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Thu Aug 18, 2011 5:44 pm

Hey guys ive been searching on here and it seems that a lot of you prefer paint thinner (mineral spirts) in your parts washers. My question is "
Is it safe to leave heads (alluminim) or a mag case soaking in thinner overnight?

I have never used thinner as parts cleaner. So im just checking on how long i can let heads or cases sit in thinner before damage occurs, If any.

Thu Aug 18, 2011 8:08 pm

No damage will happen, it is fine.

Just watch out for the fumes and wear gloves.

Thu Aug 18, 2011 8:15 pm

Why not use parts cleaner?

Thu Aug 18, 2011 8:31 pm

modok wrote: No damage will happen, it is fine.

Just watch out for the fumes and wear gloves.
Agreed.
Use the "Low Odour" paint thinner. It's worth the extra couple of bucks while you are bent over your cleaning tank.

Thu Aug 18, 2011 8:48 pm

Only two cautions, its flammable, and very drying to skin.... If hands are in "spirits" for a while use lots of hand lotion or skin moisturizer.... Best to avoid contact though (gloves) ....

Dale

Thu Aug 18, 2011 10:09 pm

5 years ago the stuff didn't bother me at all
But now it messes with my head. I think it gets worse the more you are exposed to that stuff, exactly the opposite of building immunity.

Thu Aug 18, 2011 10:39 pm

Well i choose to use thinner because its free from my work and you just can't seem to get good parts cleaner anymore. All i can find is that water based crap that leaves white stuff all over the parts. Any how i definetly use gloves as i have sensitive skin.

Thu Aug 18, 2011 10:51 pm

Free?
heck yeah

My father taught me how to clean parts with GASOLINE. He'd then allow it to settle, skim off the top and run it in his beater truck. :shock:
Waste not want not....... or something

Safety solvent is supposed to work just as well except without the extreme fire danger

The main DISadvantage of solvent degreasers is they don't remove 100% of the oils, they evaporate and leave some oils behind, but for some things that is actually better.

Thu Aug 18, 2011 11:23 pm

modok wrote: 5 years ago the stuff didn't bother me at all
But now it messes with my head. I think it gets worse the more you are exposed to that stuff, exactly the opposite of building immunity.

I'm a house painter and my hands have been in and out of solvent (paint thinner) for 40 years. We used a lot more of it (and oil paints in general) when I first started in the trade. I wear gloves now anytime I have to get close and personal with it; for the last 15 or 20 years all I have to do is wash my hands quickly in it and I can feel the osmosis through my skin. Then when I get home my wife says she can smell it on my breath....

Thu Aug 18, 2011 11:26 pm

modok wrote: Free?
heck yeah
My city's recycling depot will accept paints and thinners from households. Last time I was down there, I had a peek into the shed where they put the paints. There were lots of jugs of mineral spirits. I picked a few up, they were NEW! WTF??? The guy working there said people bring brand new thinner in all the time. They buy too much then get rid of it. So I offered to take a few, but they wouldn't let me. Some BS about liability. Next time I go there to drop off stuff, I'm gonna watch where the guy is, and when he's on the other side of the yard, help myself.

Fri Aug 19, 2011 3:50 am

Bruce wrote: modok wrote: Free?
heck yeah
My city's recycling depot will accept paints and thinners from households. Last time I was down there, I had a peek into the shed where they put the paints. There were lots of jugs of mineral spirits. I picked a few up, they were NEW! WTF??? The guy working there said people bring brand new thinner in all the time. They buy too much then get rid of it. So I offered to take a few, but they wouldn't let me. Some BS about liability. Next time I go there to drop off stuff, I'm gonna watch where the guy is, and when he's on the other side of the yard, help myself.

so you asked and they said no? at least you asked. i know a guy who was fired from his 40 thou a year job for stealing 2 rolls of toilet paper. you only have to be caught once.

Fri Aug 19, 2011 5:12 am

I used to use gasoline but switched to diesel for cleaning greasy parts. I scrape the thick chunks off before I let parts soak for a bit and use a toothbrush or wire brush to get the final grime off. I eventually strain the used diesel through a paper towel lined funnel to remove the major residue and reuse it several times. What's also nice is that it leaves an oily residue on parts that helps prevent surface rust. I use gloves most times I work on my car for the last several years and my skin thanks me for that. My local shop sells these black disposable gloves in a box of a hundred that are the best I have found and swear by them.

Fri Aug 19, 2011 7:15 am

[quote="ALB"] modok wrote: for the last 15 or 20 years all I have to do is wash my hands quickly in it and I can feel the osmosis through my skin. Then when I get home my wife says she can smell it on my breath.... :lol: :lol: :lol: Tell the truth.....you're drinking it, aren't you? :lol: :lol: :lol:

Fri Aug 19, 2011 7:25 am

One of the teachers at our tech school was a tech for over 20 years. He got poisoned so badly from washing parts in the solvent tank he had to quit and lost 1/3 of his muscle mass. WEAR GLOVES when working with solvents or any type.

brad

Fri Aug 19, 2011 8:05 am

modok wrote: 5 years ago the stuff didn't bother me at all
But now it messes with my head. I think it gets worse the more you are exposed to that stuff, exactly the opposite of building immunity.

Use lots of ventilation.... Either out side in breeze or if in semi enclosed space use a fan (20 inch box fan on high) to pump lots of fresh air into space....

I have to do this when using rattle can of carb cleaner.... have since installed used 3 speed ceiling fan my garage.... Also helps on "warm" days...

Dale

Fri Aug 19, 2011 8:10 am

We bought out a few auto parts stores in the 80's and 90's and ended up with 2 pallets of Gasline Antifreeze......best parts cleaner I've ever used. And we still haven't run out.....

Fri Aug 19, 2011 9:54 am

Safety Kleen used to make a non toxic solvent that worked OK, not great but OK, the sales man we had would prove it was non toxic buy drinking some if he had not had to much that day, said it was a good laxative.

Casey

Fri Aug 19, 2011 4:43 pm

[quote="RockCrusher"] ALB wrote: modok wrote: for the last 15 or 20 years all I have to do is wash my hands quickly in it and I can feel the osmosis through my skin. Then when I get home my wife says she can smell it on my breath.... :lol: :lol: :lol: Tell the truth.....you're drinking it, aren't you? :lol: :lol: :lol:

maybe just a little
Actually ethanol is pretty safe, good for cleaning right before assembley, AND you can drink it
I had a batch of experamental sasparilla flavored moonshine that didn't turn out well, so I used it to remove the soap scum from the washing machine
Did a good job but left the sasparilla flavor behind

Fri Aug 19, 2011 4:53 pm

gooser wrote: Bruce wrote: modok wrote: Free?
heck yeah
My city's recycling depot will accept paints and thinners from households. Last time I was down there, I had a peek into the shed where they put the paints. There were lots of jugs of mineral spirits. I picked a few up, they were NEW! WTF??? The guy working there said people bring brand new thinner in all the time. They buy too much then get rid of it. So I offered to take a few, but they wouldn't let me. Some BS about liability. Next time I go there to drop off stuff, I'm gonna watch where the guy is, and when he's on the other side of the yard, help myself.

so you asked and they said no? at least you asked. i know a guy who was fired from his 40 thou a year job for stealing 2 rolls of toilet paper. you only have to be caught once.

Serves him right for being a cheap bastard.

Fri Aug 19, 2011 8:35 pm

earthquake wrote: ....the sales man we had would prove it was non toxic buy drinking some if he had not had to much that day, said it was a good laxative.

Casey

Are you serious?