I started using a small rubbermaid tub, just big enough to put an sm420 transmission case in and a ton of small stuff. After seeing how well it worked I upgraded to a 32 gallon garbage can and was able to stick driveshafts in half at a time.
Some of the parts Ive put in there have been pretty nasty as far as old dirt and grease. I usually start by spraying the parts with a degreaser wand that hooks to the compressor and then tank the parts. It does help soften up the grease or in some cases the stuff falls right off, espescially if the part is rusty.
Every old part Ive done has removed at least 95% of paint and grease with the first quick scrub. I think its because the washing soda you make the solution with can be used as a degreaser.
So now, after several scrub downs, and flipping the housing around 180 degrees yesterday, shes all done. I just spent the last 35 minutes scrubbing the heck out of it, dryed it with a rag, then used my torch to evaporate the water out of the metal making it completly dry, then spent a few minutes spraying her down with phosphoric acid thouroughly coating everything a few times, and Im done.
If the weather turns out to be better then the forecast predicts I should have it primed and painted by the end of the week.
Jeff
