As the parts and pieces of an ever-increasing list of overhaul/rebuild items accumulates about the shop and reassembly is underway, one thing is clear: I do not have a system.

I don't have any idea how to execute the tasks at hand even half-assed efficiently. I'm little more than a dishpig. Not that I am above any honest work/manual labor. I'm just not on anyone's payroll for the work.

I have my utility Dodge cargo van out of commission for service and repair, and I need to come up with a cost effective and timely method of part soaking and clean up.

Could anyone suggest a workable setup and perhaps some tips on what techniques work best?

Thanks

- Lay-down an old blanket or cardboard and scrape / wire brush off all the heavy "crusted-on" grease.

- Buy a can of engine de-greaser, "Mr. Clean" or oven cleaner and use that to scrub the parts down.

- Take a garden hose and attach it to your hot water heater. (My garage sink allows for a hose attachment to the facet.) Use a good "trigger style" nozzle and use gloves or wrap a rag around it's grip, it's gonna' get hot!

- Start blasting the scrubbed parts, dispose of the "waste-water" in an environmentally friendly way. (Disclaimer, because where I live they will throw you in jail for washing an oil spot off your driveway and letting the run-off go into the storm drain.)

Another option is the "dollar car wash" or check some local machine shops. They can get stuff really clean & nice for a fair price. Shop around.
DD

I'd like to add my product endorsements:

Castrol Super Clean. Better de-greaser than the spray engine clean, and carb cleaners, and spray brake cleaners (I don't use it on carbs or brakes). Doesn't stink up the garage, so my wife doesn't complain. It does make your hands very clean, but it dries the crap out of them. When you get that blue silicone on your pants, it does a good job of getting it out. If you use it to get stuff out of your hair, it really hurts the scalp, and your hair isn't the same until it grows out (long story, bad Halloween costume choice is all I'll say), and it seems to etch aluminum a little if you forget to rinse it. And one squirt makes the crickets spaz out for about 5 seconds, and then they stop forever. Same with spiders. No other solvent gives me that kind of entertainment..

The Super Clean waterless hand cleaner. Goes on like lotion, rubs off like old Elmer's glue. Keep a tube in the travel tool box.

Paint remover is a great de-greaser. Use a paint brush, rub it till you get a black foamy goo, rinse it. The best is the mean, burn your skin type of paint stripper, but that orange enviro stuff, while not a great paint stripper, works real well on grease and dirt, and it doesn't stink the place up.

I like the oven cleaner idea, but I've never tried it.

harborfreight.com sells some cheap parts washers..

matt-

jimyrigg@hotmail.com

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And for those of you that build plastic models, it makes a great paint stripper when you screw up the paint job......WITHOUT hurting the plastic. Just submerge in a suitable container, check every 1/2 hour and scrub with toothbrush until satisfactory. (Don't use the toothbrush for your teeth anymore.)

Roger

gts225@aol.com

DOT 3 brake fluid also works great for removing paint from plastic items without harming the plastic.

For de-greasing parts I like simple green and a scotchbrite pad. Oven cleaner works well on really nasty stuff, but you have to be careful with it as it's pretty caustic.