4 Potential Benefits of Water Based Cleaners

Industrial cleaning agents can be separated into two large groups: Agents that have a solvent base and agents that have a water base — also generally referred to as an “aqueous base”.

Like a solvent base, a water base is used to make industrial cleaner ingredients miscible, creating a solution that has the perfect suspension of active ingredients. If you’re trying to decide whether to use a solvent based cleaner or a cleaner that has a water base, check out the following four benefits of water based cleaners, and compare them to the potential benefits of using solvent based cleaners.

  1. Cost Savings

Water is a perfect example of a substance that is inexpensive because it’s so plentiful. The low cost of water often means that water based cleaners are less expensive that solvent based solutions, although manufacturers ultimately determine prices based on the sales and marketing plan.

With that said, even the most cost effective solvents have a higher price than water that’s taken from the tap, and then purified. If you have a conservative cleaner budget, using a water based cleaner may be the best option, especially considering the cost of long-term use.

  1. Fewer Harmful Ingredients

Like solvent based cleaners, water based cleaners can contain harmful ingredients. However, the base ingredient, water, has no toxic properties and is essential for human life.

Because an aqueous base isn’t a guarantee that a cleaner’s blended chemicals are harmless, choose your solution carefully. For the sake of human safety and the environment, target a solutions that is “environmentally safe” or “environmentally preferred”.

  1. High Flashpoint

Cleaning solutions that are highly diluted with water tend to have a high flashpoint, which means they ignite in the presence of high temperatures instead of low-level heat. In some cases, water based solvents have no flashpoint and are considered non-flammable. Regardless of the work environment in which you use the product, a cleaner with a high flashpoint is considered a valuable safety feature.

  1. Less Regulatory Concern

If the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates a water based cleaner, it’s because the solution contains chemical(s) that are hazardous to human health and/or the environment. Unless all of its chemical constituents are highly safe, there’s no guarantee the EPA won’t phase out the chemicals. However, water based cleaners are never regulated due to their aqueous base.

About Ecolink

Ecolink specializes in providing industrial cleaning solutions to companies and organizations across the U.S. We manufacture a wide array of stock solutions and create custom solutions for the unique needs of a particular user.

Whether stock or custom is the right option, we’ll send you a free sample that lets you test the cleaner before you place an order, so you can buy with confidence. If for some reason you aren’t satisfied with the results, there’s no obligation to buy.

For more information about our water based cleaners, please call us today at 800-563-1305, or send us an email through our contact form. We look forward to answering your questions!

 

Industrial Rust Removal: Solvent vs. Manual Removal

We often think of rust (a.k.a. iron oxide) as primarily affecting iron alloys that are subjected to the elements, particularly oxygen and water. Car frames, sheet metal, and metal fixtures on objects such as telephone poles are prime examples of products that reinforce the view.

However, even equipment that’s never been outdoors can rust when the right conditions are present. Using stainless steel that shuns oxygen and moisture induced corrosion can help, but the best way to counteract rust is to create a work environment that doesn’t foster rust.

If this is impossible, and your equipment experiences rust, you have two option for removing the unsightly chemical reaction: using an industrial rust removal solvent or performing manual rust removal.

Solvent Rust Removal

The easiest way to remove rust is applying an industrial rust removal solvent, such as Rust Rip from Ecolink. Applying the solvent to a rusted area causes rust to flow away and leave the underlying metal rust-free. However, this option is best for rust accumulations that haven’t yet caused the metal to pit and allow rust to progress deeper in the structure.

If heavy pitting is present, rust will be removed and the pits left behind. Because pitting paves the way for further corrosion, the only way to restore the metal to its previously non-rusted state is to grind the surface until it is uniformly smooth. In some cases, rust that penetrates deeply makes this impossible. The dimensional stability of the metal has likely suffered, and it should be swapped out with a new product for the sake of safety and performance.

Manual Rust Removal

When rust progresses past the surface layer to a depth that makes rust removal solvent an inefficient option, manual rust removal is the option of choice. Using a special grinding pad or a sandblaster made for treating metal, the accumulation can be removed quickly.

However, you encounter one of the same results of using an industrial solvent: After grinding or sandblasting are finished, the surface is uneven, dipping in the place rust once occupied. Again, regulating the surface by making it uniformly even is a key to preventing further corrosion, preserving appearance, and supporting dimensional stability.

Need to Remove Rust?

If so, and the rust hasn’t progressed past the surface layer to cause prominent pitting, using an industrial rust removal solvent is usually the best option — and Rust Rip from Ecolink is one of the best solvent based, industrial rust removal solutions on the market.

Rust Rip causes thin accumulations of rust to disintegrate and flow away from the metal’s surface. You may need to mechanically treat the area where rust accumulated to make it homogenous with the rest of the metal’s appearance and corrosion resistance. If you remove causes of rust in the work environment, you may never need to remove rust from metal parts and equipment again, depending on the metal’s age and how it is used.

To learn more about Rust Rip and other industrial rust removal options from Ecolink, please call us today at 800-563-1305, or send us an email through our contact form. We look forward to helping you keep your business-critical equipment and parts rust-free!

Hot Tank Parts Washers: Commonly Asked Questions

An industrial parts washer is a significant investment. Consequently, first-time buyers often have questions concerning which kind of parts washing system they should target: a hot tank parts washer or a cold tank parts washer. The answer depends on the parts washing needs and goals of the user.

In this entry, we focus on commonly asked questions about hot tank parts washers to help you decide if they’re a good option for your parts washing requirements.

  1. Are hot tank parts washers the same as aqueous based parts washers?

In most cases, the answer is yes. Hot tank parts washers are typically aqueous based parts washers. This is because aqueous parts washing cleaners require hot water to dissolve the cleaning detergent — a combined process that produces the stringent cleaning action.

  1. What method of operation does a hot tank parts washer use to clean parts?

Each model is a different regarding construction and features, but hot tank washers generally operate in the following way: water and detergent are combined with heat to dissolve the detergent, then the parts washer performs a mechanical action often compared to a dish washer’s. The type of detergent used and length of the wash cycle determine the end result.

  1. Do hot tank parts washers make parts cleaner than cold tank washers?

It depends on what type of accumulation you need to remove. Cold tank washers generally use solvent based cleaners, which are designed to deliver chemical cleaning power without the need for heat; while hot tank washers use detergent that requires heat to achieve good efficacy. The goal is to match the parts cleaning job with the proper parts washer and cleaning agent.

  1. Do hot tank washers use the jet spray process or power wash process?

Hot tank washers use jet spray action or power wash action. The process used impacts the type of detergent used, how much detergent is used, the temperature to which water is heated, and the mechanical energy produced to perform the jet spray or power wash function.

  1. Does jet spray action offer better cleaning than power wash, or vice versa?

Wikipedia provides a succinct answer: “The power wash process is superior to the jet spray process for faster, more thorough parts cleaning cycles while minimizing detergent use and waste generation. The power wash process is generally effective for difficult soil removal applications, such as burnt hydrocarbons, paint, scale, varnish, carbon, mastic, or rubber.”

  1. Why should I purchase solvents for a hot tank parts washer from Ecolink?

There are several reasons to make Ecolink your supplier. We provide eco friendly stock solutions and custom solutions for hot tank parts washers. If a stock product isn’t a perfect match for your needs, we’ll create a custom solvent tailored to your requirements. In addition, we provide free test samples, so you can try a cleaner to see how it works.

To place an order or request information, please call us today at 800-563-1305, or use our contact form. We look forward to helping you select the right cleaner for your parts washing needs.

Gun Shop Parts Solvents: Properties for Perfect Gun Cleaning

In action movies, we see guns of all kinds firing round after round, as if the pistols and rifles were practically indestructible and incapable of failing. But this perception is far from the truth. Unlike the black powder rifles and firearms of yesteryear, today’s cutting edge firearms are essentially compact machines filled with hundreds of complex moving parts.

To ensure these guns deliver the highest performance, those parts need to be cleaned with gun shop parts solvents that are specially formulated for the job.

Gun Shop vs Private Ownership

Gun shop parts solvents are also available to private individuals for cleaning guns. But gun shop cleaning may be described as “precision cleaning” and is exceptionally important for both the mechanical operability of guns and, by extension, how safe they are for end users to fire.

This is why professional gun dealers often use a parts washing system to remove all residues and particulate matter from gun components before reassembling the rifle or firearm, whereas a private individual generally cleans his or her gun parts with hand wipe, aerosol, or pump spray applications.

Cleaning a gun manually with agents that are appropriate for the metal, plastic, wood, and other materials on the gun body and behind the plating doesn’t present a problem. However, after extensive use, it’s a good idea to take a gun to the gun shop and have it cleaned professionally.

Most frequently used guns need their mechanical components professionally cleaned to remove particulate matter that can build up during personal cleaning operations. Particulate matter is attracted to the parts due to the lubrication they receive to keep them functioning smoothly.

Some of the particulate matter can simply be wiped away, but particulates in tight seams and crevices need to be removed, as well — and gun shop part solvents are designed for the job.

Choosing Gun Shop Parts Solvents

If you own a gun shop, and you’re interested in using environmentally preferred gun shop parts solvents instead of old generation, toxic solvents that are good for neither you nor the environment, Ecolink is a great destination for the gun part cleaners you need.

We offer eco friendly cleaners that are compatible with the metal, plastic, rubber, and wood parts commonly found in today’s firearms, as well as vintage and antique firearms. If you sell reconditioned guns, our solvent solutions will help you make them look and function like new.

In addition to supplying a wide selection of stock solvents, we also customize solvents to address the requirements of specific users. If one of our readymade solutions doesn’t work, we’ll create a custom solutions that does. In addition, we supply free solvent samples on request. Order a sample, test it out, and decide if it offers the cleaning power you need.

Contact Us Today

To get started on choosing gun shop parts solvents, call us today at 800-563-1305, or send us an email using the contact form on our website. We look forward to supplying the solutions you need!

 

 

 

 

 

Choosing Tool Parts Cleaners: A 5-Step Checklist

In industrial settings, tool parts cleaners are one of the most-used classes of cleaning solvents. Consequently, the number of solvents marketed as tool part cleaners is practically endless. You could never evaluate them all and make an educated selection within a reasonable timeframe.

Consequently, it’s a good idea to start your search by creating a basic checklist — such as the one below — that will help move you along in the tool parts cleaners selection process.   

  1. Will an enclosed parts washing system be used?

If so, you’ll need to do more than match a cleaner with the types of soils that need to be removed. You’ll also need to choose a cleaner that’s compatible with the parts washing system. That typically means choosing an aqueous based cleaner for a “hot tank” system or a solvent based cleaner for a “cold tank” system.

  1. What kinds of part materials must be cleaned?

When we think of industrial parts cleaning, metal parts immediately come to mind. In most cases, it is metal parts that require cleaning, but not just any cleaner will do. For example, some cleaners that work fine for carbon alloys would cause chromium alloys to tarnish significantly.

Furthermore, for the sake of cost effectiveness and performance quality, many “metal” parts also have rubber and plastic components. This can complexify the selection of tool parts cleaners. You need a cleaner that works on the metal and any non-metallic components that are present.

  1. Will parts be cleaned while they are energized?

A tool part cleaner is usually applied to parts that have been removed from a mechanized assembly (if they were in an assembly in the first place). There are also situations when a tool part is cleaned while a machine remains in action. For example, degreasing tools in production equipment may occur while the equipment stays in operation to meet production quotas.

Long story short: In addition to needing a cleaner selected with the cleaning system and material(s) of the parts in mind, you’ll need a cleaner that has a dielectric. At the proper strength, the dielectric content will prevent electrical current from traveling through the solvent as you use it to clean.

  1. What types of soils must be removed from parts?

Used for various applications, industrial tool parts accumulate a variety of soils, from simple grease and oil that are used to lubricate, to tough organic accumulations such as bitumen and resins. Removing a tough accumulation doesn’t necessarily require a powerful, toxic cleaner.

You can use a strong, environmentally preferred cleaner instead. Choosing this type of cleaner is beneficial for more than the health of your workers and the environment. By avoiding cleaners that have ingredients that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considered hazardous, you avoid using a cleaner that the EPA may eventually regulate or ban.

In the Market for Tool Parts Cleaners?

If so, Ecolink is your destination for eco friendly cleaners that demonstrate excellent efficacy and lack many of the harmful ingredients common in popular solvents of the past. We provide an array of stock products, as well as custom products for when readymade solutions aren’t the best option. In addition, we let you request a free sample, so you can the results firsthand.

To choose tool parts cleaners for your business-critical cleaning operations, call us today at (800) 563-1305, or reach out to us through our contact form. We look forward to assisting you!