In a message dated 8/18/2005 6:50:38 PM Eastern Daylight Time, classicrendezvous-request@bikelist.org writes:
Are there any effective solvents still available in these environmentally friendly modern times? Can anyone recommend something from the cleaning isles of 2005 department or auto parts stores? Or elsewhere? I found a citrus solvent a few years ago. I think it was called "Xenox." The stuff worked almost instantly. It cleared sinuses, too. Unfortunately, it was taken off the shelves a few months later.
Scott Chemically Challenged Davis--ST. Paul, MN USA
Scott;
Yes, many of the early environmentally friendly cleaners turned out to be worse than what they replaced. A few years ago I bought some bike shop citrus stuff for $3.50 a quart and still wonder why I wasted my money.
I'm sure you're gonna get more suggestions than you'll know what to do with, but here's mine for whatever they're worth:
Some of the old fashioned solvents your grandaddy used are still great, as long as they are dealt with in a safe and conscientious manner. Adequate ventilation, good hand and eye protection, safe disposition.
One of my favorite cleaners is still kerosine... I used it on my bike when I was eleven years old and I still use it occasionally. It is not too expensive, readily available, and boy does it bring back memories. Better than gasoline since it is not as volatile and if you happen to get some on your skin it doesn't soak right in like gasoline does. Well, not as fast anyway.
Nowadays I mostly use mineral spirits (a little over a buck a gallon, easier to find than kerosine, plus I always have it on hand anyway to thin my wood stains). Not too aromatic. It doesn't smell as bad as kerosine, but that can almost be a bad thing... a lot of people don't notice how quickly it evaporates and do not vent it adequately. Kerosine should be well vented too of course, but since it stinks most people tend to think about ventilation right off the bat.
I save my solvent after use, letting it settle for a week, then decant it into a new container like a fine wine. All the junk ends up on the bottom of the old jug, leaving me with only an ounce or two of crud to dispose of and the rest of the gallon is ready to use again. This is more difficult to do with the citrus cleaners, Simple Green, or many of the other new cleaners because they have a higher specific gravity and they keep particles in suspension longer. Actually, I do use Simple Green, but only in spray-and-wipe situations. For really dirty parts with lots of nooks and crannies that you have to immerse and scrub with a toothbrush, I still go back to that nice tub of mineral spirits.
I don't have one but many folks swear by ultrasonic cleaners. Big ones are expensive, but the jewelry sections of most department stores have little ones for $15-$25 that are probably good for small stuff like nuts, bolts, springs, washers, bearings... and this is the stuff that is the biggest pain in the ass to clean anyway. They sound like just the ticket! Been meaning to get one for ages... my wife's got one for her earrings an' stuff, guess I should try hers first just to make sure it works...
Bob Hovey
Columbus, GA