What are you using? Any drawbacks to using lacquer thinner?
Never used laquer thinner, so can't comment on that.
For bearings, i'm using Ronsonol lighter fluid, they get a good soak, spin, blow-dry. Them put them on the dremel and spin at 2500-4000 rpm in the lighter fluid and spin and dry once more, usually good to go.
Parts, using mainly simple green diluted in water, and scrubbing with an old toothbrush. For tougher rusty parts that aren't plastic, i use the aerosol TSI-301 as it breaks the rust down very well.
Everyone has their own things they use and there are many great products our there. Find whats readily available and get to work!
Good luck!
Geoff
Simple Green works really great and it has no harsh fumes.
when i clean a bearing, it's gotta be quick. that's why i use a carb cleaner with alot of pressure. some are low pressure and some are high. obviously, you empty out a can of high pressure carb cleaner pretty quick.
if there is any damage or the slightest amount of roughness to the bearing at all, i replace it. if you are in a situation where you HAVE to reuse the bearing, then you could hit it with corrosion x or wd-40, then compressed air and overspin the bearing. you know, hit it with air until it goes "zzzzzzz ZZZZZZZ zzzzzzzzzzz ZZZZZZZZ zzzzzzzzzz ZZZZZZZZ." it will still be rough, but at least now it will spin. if you do this to a new bearing that is dry, you will damage it for sure, so be careful here.
I use diesel starter fluid and air for the initial clean , then jigaloo and spin with a dremel and felt buffing tip to avoid harsh vibrations then finish with DS fluid and air ZZZZzzzzzzZZZZZ put a 1/2 drop of rocket fuel TG and away we go ;D
I have time when I do a reel so I use a ULTRA SONIC cleaner, I put the bearings in a small glass of ACETONE in the U/S, 15/30 mins later they are clean. If I'm in a hurry I will use a bearing blaster with Brake clean or Carb clean and then soak in Acetone and blow dry with a hair dryer.
yeah, i've seen these, but i need to be able to spin the bearings with the carb cleaner, so that's why i use those hemostats (long necked forceps) to hold the bearings, then spray with the carb cleaner until it spins. then i know it's clean.
Compressed air, aerosol cleaners and Dremel tools can all over rev a bearing and could cause it to come apart. Be carefull.
I use carb cleaner, 90% isopropyl alcohol, Simple Green and Awesomen (Awesome will etch glass so be careful with it) for most of my reel cleaning, white vinegar for removing green corrosion from brass gears.
CRC brand QD Electronic Cleaner.
Won't harm plastics, dissolves everything, leaves zero residue.
This is a great product, try it first and then you let me know on how it works for you. I've tried all of the above, this one is working the best for me.
(http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g431/pescatore1/IMG_20110902_1730571.jpg)
I will try that next time. I will go by tomorrow to pick some up.
I know it's a bit dangerous but so that I don't have to keep lots of stuff that I seldom use I use petrol/gas. Dissolves everything but I'm not sure whether it leaves behind a film. I re-grease/oil properly after it's completely dried. Not really keen on using it so am looking for something else. Thing is though you can get a high after you've done your bearings.
minimal fire hazard with carb cleaner. not so with white gas. :-\
I'm using "Super-Tech" Brake Parts cleaner from Wally-World.
The solvent seems to dissolve everything I need it to, there's a LOT of spray pressure, and it's pretty inexpensive.