Parts Washers: Difference between revisions
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=== [[Solvent]] === | === [[Solvent]] === | ||
Automotive shops use a solvent that requires Nitrile gloves (to prevent skin contact, prolonged contact can result in liver damage) and proper ventilation. Automotive shops also have large greasy parts, so they hire services to swap out their solvent. | Automotive shops use a solvent that requires [[Nitrile gloves]] (to prevent skin contact, prolonged contact can result in liver damage) and proper ventilation. Automotive shops also have large greasy parts, so they hire services to swap out their solvent. | ||
* '''Solvent Pros:''' Cleans faster, lasts longer. | * '''Solvent Pros:''' Cleans faster, lasts longer -- at the Salt Lake City Bicycle Collective they have never replaced the solvent, they just put more in as it slowly evaporates. | ||
* '''Solvent Cons:''' Odor, hazardous material disposal, Nitrile glove expense. | * '''Solvent Cons:''' Odor, hazardous material disposal, [[Nitrile glove]] expense. | ||
=== Bio-degradable Cleaners === | === Bio-degradable Cleaners === | ||
Revision as of 17:03, 10 February 2008
Most shops will have a parts washer. They are nothing more than a tub that holds some kind of parts washing fluid. Sometimes they will have a pump to circulate the fluid, others will even heat up the fluid to make it more effective.
Parts Washing Fluid
Which will require some kind of solvent or cleaning liquid.
Solvent
Automotive shops use a solvent that requires Nitrile gloves (to prevent skin contact, prolonged contact can result in liver damage) and proper ventilation. Automotive shops also have large greasy parts, so they hire services to swap out their solvent.
- Solvent Pros: Cleans faster, lasts longer -- at the Salt Lake City Bicycle Collective they have never replaced the solvent, they just put more in as it slowly evaporates.
- Solvent Cons: Odor, hazardous material disposal, Nitrile glove expense.
Bio-degradable Cleaners
Simple Green is a great example, while it doesn't work as well as solvent it smells good and you don't need gloves. To make it work even better it should be heated.
Used Part Cleaner Liquids
No matter how biodegradeable the liquid you wash your parts is, when you mix it with a petroleum based product like grease -- it becomes a hazardous material. As a result, used parts cleaner liquids must be treated as a hazardous material and brought to your local recycling facility.