The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Degreasing Frame

I want to degrease the heavily crudded areas before I sandblast the frame. I have scraped what muck I could scrape off and pressure-washed the frame but the grease is still there. What degreaser do you stovebolters recommend that is economical to use and works? Much thanks, Wayne

"Gunk" engine cleaner works pretty good with a couple of applications and a biodegradable cleaner like "Purple Power" works pretty well in a diluted solution that you can pump through your power washer.

All of these work very well, especially if followed by a good power wash:

Gunk
Meguiar's Extra
Easy Off oven cleaner
Simply Green
Industrial Purple
dry powder laundry soap (one wet frame & scrub brush)
Kerosene (if all else fails, due to volatility)

to name a few.

Tony

I have the best luck with Castrol Super Clean, I buy it a gallon at a time from Flaps spray it on strait with a small weed sprayer and let it set for an hour or two. Then take the pressure washer to it.

I've noticed that the grease around rivits comes off real easy once I've cut the head off the rivit with a torch.

Probably not the best way or the first thing to try, but for those stubborn spots getting it good and hot will loosen it right up...

I'd hold this approach for bare frames with no fuel tanks.

Twisted wire brush on a drill works good too. It gets it down to the metal and then the degreaser will get rid of the last bit of scum.

I'm not sure why you would want to degrease when you're going to sandblast. Sandblasting will take it all off. It might take a little more time and time is money but I wouldn't think that much more. Just make sure you get a good prime coat on soon after blasting.

I have used oven cleaner with good results. Using a propane torch and putty knife works too.
Bill

Easy-off oven cleaner

Putty knif and torch. Then pressure wash it with 2700-3500 psi before taking to the blaster.

Thanks everyone for all of the responses. I am finally getting time to work on the truck. The reason I want to degrease the frame before sandblasting is to help keep my sandblaster running better when I recover the sand. Everyone have a great day, Wayne

if you can locate a Buddy or a shop local that washes Big Rigs that has a steam cleaner ..??
That works wonders !
Local guys did my frame for me ...an they got 90% of the crud an 50 yr old grease off but they didnt get the underside very good as i am sure it wouldnt be a pleasant time with that HOT water blastin back at ya ...but they did a super job on the worst .

Wayne, the Castrol Super Clean works great but a word of caution it is NOT good on skin. I cleaned up the frame and engine on my 41 and got some of it inside of the rubber gloves I was wearing and spent 4hrs in the Emergency Room and a week recovering from the 2nd degree chemical burns. I still use it but I am a lot more careful now.

I thought about the "self sandblasting" just as I hit the ENTER button. I agree, recover the sand if it's your sand.

Talk to a powder coating shop about having them degrease it. A friend of mine did that and said it was well worth it. They tanked the whole frame in phosphate or something like that and it removed it all. In my little experience it takes to darn long with the sandblaster and is a waste of time.

I like the oil eater they sell at Costco myself, its like 9$ a gallon as concentrate and I use it as is. Spray the hell out of it, let it soak awhile and pressure wash it and most of the grime falls off in chunks. Rinse and repeat! Good luck.