Parts washers: immersion/dishwasher
 

I've been using an old dishwasher as a parts washer, and while it's somewhat effective, there's a lot of room for improvement. For one, the rotating spray bar gave up the ghost, and secondly, I wish the wash cycle was longer.

I did some googling on the subject, and it seems that what I want is an immersion parts washer. There's a few companies that make them, but they're in the solid 4 figures, some in the 5 figure range.

It seems my options are to modify a dishwasher to do what I need, or build a parts washer from scratch.

The advantages of modifying an existing dishwasher is the functionality is all there, so all I'd have to do is figure out how to make it behave the way I want. The disadvantage is I have to become an expert in dishwashery.

The advantage of building my own parts washer is I get to make it exactly the way I want it, but I have to re-invent the wheel for the various functions. I figure I would need a pump for pressure, a pump for draining, some sort of spray apparatus, a heating element, a rack/frame to put the parts on, and an enclosure to hold it all. I'm envisioning a stainless steel box with an opening top, and a matrix of copper tubing around the inside edges with holes drilled in it to act as the spray apparatus.

Have any of you done something like this, or know of a parts washer of this type that is suitable for a home mechanic?

Here's a couple of examples:
http://www.renegadepartswashers.com/parts_washer/TMB_7000_parts_washer_110v.htm

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Thom,

Why not make a steam cleaning cabinet. I haven't looked, but they're probably a low cost (relatively speaking) pressurized steam generator that could be used with a nozzle inside that cabinet. Sure it won't be passive cleaning as you'll have to manually spray and hold the parts...but the end result should be a nice clean part in a short amount of time.

When in college, the machine shop I was working in has a nice steam blasting cabinet that was a dream to use. I'd imagine the steam cleaning would be good for removing coating from small parts to paint too....

Hmmm...maybe I need something liike that!

fwiw, I was looking at home-engineered parts washer ideas last year, and one interesting design was a sealed tub that you immersed the parts in. Instead of spraying currents of fluid, they ran compressed air through it to agitate. Results were impressive. You'd need really good venting though.

"an expert in dishwashery."
This thread was worth reading for this phrase alone.

Have you ever used one of those commercial dw's where all four sides slide up and down. They work on very hot water with very high pressure. They have easy access and are pretty stout. You could probably find a used one at a restaurant supply house.

(The only reason I know is we use one a couple of times a year at a summer camp where we do some volunteer work - but even the kids love using the thing!)

Possibility of using an immersion tub, with aquarium-type high-volume water-movers?

I'm actually in the process of designing a new steam cabinet as the one I acquired years ago finally rusted all apart. I am planning on building a stainless steel shell on a short platform about 12" off the floor. In the shell will be a center vertical shaft rotated by a chain drive beneath the platform. I currently use a gas/ fuel-oil driven Sioux steam washer that will be re-plumbed into spray bars in the new cabinet. This is kinda low on the priority list right now, but would be more than willing to send you pics and info as it develops.

Lete me know - I can hook you up with a serious partwasher and some serious solvent. I have two in my garage.

Ok, here's 'version 1' - an old HF parts washer and added a water heater element and thermocouple. Next I'll try and figure out how to get some sort of high-pressure sprayer integrated. I'm running it off of a 60 minute timer I built some time ago; I rounded up the parts to build a 12 hour version.

The temp in the bath gets up to a little over 150 in about 20 minutes, with the thermostat on high.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1228695826.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1228695831.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1228695836.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1228695846.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1228695849.jpg

Thom - I've read your posts for a few years now, and I have a prediction:

You are going to wind up with an ultrasonic parts cleaner made of carbon fiber.

And it will also be a cab and a coupe! And maybe a targa bar in Carbon in the future!?!

Thom, your a master of any trade just like Jake. Well done.

So, I built a new 12-hour timer, and ran a test. I dropped in a nasty VW rocker arm assembly, set the timer for 12 hours and let it go overnight. The next day, this was the outcome:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1229304934.jpghttp://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1229304997.jpg

So what is next? While the part is cleaner, I assume you were hoping for spotless. As crazy as this sounds, what about bungee cording an old electric sander to the tank to set up an ultrasonic type vibration?

I've started experimenting with a manifold for air agitation.

Just picked up a used dishwasher.

What is recommended for solvent? Key is that it needs to be non-foaming, dishwashers hate foam. Needs to cut grease and be water soluble.

I've been using the Harbor Freight "Super Duty" degreaser - the yellowish stuff. It foams a little, but if you don't overdo it, it's fine.

Oil Eater works better, but foams like crazy.

For ferrous parts, normal dishwashing liquid works well.

That might do it. The reason I mentioned the sander is because I knew an old mechanic who used to put fuel injector nozzles in an empty quart plastic oil container with solvent then he fastened it to the bottom of an old rectanglular electric sander and he would let run to "supposedly" ultrasonically clean the fuel injector nozzles. I can't really say how good it worked, but the memory sticks in my head as something I always wanted to try.

I will be really curious to see how this works out! I really need a good parts washer... doesn't need to be BIG, but I'd like to be able to just plonk stuff in it and come back a few hours later.

How are the fumes? Is the stuff your heating a solvent-based cleaner?

I'd really like to make something like this, once someone like you does all the experimenting and perfects it. My biggest concerns with heating & air agitation are fumes and fire risk. I guess a water-based cleaner would take care of that issue

I've read about that before... maybe you posted it in another thread at some point.

I wonder if there'd be some way to use a washing machine... if you put a rack inside so the parts didn't move but the water/cleaner sloshed around them. Maybe with an additional pump spraying over top. Just use the wash & rinse cycles with the in & out pipes going to a tank of cleaner mix

No need to re-invent the wheel.

Go to a diesel rebuild shop and look at what they have.

They use heated 'solvent' and rotating center section with nozzles. Basically a big dishwasher.

My guess is the most economical way to deal with this is to drop the parts off, let them do the washing, and them pay for it.

You can't justify the time, the space in your shop, or the cost, unless you do this a lot.