Best Solvent for cleaning parts ?

[SushiKing]

What is the best solvent for cleaning salt crusty Curado baitcaster frame and parts ?

[boon]

Just salt? Warm water, the universal solvent.

[ReelClean]

Just salt? Warm water, the universal solvent.

I would only add white vinegar for green grunge....
Also have had good luck with Sweets 7.62 on brass gears, but don't leave it in there long because it will strip the copper out of the brass!

[oc1]

I'd use WD-40 despite its terrible reputation here.  It displaces moisture, it has solvents that will cut the old lubricants, and the spray helps loosen gunk.  It a good cleaning agent for something like that.

[ReelClean]

I'd use WD-40 despite its terrible reputation here.  It displaces moisture, it has solvents that will cut the old lubricants, and the spray helps loosen gunk.  It a good cleaning agent for something like that.

Agreed, one of the few things it's good for since I discovered CorrosionX!

[Swami805]

For greasy gunk I like carburetor cleaner. Put some in a small jar and add the mucked up parts.  Swish it around with a lid on it. Good ventilation is a must

[jurelometer]

My opinion:

For just removing salt, warm water is really the most effective solvent, as Boon has noted.  The other stuff mentioned so far on this thread are mostly solvents for removing grease and oil, and won't do much for salt intrusion other than to remove the grease that it might be mixed in with.

For removing old grease and oil, I prefer plain old isopropyl alcohol.  It is not quite as fast as some of the stronger stuff, but is also less toxic.  As I am not a repair pro trying to process a large amount of reels quickly, I find that it is all I need.

You might also need a product that breaks up and helps neutralize corrosion. Corrosion X is a popular product for that here. Degrease and desalt first before going in with the anti-corrosion products when possible.  That will allow you to use less product, give you more complete surface coverage, and will allow the corrosion protection coating to remain in any metal pitting unmolested by additional solvents.

-J