varsol alternatives

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needsaresto

needsaresto

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So I was gonna fill up my new parts washer only...I go to buy varsol and I need 10 gallons. Get to the checkout and was gonna have to pay a $1 per gallon "eco" fee. And tax on top! Should be illegal..grrr

Welcome to Canada..

Neeless to say I left it at the till.

Saw something called Simple Green on the shelf today. 1 gallon could be diluted in 10 gallons of water. Claims it is very effective on greae.

Has anyone used this stuff?

What do you use to wash parts?

Thanks all!!!
 
I work as a stagehand in a theater in NYC in the construction,metalwork and electric shop and we live on Simple Green its all we use gallons and gallons and gallons of it ...I think its great and the place runs on it for grease stripping needs.
 
Needsaresto (love that name by the way) ... Clean parts be my life. :-D

Simple Green is good stuff but I've found it can leave my skin really dry -- even with gloves on -- and the unusual smell is kind of funky in the shop. It's also pretty expensive in my opinion, especially when you use the parts washer a lot. (Ahem, not mentioning any names Keithhhhh LOL!!! I'm just messin' with you!)

I don't know if it's available in Canada, but I've been buying "Mean Green" at Dollar General for $5 a gallon, and "Awesome Cleaner" for $3 a gallon when they're out of the Mean Green. The Mean does just as good a job with 4 gallons in the parts washer versus 6 Simple Greens, is easier on your hands and smells better than the other two, and is environmentally safe. I usually only use the parts washer as a preliminary soak for the really really nasty parts and do most of my scrubbing by hand, so most of the time I use it straight out of the bottle at full potency.

Look for a white gallon jug with bright orange and green lettering. If you can't find it locally, PM me and I'll give you the manufacturer's address / phone number so you can track it down directly. It's worth the hassle -- it beats most anything out there.

Just my .02 worth.
 
Diesel fuel? Still $4.00 a gallon here. Some of the citric cleaners are good and eco-friendly but pricey. Zep has one called Big-O that`ll remove paint.
 
CudaChick1968 said:
Needsaresto (love that name by the way) ... Clean parts be my life. :-D

Simple Green is good stuff but I've found it can leave my skin really dry -- even with gloves on -- and the unusual smell is kind of funky in the shop. It's also pretty expensive in my opinion, especially when you use the parts washer a lot. (Ahem, not mentioning any names Keithhhhh LOL!!! I'm just messin' with you!)

I don't know if it's available in Canada, but I've been buying "Mean Green" at Dollar General for $5 a gallon, and "Awesome Cleaner" for $3 a gallon when they're out of the Mean Green. The Mean does just as good a job with 4 gallons in the parts washer versus 6 Simple Greens, is easier on your hands and smells better than the other two, and is environmentally safe. I usually only use the parts washer as a preliminary soak for the really really nasty parts and do most of my scrubbing by hand, so most of the time I use it straight out of the bottle at full potency.

Look for a white gallon jug with bright orange and green lettering. If you can't find it locally, PM me and I'll give you the manufacturer's address / phone number so you can track it down directly. It's worth the hassle -- it beats most anything out there.

Just my .02 worth.
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Thanks! My handle is just the simple truth. My 70 Darts sad but true present state.

I'll phone around and see if I can find "Mean green"! I'll assume you are diluting it with water? I can use a total of 12 gallons in my 20 gallon parts washer.

What does it go for where you are?

I guess I could always get the simple green if the mean green cant be had locally. Shipping that sort of stuff is killer!
 
I've heard that the parts will rust quickly if you use the water based cleaners. Any truth to that? I'm going to have to fill my parts washer with something in the near future.
 
'64 Cuda said:
I've heard that the parts will rust quickly if you use the water based cleaners. Any truth to that? I'm going to have to fill my parts washer with something in the near future.
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Thats a good point. CNC machines hold a water based coolant (trim-sol, etc..) . Leave for a weeks holiday and return, start the machines and the coolant odor (stagnate water) would knock your head off. So add a gallon of clorine bleech. Simple solution right ? Wrong ! You had better have a rust inhibitor handy. The clorine accelerates the oxodation process. DOH !
 
I've used the Castrol brand purple water based cleaner in the 5 gallon jugs and diluted it 50/50. It's really expensive though. IIRC, $38 for 5 gallons. I've left some seriously greasy stuff in there for a couple days and not only did it strip the grease but the paint too. Added bonus in my eyes.

Diluted 5:1 it works great floor cleaning garage floors. Pour some on the floor, spread it out, let it sit for 5 minutes, scrub with a broom and wet vac up. The floor came out like new and smelled great. Even took out the differential fluid smell.

I had no problems with rust on parts as long as I rinsed it with fresh water after I took out of the soak bucket and patted it dry. It may flash rust if you blow it dry. I've only used it on external engine parts (Brackets, linkages, dip stick tubes, Trans cases and covers, etc.) and have never used it on internal parts. I think nothing would really beat varsol on things like roller rockers, carbs, internal trans parts, pistons, roller bearings and the like.

Thanks for tip Cudachick on the Dollar General store stuff, I'll have to check it out.
 
i had the thought that because my parts washer is outside I might want to add some antifreeze with a water base cleaner. That might help prevent rust as well.
 
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