A Simple and Effective Parts Washer

JAMER is currently building and assembling a new facility for production of our current items and R&D for future items. For this facility we just finished installation of a parts washer for cleaning up dirty, oily, and/or greasy parts and are very pleased with the preliminary results. We are sharing our setup with you so you can add one to your workspace if you need one as well.

Since this washer needs to be in the main working space we did not want to use any volatile or flammable cleaners in our tank. Though chemicals like naptha, kerosene, and even diesel fuel have been used by others we did not want those odors wafting through our workspace and stinking up our (your) parts. Water-based cleaning solutions like Simple Green work well, though they work much better with some heat and agitation/circulation. With these requirements in mind, here is what we built.

The design is simple. We started with a Central Machinery Parts Washer from Harbor Freight which at the time of this writing are on sale for $100; the normal price is $130.

Central Machinery Parts Washer from Harbor Freight

This parts washer comes with a circulating pump and nozzle which takes care of the agitation/circulation part of the cleaning process. However it does not include a heat source to warm up the cleaning solution. The solution for us was as close as the local hardware store in the form of an electric hot water heater element and a lower hot water heater temperature switch. Basically we drilled a 1” hole in the side of the tub below the water level and installed the heating element using a plumbing fitting on the inside to hold it in place and compress the heating element seal. Next to this we installed the water heater switch. The switch is wired in series with one of the two power wires from a power cord. CAUTION: The wiring shown below is provided for illustration only; the user should properly insulate and protect any charged electrical items, use a GFCI socket when using power around water, and follow all applicable wiring codes.

Heater Element and Control Switch

The tub was filled with several gallons of Simple Green and water was added to the fill line indicated inside of the tub. With no leaks present, the circulation pump and heating element were powered on and the tank lid was closed. In less than an hour the water in the tank warmed up to 125 deg F (about 150 deg C) and was producing visible steam. The part shown in the photo below is an old slot cutter that was covered with a thick layer of crusty oil and dirt. The cutter was submerged in the tank for about 20 minutes, and then lightly scrubbed with the plastic bristle brush shown in the photo. The part now looks shiny and new as shown in the photo. Previously we were using room-temperature mineral spirits and heavy scrubbing to clean these components.

Slot Cutter Cleaned Up By the Parts Washer

In short, for about $200 in parts and supplies (parts washer, heater element, switch, electrical cord, scrub brushes, and cleaning solution) we now have an effective parts washer that does not stink up the place, and uses a non-toxic, non-flammable, water based cleaning solution. In the future we will be insulating the outside of the tank and adding a seal to the cover to trap the heat and solution in the parts cleaner.