Thumper Club Forum

Technical => Bike Problems/Questions => Topic started by: Steffan on October 29, 2012, 12:53:05 PM

Title: Degrease
Post by: Steffan on October 29, 2012, 12:53:05 PM: I have more than my fair share of projects on the go - too many some might say :-[

Anyway, I get fed up with pictures in magazines of people putting back together spotlessly clean bike components. So I think to myself I should degrease things but where to dispose of the waste ?

How do you all go about degreasing old parts and what do you do with the waste. (For example, one could put the bike on a rear slab, cover it in degreaser and the pressure wash it but that doesn't seem very ecological as the waste ends up all over the ground and in the ground water...

Thoughts please?

Steffan (the greasy one)
Title: Re: Degrease
Post by: Ian on October 29, 2012, 08:51:28 PM: Don`t let them get greasy in the first place :D
Title: Re: Degrease
Post by: Steffan on October 29, 2012, 09:35:37 PM: I wait all day and that is the response I get :(.

Thanks!!
Title: Re: Degrease
Post by: guest1418 on October 29, 2012, 09:54:52 PM: Hi, i clean as i strip my projects,i use an old washing bowl with parrafin and paint brushes to take most of the greasy crap off,then wipe down with rags, the dirty parrafin i put in empty oil containers and when ive finished the project i take this to my local tip/recycling centre and leave it at the oil recycling unit,i have also been known to put parts in the dishwasher
Title: Re: Degrease
Post by: Ian on October 29, 2012, 10:52:22 PM: Quote from: jeffa on October 29, 2012, 09:54:52 PM
....i have also been known to put parts in the dishwasher

Apparently its not a good idea to put zinc based parts in the dishwasher, as the chemicals in the tablets dont do them any favours.

Quote from: Steffan on October 29, 2012, 09:35:37 PM
I wait all day and that is the response I get :(.

Thanks!!
You`re welcome :D

Alternatively ....do you know of a friendly garage local to you who will let you use their "parts washer" ? (dont forget plenty of rags!)
Title: Re: Degrease
Post by: guest1418 on October 29, 2012, 11:14:36 PM: I dont put a tablet in with the parts just go with the very hot wash,as they already clean of all the muc its removing the crap out of the nooks and crannies
Title: Re: Degrease
Post by: Steffan on October 30, 2012, 07:43:53 AM: Dishwashers use salt as an abrasive.
Title: Re: Degrease
Post by: guest1418 on October 30, 2012, 05:54:44 PM: Not if you dont put it in
Title: Re: Degrease
Post by: guest1552 on October 30, 2012, 10:51:23 PM: All the left over oily crap, I put in a container with old engine oil etc...
Then once I have enough I paint my shed in it, it'll never go rotten
and if there aint enough I add creosote
Title: Re: Degrease
Post by: guest987 on October 31, 2012, 11:36:06 AM: Gunk. Love the smell........... :o, not cheap though.

Like Jeffa, I take any waste to the local tip. Failing that, if running, then take the bike and jet wash it.

Rob
Title: Re: Degrease
Post by: Richard on October 31, 2012, 05:51:39 PM: Steve - the tip in Lampeter has a special container for used oil - I keep mine in a 5 gallon drum and take it down there every now and then. Llanarth may have the same facility. It includes the oily muck left over from parts washing.
Title: Re: Degrease
Post by: trophydave on October 31, 2012, 07:48:01 PM: If your local grease pit type garage has a waste oil burner they will probably take it off you.
Title: Re: Degrease
Post by: Steffan on October 31, 2012, 10:37:13 PM: Never knew they took muck, only ever used them for oil.
Title: Re: Degrease
Post by: Richard on November 01, 2012, 01:50:06 AM: So long as its oily enough I suppose :-)
Title: Re: Degrease
Post by: johnr on November 14, 2012, 07:09:44 PM: look up 'waste oil burner' on google. if youve enough oil left at the end of the year, you can make an oil fired heater to heat your garage!!