Date:         Fri, 15 Sep 2006 11:15:29 -0400
Reply-To:     "Higginbotham, David A." <dhigginbotham@HAZENANDSAWYER.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "Higginbotham, David A." <dhigginbotham@HAZENANDSAWYER.COM>
Subject:      Biodiesel as a parts washer solvent report
In-Reply-To:  <20060915143625.83C2E11D0057@mail26-blu.bigfish.com>
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I just want to report back to the list on my experience with biodiesel:
I did acquire 20 gal of B100 biodiesel and put it in my parts washer. It
cost me $3.50US/gal. I have only used it to clean a couple of things,
the first was a carb off of a tiller, the second was some brake parts
for an old tractor. It did a great job of cleaning both of those things.
It took the paint off of the carb as well. I may have problems with the
pump in the parts washer, B100 will dissolve rubber parts and I don't
know if the pump has any rubber parts that will come in contact with it
but if it does I'll let you folks know. I spilled some on the floor when
I was filling the washer and the stuff did not evaporate even after
several days, I finally took some saw dust I use to clean up oil spills
and absorbed it and swept it up. It has no objectionable solvent order
like some other things might. It is not flammable, you can throw a lit
match in a pool of it on the floor and it won't ignite. It will gel in
cold weather but we haven't seen any of that here in NC yet so I can't
say how manageable that might be. It feels oily on your hands and even
after working with it on my hands for a couple of hours I did not feel
like it was particularly corrosive on my hands but I would recommend
avoiding keeping your hands soaked in any solvent any longer than you
have to. So far, two thumbs up to B100 as parts washer solvent.

David Higginbotham
82 Westfalia
Silk Hope, NC