A handy tip from me

[urbanrifleman]

My rechargeable sprayers have a little nozzle in them that I always remove and then they just shoot a straight stream and don't atomize. Should be the same as the ones that were posted.

 

[Kiwishooter]

Since I switched to electric impact guns I hardly use any air now in the workshop.
The parts I need to wash are washed in a hot wash and then blown off with the airgun to remove the water.
That is about all the air I use.
I have a few of the charge sprayers, some with oils, some with penetrant and some with solvent for cleaning
The part gets wiped off with a rag after spraying with solvent or the rag gets sprayed with solvent and the part gets wiped down.
A lot healthier for the lungs.

 

[LVLAaron]

I quit with the compressed air the first time I had to clean my mini split filters.

 

[urbanrifleman]

I quit with the compressed air the first time I had to clean my mini split filters.

I think that's more the smoke than blow off.

 

[Krogen]

@urbanrifleman I'm interested in the isopropyl / acetone mix you mentioned above. Would you share the brand name or a pic of the label?

Maybe it's available online. Over the years, I've been up to my armpits in various solvents. Getting older and maybe smarter makes me think about something less hazardous.

 

[urbanrifleman]

@urbanrifleman I'm interested in the isopropyl / acetone mix you mentioned above. Would you share the brand name or a pic of the label?

Maybe it's available online. Over the years, I've been up to my armpits in various solvents. Getting older and maybe smarter makes me think about something less hazardous.

Here is the brand I bought locally.

 

[Dave in WI]

Cleaning a mill off with compressed air is bad news, for sure.

Just curious, why?

 

[Will Henry]

I have never used compresses air to clean machinery but I do use it to blow out chambers or clean chips off reamers. I don't use it on machines just because it just blows dirt into places where it can't be removed.
I tried some of that non-flammable soap stuff in my parts washer. It removed the paint from the tank and seized up the pump. WH

 

[Krogen]

Here is the brand I bought locally.

Thank you.

 

[agr516]

We had those sure shot sprayers when I was a mechanic, I always drilled out the nozzle on them. Its too small.

Same here. I don't remember what bit I drilled mine out with but wish I had used a smaller one. It can run through brake cleaner way too fast now if you don't feather the throttle when using it.

 

[topclass2017]

Just curious, why?

Going back to my high school machine shop days, our instructor (retired Navy machinist) forbid compressed air around lathes, milling machines, shapers as the potential to blow chips or debris down into areas other wise inaccessible was great. We used brushes of various sizes to get chips/debris out

 

[ricco1949]

Kinda hard to clean out the T tracks without air after drilling 44 holes 1/2 to 3/4 through 1 3/4 ".

 

[ELR LVR]

Since I started making barrels, I've tried to find the perfect solution for cleaning off the parts, removing the oil and blowing off with air to get the best clean finish. It was also important not to take the paint off of my machine.

So that being said, I tried just about everything. All different kinds of alcohol and paint thinners and acetone etc etc etc. all kinds of stuff from Lowe's and home Depot and from different suppliers on the web. Most of them stink. Pretty bad.

The absolute best elixir I finally came up with was close to 100% isopropyl alcohol used in beauty shops and nail salons and the accompanying acetone of the same. Apparently, this stuff is formulated to have almost no smell and it dries perfectly clean and quickly.

I use two parts alcohol to one part acetone. I used to order it from eBay from a nail salon supply house. I recently discovered that I could buy it at my local beauty supply and it is $25 a gallon. Which all in all that is an excellent price for what it is.

The stuff from my local Sally's beauty supply even has a slight cherry smell. Which is much better than stinking like alcohol.

I spray off with a rechargeable hand sprayer from harbor freight. That is charged using my air compressor.

Gasoline - (Most economical Solevnt around today at $4.79 / Gal
_ I use it in a squirt bottle and VIVA paper towels
then wipe down with a very thin even coat of ATF
---
ask any person I've done their barrel - no complaints Blued or SS
try it
---
If you like Acetone though, check out your local Dollar Tree in the Nail Polish remover sections
Ive been stocking up for $1 per bottle of Pure Acetone

 

[urbanrifleman]

Gasoline - (Most economical Solevnt arund today _ I use it in a squirt bottle and VIVA paper towels
then wipe down with a very thin even coat of ATF
---
ask any person I've done their barrel - no complaints Blued or SS
try it

Gasoline stinks. Really bad. The fumes will get you high. And the stink never comes off. Kind of the opposite of what I look for.

 

[Walt Krafft]

For almost 40 years at work and at home, I have used plastic garden sprayers with alcohol to clean parts. Acetone works good but eats those sprayers for lunch.

 

[urbanrifleman]

For almost 40 years at work and at home, I have used plastic garden sprayers with alcohol to clean parts. Acetone works good but eats those sprayers for lunch.

I find the blend works the best. Just makes the alcohol evaporate faster.

 

[ELR LVR]

Gasoline stinks. Really bad. The fumes will get you high. And the stink never comes off. Kind of the opposite of what I look for.

What?
I barely smell it, and it evaps in maybe 2 minutes or sooner, I havent encountered the scent lingering unless I spill old fuel on the floor thats been laquered due to age.
Just offering.
I use gas constantly as a solvent around the shop
especially for degreasing, cleaning the concrete etc.

 

[urbanrifleman]

What?
I barely smell it, and it evaps in maybe 2 minutes or sooner, I havent encountered the scent lingering unless I spill old fuel on the floor thats been laquered due to age.
Just offering.
I use gas constantly as a solvent around the shop
especially for degreasing, cleaning the concrete etc.

I've gotten gas on my pants filling my car and they still stunk the next day. I guess that's my nose!

 

[ELR LVR]

I've gotten gas on my pants filling my car and they still stunk the next day. I guess that's my nose!

Ahhh, maybe soaked into your clothes is a different sort of thing
I understand, I think Acetone is a good idea though having no VOC's anyway
do what yu're doing man

 

[urbanrifleman]

Ahhh, maybe soaked into your clothes is a different sort of thing
I understand, I think Acetone is a good idea though having no VOC's anyway
do what yu're doing man

I use more alcohol than acetone. Acetone dries so quickly it leaves frost.