UPDATE: 1/30/2023, I'm still using this parts washer and have made no further modifications. It works extremally well and I am very happy with the design. All the parts used in the video I am still using, I am also on my 2nd filter but it is ready to change again. With my usage, I seem to change the fluid and filter about once a year.

I'm glad someone else saw that a filter after the pump was useless. At least all the oil they wash off parts will be clean before it goes back into the cabinet.

Made in the Ding Dow Parts Washer factory. We always joke about all the similar (but custom labeled-painted) tools. That tool was made in the Ding Dow (fill in the blank, Tool Box, Sand Blast Cabinet, Grinder, Floor Jack) factory. I made a heated parts washer 30 years ago from a stainless sink and 30 gal barrel. Amazing how much better the heated solvent works.

Every time I need to clean up a grimy engine case I always say I need a parts washer. This is fantastic.

I just wanted to say I watched an Elizabeth Warren commercial in its entirety just so you got paid a few cents. It was painful but your video was not.

The very best build I've seen, perfect for the water based solvent I prefer to use. I use the simple green heavy duty, works the best from what I've tried. Really appreciate the video, it helped out a lot. Did my build similar to yours, but I took it a step farther. I added a custom made mobile base, and removed all of the inside brackets and the lid hinge (I just rest the lid back against something). I also waterproofed the inside tub and lid with a few pints of Flex-Seal! It's working awesome, thanks again for the idea!

Bravo absolutely the best take on a heated parts washer anywhere on you tube or the internet.

Very nice idea with the air compressor fittings! 👌 I will be modifying my parts washer in the near future

Solid improvements- just picked up a pneumatic parts washer- whole different ball game but my regular washer will probably start looking a lot like this one. Thanks!

The reason to put the filter after the pump is because pumps can make a higher pressure than suction. The maximum theoretical vacuum a pump can make is 15 psi (1atm) but a typical pump won't pull more than 3 or 4 psi. As the filter is a restriction, it needs a difference in pressure for the fluid to flow. If it is situated after the pump it won't matter if it is slightly clogged and needs like 10 psi to sustain the desired flow, but if it is before the pump it will hinder the flow severely. If your setup doesn't work or stops working as soon as the filter catches a little dirt, you can try moving the pump and adding a coarse pre filter so that big stuff won't break it

This is probably one of the most well thought out parts washer mod videos if seen! Thing's I'll definitely consider doing as I get my shop put together.

Quick release on tool is great idea. Thanks for sharing! : )

Wow. Excellent video. I watch way too many KZfaq videos and this one impressed me. Complete, succinct and creative solutions. Love it! This is now my goal... I do have some Menards rebates burning a hole in my pocket and a project car on jack stands in the garage.

Frickin genius man. Thanks for the great ideas! Got the wheels turning, and since I just recycled the fluid in mine and cleaned it, I’m ready to make improvements. I don’t know if you noticed, but when I heated my fluid, it caused condensation on the lid which when opened it ran to the piano hinge on the back. To combat this so it doesn’t squeak or get rusty, I am going to install a flap to divert it.

My solution to adding heat was a NOS 1500 Watt diesel block heater. Found it on fleaBay for $20.00.

Great job. well engineered design using commodity parts.

Solvent tanks save so much money in brake-cleaner alone. Just a quick rinse with brake-cleaner after thorough wash! Also, I bought the wrong oil filter for my truck, so I drilled holes in the side and ran solvent through the center with a funnel and doesn't do too bad of a job cleaning the fluid.

Cool transformation!

Nicely done. Seems very effective and well shown. Thanks for sharing. will you demo the function at some point?

A lot of great ideas here! Thanks. :)

Wow kick ass man just found your videos deffently sub. Can't wait to see wats in up next.

Nice work, thanks for sharing

Moving to Texas I miss Menards

Dang that’s actually really smart thanks bro I’m gonna make me one of them ! Keep doing what your doing .

another good video ! i’ve been saying for years i should get one of those washers yet i’ve always wondered if it would warrant the space inthe shop ? perhaps it will especially with the upgrades you did

The manufacturer I work for has one of these and I had never used it before. I was told to clean off the greasey carriers, My arms were vibrating before I read the warning label right in front of me. Safe to say, my skin is still itching on my stomach where I got splashed

Nice video thanks for sharing,, My only thought was how long before that filter plugs up,,if you clean transmission parts like me it would get clogged fast,, I would try to add magnets to the drain,,maybe in a sock to prefilter it and catch the big stuff,, Also keep the pick up off the bottom so it doesnt suck up any crud from down there.

Awesome videos!

You went all out but forgot one thing... Compressed air! Adding an air inlet and a short (10"-ish) hose that you can direct where you want it now gives you a filtered, heated, *agitated* solvent which is great for soaking parts or cleaning in deep recesses/ports. 😊

Omg I NEED this

The filter should be on the pressure side of the pump, a typical pump may have a suction screen but never a filter. I have found that the best way to prefilter the solvent is to put a air filter from a backhoe or a piece of cat equipment inside the reservoir under the return from the tail pipe coming into the top of the bucket and all the large debris will stay inside that filter and then filter after the pump as a secondary filter. That will keep the solvent clean. I love the heater idea. don't think I can use that with solvent though. Might use the heat wrap around the reservoir though. I never had any luck with water base solvents, maybe a steam cleaner. Thanks for the video, some very good ideas. I may use one of these pumps on my bandsaw as a coolant/lube pump. That is a lot cheaper than the ones they typically use.

Man..... Great ideas...

Great build! I'm wondering if that pump can handle petroleum based solvents? any idea?

The other option that I would choose is to raise the parts washer about a foot. It’s way too low,kills my back

Nice!

Brilliant

I'm not enthusiastic about the non-water tight electrical enclosure you've chosen. With the solution being pumped, sprayed and brushed in the tank above, it is very possible to have it drip down the side of the tub and into the electrical box. PVC based, outdoor rated components would have been a better solution. Be very sure to plug this into a GFCI protected circuit.

I love your setup. don't mind if I copy your ideas.

Looks the part but how well does it work? What temp is the fluid? Is the heater worth it? Any chance of a vid washing parts so we can see if it's right for us? Thanks

Massive downside here is you can't submerge parts for soaking any longer. I suppose you could fashion drain plugs for your two drains, though.

Hey i am following youe vid to build a very similar setup, i was wondering what your solution was for the fittings in and out of the filter housing? It says 3/4 NPT and the hose barbs on the pump are 10mm, i cant find any 3/4 npt to 10mm barbs, did you reducd from 3/4-3/8 and then 10mm?

Any idea why my spa heater wont come on?

1D10CRACY: great video, thanks! Quick question: I thought the solvent should be filtered first, also; but my question is: Is there any fatigue or extra effort on the part of the pump to draw the solvent through with the resistance that the filter (probably) adds? That was my only real concern, because I've had a couple pumps go out on me, one lasted a solid 10 years, but the latest one failed in 2.5 years, so didn't know what your results were. Thanks again for the vid. Wow man, you've made a very good set up!!!

What type of filter media did you use?

Nice build! From a cold start how long does it take for the fluid to get to a good heat level? And how hot does it get?

If you drain the fluid then how can you leave in the parts to soak. Especially with the heater that would be desirable to have parts submerged to soak. Other than that the mods are great.

what did you connect the "bond" wire (spa guts) too? I would look forward to sharing my build - albeit - some mods based on your configuration - - the bond connection seems a bit,,, ?? #kindnees (thank you)

How much did all this cost you ? I see they want 135 for the heater. When I moved 14 years ago, I gave my parts washer (kerosene solvent) away...nasty, smelly, dirty....this is definitely a significant improvement.

That spa heater is $275 so I'm gonna save big and plumb a line out of my existing hot tub over to the parts washer.

Where do u have the heater bonded to? Somewhere on the washer or to ground in your switch box?

Lol I thought the same with the filter 😅 🤣 why put it after the pump that makes no damn sense

How hot is it and can you adjust the heat?

Just a reminder to everyone, "It's JUST a parts washer" lol

So how warm does it get?

How long does it take to heat up?

You talk like Ted Koppel did in 1984

Asuh dude?

is it dangerous? to use?

Okay, I must say that this video is well-produced and edited, however, it also may cause many viewers to spend several hundred dollars unnecessarily in an attempt to copy the end results. The parts washer can be purchased brand new from HF for $59.00 plus tax, albeit, if you wait for a sale paper, you can get an extra $5 - 10.00 discount. The fact being, this washer is made of cheap metal with no base coating, only a thin single coat of paint and a cheap solvent pump. All of which means that the washer is not designed to last for any length of time, so why add another $2 - 300.00 dollars of unneeded parts to a $60.00 washer ??? Answer: The need to add a filter and a solvent heater is totally without merit for a washer of this size and of such cheap production. First, it comes with its own installed filter, yes the filter requires constant cleaning and replacing, but it will do the same job as the one which is being added to the washer in this video. Second, there is no reason for adding an expensive heater, inasmuch as the solvent cannot be heated to the high temperature of expensive/industrial washers that come equipped with a heater. With expensive washers, the heated solvent is pumped through many automatic discharge nozzles, not through a handheld single nozzle which would burn the holder at any temperature high enough to make a difference in appreciable cleaning ability. Third, there is no reason to add a solvent holding bucket, plus a solvent pump and all the plumbing that is required, since the tub of this washer has its own solvent drain ??? All that is needed is to add some kind of strainer or straining material to the bucket to catch the dirt and raw material as it pours into the bucket from the tub's drain, which can then be manually returned/poured back into the tub. Fourth, what kind of parts washing are you planning on doing, will it be daily or occasionally, will it be of large engine parts/casings or small hand size parts, will the cleaning actually require the solvent to be heated or just applied by a nozzle and lightly scrubbed with a solvent brush, will the washer be expected to last a lifetime or just as a shop assistant when needed, taking into account the actual number of times that it will be used in your shop. My suggestion, if you are going to buy a cheap parts washer, so be, that is what you want and that is what you need, but don't attempt to upgrade that which was never intended to be upgraded. If you want a parts washer which heats the solvent and does a better job of filtering the debris washed from the parts, then buy an industrial washer instead and forgo all the extra parts buying and associated problems that will come with the mismatched conglomerate of plumbing as is done in this video. (i.e.) clogging, leaking, drawing a vacuum, etc. One old man's opinion who owned a similar parts washer (same washer, different name brand) in my small engine repair shop on a daily basis for 5 years without any problems whatsoever. Once a month I would change the filter, every 2-3 months I would clean/strain the solvent and return the cleaned solvent to the tub, I also changed/replaced the solvent with new solvent once a year.

Overkill... Just wash the parts close the lid repeat.

LMFAO....ridiculous!

good idea with a duct water heater !