Does anyone use A Steam Cleaner?

[Guest]

I have a small steam cleaner and am wondering if anyone uses a steamer to clean the parts after everything else, before you coat them? I think it was here that I read that it was a good way to go if you could. Am I right?

[BeeBob]

Re: Does anyone use A Steam Cleaner?

I'd love to have one, but they're a"little pricey" for me!

[Guest]

Re: Does anyone use A Steam Cleaner?

I have a Karcher brand hot water pressure washer that goes to 208 degrees F. I actually bought it on Ebay and got lucky on the price. I use it to degrease motorcycle frames and wheels that have a lot of road grime. I would think though a true steam cleaner like a "Steam Jenny" would be better. They are handy on larger parts that won't fit in the degreaser bath. One of my friends had a true steam cleaner for degreasing engine blocks before he rebuilds then. He's probably rebuilt thousands of engines in his lifetime. I remember he said he had kept track of the number of transmissions he had rebuilt and it was over 6000. A steam cleaner is a must with grimey engines and trans. If you have that kind of volume on frames and old wheels to powder coat I would think it would be a necessity.

[Guest]

Re: Does anyone use A Steam Cleaner?

Like I said earlier, this one is small potato's, but I did like the way it seemed to clean. High heat and some pressure to go with it.

[Guest]

Re: Does anyone use A Steam Cleaner?

The only negative to a steam cleaner vs. a pressure washer is that the cloud point of most chemistries will not handle the heat it creates...simply make sure that the part is wet but not too hot when applying your cleaner.

[Guest]

Re: Does anyone use A Steam Cleaner?

The only negative to a steam cleaner vs. a pressure washer is that the cloud point of most chemistries will not handle the heat it creates...simply make sure that the part is wet but not too hot when applying your cleaner.

Could you explain further on this cloud point? I work in a laboratory where we run cloud points on kerosene, diesel, gas oils and lubricants. Usually when you run a cloud point you are bringing the temperature down to see when the paraffins start to solidify or form a cloud in the product. I'm not sure I understand. Thanks..

[Guest]

Re: Does anyone use A Steam Cleaner?

Cloud point...........is that when you lay on the ground and point at clouds that look like bunnys?

[Guest]

Re: Does anyone use A Steam Cleaner?

Cute...The cloud point is where the chemistry is most effective. If you go beyond the cloud point the chemistry can breakdown and is no long effective. Another negative to using steam for phosphating is contact time on the part. If you are coating large parts it is not recommended.