Parts washers... looking for ideas

[notfarnow]

In the past few months, I've torn down about 6 engines to sell off for parts.

I've found that I get a better price, and sell the parts faster, if I have the parts REALLY clean. So, lately I've been dropping off batches of parts at the machine shop to have them hot tanked. I've spent about $150-200 in the past 2-3 months.

What are my options for doing this at home? I know I can buy a sandard parts cleaner for $2-300, but can I expect results close to what I'me getting out of a hot tank?

Preferably, I'd like a setup that either circulates the cleaner or agitates it with compressed air. Which is better?

I've also seen some homemade setups made with steel drums and a rack that you put the parts in. Anyone have anything like that?

What kind of setups do you guys have?

[widebody911]

How big are the parts? I use an old dishwasher with the water heater in the shop cranked up to about 140

[Porsche_monkey]

I agree. Dishwasher and really hot water.

Or look for a diesel engine rebuilder. The guy around the corner from my shop has a huge washer. Maybe someone will wash parts for you.

[notfarnow]

Originally Posted by widebody911

How big are the parts? I use an old dishwasher with the water heater in the shop cranked up to about 140

Engine heads, oil pans, valve covers, pistons, etc...

Does the dishwasher cut through heavy oil crudified grunginess? What soap/solvent do you use?

Either way, I don't have a water hookup out in the garage, and Mrs Notfarnow would surely catch on if I started cleaning parts in the kitchen.

[Porsche_monkey]

I think you need a recirculating solvent tank to start, then finish off with the dishwasher.

Solvent tanks are cheap. Fill it with diesel fuel.

[notfarnow]

Originally Posted by PBH

I think you need a recirculating solvent tank to start, then finish off with the dishwasher.

Solvent tanks are cheap. Fill it with diesel fuel.

With a recirculating pump, is there enough flow/agitation to remove built-up sludge?

I'd really like a setup that I could drop parts into, then come back in 4-5 hours and have them pretty much clean.

[lendaddy]

What kind of money are you making doing this? If you don't mind my asking.

[notfarnow]

Originally Posted by lendaddy

What kind of money are you making doing this? If you don't mind my asking.

I make $4-700 off each engine. Sometimes, a bit less, sometimes more. 2-3 hours to tear down 2 engines & photograph parts. VW diesel engines are common & cheap up here, and the parts are in relatively high demand in the US. the VW 1.9 idi diesels were never sold down there, so a $200 engine will easily yeild $800-1000 in parts.

http://www.jakepalmeristheman.com/2005/10/new-batch-of-dieselicious-goodness-two.html

Makes a nice little "slush fund" for garage & car projects, so project purchases go undetected by the houshold financial auditor.

Also means I always have spare parts on hand, and it allows me to cherry-pick the best parts for my own cars. I've got an outright evil 1.9TD going in my Samurai in a couple months, built from "free" parts.

I figure I'm doing OK if I can use the engines to fund shop & car upgrades, and keep the garage beer fridge stocked.

[71T Targa]

Hey Jake, not to hijack, but what's up with the party? I see the map, the directions on how to park in your driveway, and even the requirement to "give ‘er" (whatever that is) But you can only smoke in the garage, there's no drinking, and a $5 cover?

Inquiring minds want to know.

[notfarnow]

I read on another forum about running solvent through a dishwasher. Surely that's not safe.

Another guy had a neat idea... used a recirculating pump in a large sink, but also mounted an old vibrating sander to the bottom of the sink to agitate the parts

If a part sits in a tank overnight with solvent flowing over it, will it be pretty much spotless?

[notfarnow]

Originally Posted by phred68

Hey Jake, not to hijack, but what's up with the party? I see the map, the directions on how to park in your driveway, and even the requirement to "give ‘er" (whatever that is) But you can only smoke in the garage, there's no drinking, and a $5 cover?

Inquiring minds want to know.

LOL, that was the "surprise" 30th bday party I threw myself. Almost 100 people... I'm still not finished cleaning up.

Had t-shirts made:

"I paid $5 to go to Jake's 30th birthday party, and all I got was this crappy t-shirt and some stranger's DNA"

[71T Targa]

Originally Posted by notfarnow

snip... and some stranger's DNA"

Does that have anything to do with the "give ‘er"?

Now back to your regular parts washing program...

[lendaddy]

Sounds like a good gig, good for you.

[notfarnow]

Originally Posted by phred68

Does that have anything to do with the "give ‘er"?

Givin'er is mandatory!

Originally Posted by lendaddy

Sounds like a good gig, good for you.

It's been a good little deal on the side, but I don't know how long I'll keep it up. It made sense when I had 2-3 vw diesels and was on the VW diesel forums a lot. Then again, I've got hooks on 2-3 1.9TDs right now.

About the parts washers... anyone use a heated one at home? How do they compare to the standard harbor freight ones?

[Porsche_monkey]

What you need won't fly pass Mrs. NFN.

Be prepared to compromise.

[Porsche_monkey]

What you need won't fly past Mrs. NFN.

Be prepared to compromise.

[notfarnow]

Originally Posted by PBH

What you need won't fly pass Mrs. NFN.

Be prepared to compromise.

That's the dishwasher, eh? No that wouldn't work. I once showed her a picture (Thom's, I think) of a VW engine case in a dishwasher. She didn't even giggle. She knew it was a test... she scowled.

According to my Master Plan, I'll be getting water out in the garage next year... so I could hook up a dishwasher then. What cleaner do people use in the dishwasher?

In the meantime, I need to set something up. Preferably, something I can just set the parts in and walk away.

I just spent another $60 to hot soak 2 engine heads, and I have 2 engines coming next week. I'd rather be putting that $$ into my own setup.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

buy an old safe, a big one. Dick Cheney won't need his man-sized one soon, may want to call him

put racks in it

drill 2 holes in the floor

center hole mount a lawn sprinkler connected to a kerosene tank and pump. sprinkler can be cone, twirly bipolar wand type or those tisking ones that turn. or just mount tubes on the walls with holes drilled in them.

other off-center (with ridged opening) goes to a catch tank or back to the kerosene tank

[MikeSid]

And when you find the drill that can go through a safe, find someone else's safe, drill through it, take contents, and go buy yourself a hot tank.

[Porsche_monkey]

I do not think that low pressure kerosene on it's own will be enough. Unless you have a month or two to wait.