My HF Parts Washer Hot Tank Project

[ducatithunder]

So guys Ive gotten tired of trying using the same old $$ parts washer fluid/mineral spirits or using diesel and it leaving a residue then having to double wash to get off. Then figure out where to dispose of the used fluids. I got a new HF parts washer for the shop in Bmore. I wanted to try something different. I have been watching these new bio degradable washing fluids or water based fluids alot lately. They seem to have a good product but it absolutely sucks if its not hot when you use it.

So Ive been washing my Trans cases off with a 1:10 ratio of Krud cutter and water. Krud cutter is bio degradable and alum/mag safe. A gallon of the degreaser is ~$14 and the water is free.

So here is my solution ....

I got a 4500W 240v Heater for a home water heater along with a thermostat and installed it in my washer. Im running the heater on 120v as I dont have 240v available so the its essentially a 1500W heater (~1/3 on 120v) but I have room to grow if I ever get 240v. The materials cost about $30 from Lowes. The thermostat is set for 120Deg but can be brought up to 150 if desired. I tested it out yesterday and it worked great. The tank took about 1/2hr to 1hr to heat up. No fumes or worries about fire hazards.

Here are a few installation pics.

I put the thermostat on the back side of the tank and the heater just in front of the pump. Its seems to be the perfect place as it doesn't really interfere with placing large parts in the washer as its off to the side. The thermostat has 2 element on it so if you wanted to run 2 you can. I wired it up as a single element.

DON'T FORGET TO GROUND THE HEATING ELEMENT BASE AND THERMOSTAT TO THE TANK ... THIS PROTECTS YOU IF THE ELEMENT/T-STAT FAILS AND FROM SHOCKING YOU. :shock::shock::shock::shock::shock:

In the picture you can see I grounded it. I tested it all day yesterday with out incident. I used permatex coating cork gasket to seal the small hole I have to make. The element is a flange style mount that I made a steel backer plate to sandwich the gaskets. Its all through bolted. Wired the power to the heater through the hot side of the parts washer switch so that the heater can be run independent to the pump. I will install a switch on it. Right now its just a plug. I am also making a sheet metal cover to protect the wiring and components.

Anyways I has alot of possibilities. Could used simple green, dawn, pretty much any water based cleaner. Hope it helps if anyone want to do something similar.

Good luck :D

[BlackTalon]

very nice -- thanks for showing this.

[ducatithunder]

Thanks BT. I need to take some better pics and the finished project. Figure there are alot of guys here that would want to do the same thing. I really wanted to make sure it worked well before I got to far into the fab side of it. I figure if you had 240v it would heat up a whole lot faster but there is something to be said for keeping it simple and being able to "set it and forget it" with an aspect to safety.

[Dr K]

Nicely documented and illustrated! I'd like to see how it works - I'll bring the parts by next week ;)

[ausgeflippt951]

Good idea. I wish I had the space for a parts washer...:cry:

[N0tt0N]

Thanks! I just got a 3 1/2 gallon parts washer (small) and was wrestling with the same issue of which liquid to use. Heated biodegradable is an awesome win-win!

[Trak Ratt]

Wonder if one of those instant hot water thingies would work? Have to mount pump inline before heater but... :?

[ducatithunder]

It might. I thought about using a tankless hot water heater but they a $200 plus then you need a pump (don't trust the HF washer pump to get this done,lol) and your sending nasty water though it. You would also need to plumb it. Not sure how long it would last. This after buying the washer only cost about $40.

[Potomac-Greg]

Nicely done! I was thinking that I need a parts washer (after using about my 30th can of brake cleaner) and it never occurred to me that the nontoxic detergents need hot water to work well.

[ducatithunder]

Thanks .. Im glad you guys like it! Yeah ... Brake clean is great .. but expensive, lol.

So like I said after proving the theory I wanted to clean up everything and make it look right. I picked up a toggle switch and some packing glands today so that I could get rid of the ghetto plug set up. I finalized the attachment of the thermostat. I bent a piece of sheet metal and riveted it to the thermostat and then to the parts washer. You need to ensure that the thermostat is at the same level as where the water is so that it sense the water and doesnt make it to hot. I riveted the attached metal of the tub well above the water level so to ensure no leaks. I also threw some permatex and a gasket on the backside for good measure.

I wanted to have an enclosure so I grabbed another piece of sheet metal and the brake to make a nice drip proof box. Ill pull out the spot welder tmrw and weld the box together then attach it to the metal tub so its permanent and paint it to match. Should look "fancy" in the end, ;).

[ducatithunder]

Finished.

[Vicegrip]

nice!

[scotty b]

Wonder if one of those instant hot water thingies would work? Have to mount pump inline before heater but... :?

Stephen and I talked about that a while back. IIRC he said he knew someone that had done it and it worked awesomely. At some point I plan to put one on my cleaner at the shop. Cheapo 110 units can be had in the $150.00 range

[ducatithunder]

Stephen and I talked about that a while back. IIRC he said he knew someone that had done it and it worked awesomely. At some point I plan to put one on my cleaner at the shop. Cheapo 110 units can be had in the $150.00 range

There are many ways to skin a cat. If I had a water source in my garage I might have went this route. Would have cost alot more ... almost 3-4 times. :roll: My utilities are free so electric usage wasnt a worry. I have been tossing the idea around of making a hi temp parts washer out of an old SS dish washer or getting a large ultra sonic cleaner. There is a nice scratch and dent appliance place across the street from my shop in the hood. The dish washer method seems to be more cost effective at this point. Just need water access thats not a 100ft away.

[smdubovsky]

No water source. He put the instant heater between the pump and the brush/nozzle. Instant hot fluid (you don't heat the whole tank up, though that eventually happens.) It was a cheaper RV instant heater.

[ducatithunder]

Gotcha. TR had mentioned that too. Id assume that with out a filter and the chemical/soap in the medium would eventually scale up the inside of the heating tubes. Maybe Im just over thinking the usage. We had someone hook up a similar system on the ship to put hot water into the ultra sonic cleaner we have instead of waiting for the tank heater to heat everything up ... Thought was time is money etc. They over thought the idea and used the heater 24/7 while the ultra sonic cleaner was cleaning HFO purifier discs ... Heater fouled and fried in no time.

That does sound like a good way to recirc/heat water in a dish washer for a clean wash cycle.

[scotty b]

You can buy filter setups for parts washers. I lucked out and found an old ZEP unit at the scrapyard for 13.00....yep 13.00... all he wanted was the scrap weight value. It had an external filter from ZEP on it. All I had to do was buy a new bowl and gasket. That should keep the fluid going through the heater fairly clean, at least free of solids

[scotty b]

Had a rep from HOTSY come by thursday. I have never heard of them. Apparently they've been around for a while selling industrial pressure washing, cleaning chemicals etc. they have a water based solvent ( powder ) 55 lb. box of powder for 77.00 WAAYYYY cheaper then any other solvents I have priced. Mixes 2-8 oz per gallon of water depending on how potent you want it. He's coming by on Monday with a box. I'll let you know how it works in a couple weeks. I guess I need to replace my steel drum with a plastic one now

[ducatithunder]

Do you have to buy it through a rep or an account system? I would be curious how it works out. Sounds way cheaper. Is it alum and soft metal safe?

[scotty b]

I assume you have to buy through a rep but I'll find out Monday. They have a few different powders. The SC100 is safe for aluminum and mag. The SC200 is not. If it works good and some of you want to split a box or 2 let me know and I can get it for you if an account is needed.

PARTS WASHER CLEANERS
SC-100- A heavy-duty, non-caustic alkaline detergent that contains special inhibitors to stop rust. Removes carbon, heavy grease and oily soils. Ideal for cleaning aluminum motor blocks, heads, castings, crank shafts and similar objects. Does not contain chromium salt or chlorinated solvents.
SC-200- A caustic spray cabinet stationary part washer cleaner that removes oil, grease, carbon and sludge from motor blocks, engine parts, etc. It will strip paint and cannot be used on aluminum, magnesium or other highly polished metals.
Super Solvent- Oil based cleaner used in parts washers.

He says the super solvent is VERY caustic and does not recommend it for a parts washer

http://www.hotsyva.com/detergents-3/

[ducatithunder]

Good info. Thanks Scotty!