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Posted by: Mueller Aug 29 2003, 12:00 PM

Sorry no pics, maybe this weekend I'll shoot some.........

anyways.............


I needed to strip some tar, undercoating and paint off of some of my suspension parts as well as engine parts and decided to make my own hot tank.

I used a large plastic tub, filled it with a 50/50 mix Castrol SuperClean and hot water (boiled the water on my oven and dumped it into the tub with the parts in it)

Within a few hours, the parts had been completly stripped of all paint and undercoating. Much easier than sandblasting to remove the paint and all the other crud.

I think my next step will be to add an electric heating element to the tub....it looks like an heating element for a electric water heater would work out perfect...the element is about 12 dollars and the thermostat is about 25 dollars or so.

I have yet to clean anything aluminum with this setup since I know the Castrol SuperClean really attacks the aluminum if left in the solution too long, but I'm sure it'll work out nice as long as I keep an eye out on the time the parts are left in the solution.

What other solvents would be ideal in a "hot tank"???

Posted by: Brad Roberts Aug 29 2003, 12:03 PM

heating element in a plastic tub ?? How would you keep it from melting the area that supports or passes thru the tub wall ?? Or would you just dip it in ??


B

Posted by: 3D914 Aug 29 2003, 12:12 PM

Mueller,

Just curious. What happens to the "solvent" when you're done. Is it stored to use again (probably not), or if displosed of - where, how?

TIA ,

Posted by: Mueller Aug 29 2003, 12:14 PM

I'd figure out a way to safely "dip" the element into the tank, maybe in a metal housing so that the wires are protected. I could also add a few sheets of metal to either side of the plastic walls to protect them. The tub I have showed no signs of weakening after pouring in the boiling water. The tub used is an idustrial shipping container as spec'd by AMAT, it's very stout !!!!

I also have a metal parts washing tank, so that might be a better tank to use. The plastic tub is nice since I can use the hot-@ss sun in my area to keep the solution hot.

Before I added the boiling water, my solution got up to 125° f just by sitting in the direct sunlight for a few hours.

Posted by: Mueller Aug 29 2003, 12:16 PM

Luckly for me, we have a recycling center near by that takes this sort of stuff from households (old paint, oil, etc....)

Posted by: rdauenhauer Aug 29 2003, 12:31 PM

I tried the petrolium based solvents but switched to Castrol's Super detergent. Works great and dont have to deal hazardous materials disposal when it gets to dirty.

Posted by: PatW Aug 29 2003, 03:12 PM

At work we used to heat up floor wax remover in a Sonicator/Hot Tank. Worked real good.

Pat

Posted by: tryan Aug 29 2003, 03:43 PM

simple green works well. gags me at room temp.

could you get the thermo disc on a water heater stat flush to your 'tank'?

Posted by: URY914 Aug 29 2003, 08:15 PM

We bought a new washer and dryer a few months ago. The old washer still worked and I had thought about using it to wash parts in, but changed my mind. I think it would have worked. Just stop it before it hits the spin cycle.

Anyone else try this?
One guy on Pelican used his dish washer,

Paul

Posted by: redshift Aug 29 2003, 08:41 PM

Posted by: Red-Beard Aug 30 2003, 01:49 AM

Use a Steam cleaner and run the steam hose into the tank for heating....

James