beat blasting with the right media. I also like removing rust (not badly pitted and flaking rust) on small parts using electrolysis. I have watched videos using evapo-rust (sp?) but know nothing about it. And, if you have shabby looking driver quality or worse chrome parts try rubbing and polishing with a wad of aluminum foil.

ghostrider20

Bead blaster if you are not saving the finish. No comparison. Pull it out and it’s ready to finish.

wmf62

Herb

using the top one at the moment. not sure what, if any, difference there is between the 2 brands. I bought 2 5 gallon cans of the top solvent and the bottom one was given to me .

got it at Tractor Supply

Bill

Roger Walling

I use fuel oil in a 35 gal. container with a basket strainer. I add 5 gal's of dirty lacquer thinner once in a while that comes from my spray gun cleaner.

I leave the part in as long as I can so that it does not require much scrubbing.
If long enough,(2-3 weeks)the paint will also come off.

About once a year. I pour off most of the liquid and take the sludge out of the bottom.

champs65

Soaking parts in red vinegar does wonders for rust removal as well as cleaning up anodized parts.

dplotkin

Use white vinegar 50-50 and a sheet of news paper to clean glass. Use apple cider vinegar in everything, dressing, sauces, marinade, mouth wash, great stuff, probably among God's best gifts to humankind, right up there with Corvette.

Dan

wmf62

what is 'red' vinegar?

Bill

desertpilgrim

Degreaser - mini or regular size plastic garbage can - 7 to 10 scoops of Tide detergent - roil with full stream from garden hose, filling to full coverage of the parts to be cleaned - deposit parts - wait two or three days, remove parts - flush with hose - roil detergent with stick, replace parts, add detergent and water, wait two or three days - You'll send Tide a letter.

SDVette

I've used my soda blaster ($75 from harbor freight) on a lot of parts to clean them up.
Everything from the intake manifold, hood pins and latches, the wiper motor case, even the finned valve covers.

Works very well... but too much baking soda can kill grass (ask me how I know!)

jdk971

only red vinegar i know of is wine vinegar. not as cheap as reg. jim

champs65

apple cider vinegar, red cider vinegar. I set small items in a container of it for a day or two and any residue or rust will wash off easily with a soft brush and water.

Works great for small parts like hood latches, brake brackets, nuts and bolts, hood props, hinges, strikers, etc. And it can be reused several times.