How to degrease & clean a piece. (The ergonomics of it.)

[Mel Fulks]

Patrick ,sounds like you did a great job on what must have been a pretty dirty unit.

[Patrick Walsh]

Well it is 46 years old and was original paint in terrible alligatoring off like glass. I stripped and sandblasted every last part down to the bare cast. Not one drop of paint left on anything.

Patrick ,sounds like you did a great job on what must have been a pretty dirty unit.

[John K Jordan]

I’ve done a ton of these types of repairs and it’s not rocket science: Brake cleaner, then compressed air. And preferably not in a shop that’s freezing cold. Good luck,

Erik

That's exactly how I do it. I buy a case of brake cleaner in aerosol cans at a time when I find a good deal. I like the convenience of the cans and the directed stream.

JKJ

[David Buchhauser]

I like lacquer thinner for this type of cleaning. I find it to be more aggressive than acetone. Be sure to wear gloves and a respirator. Most lacquer thinner contains MEK (among other nasty chemicals). You definitely don't want it in contact with your skin or to breath the vapors. I buy it by the gallon.
David

[johnny means]

I prefer to start my degreasing with good old hot water and dish detergent. Car parts, metal furniture parts, it all gets a bath first. Nothing moves filth better than a high volume of solvent. After that a wipe down with lacquer thinner gets at any remaining grease. If I'm prepping for finish, alcohol removes thinner residue.