How To: Degreaser, the power of ZEP

[chris vickery]

Restoration tip.
We all have parts that require degreasing, paint and rust removal.
One of the more important considerations these days is the substitution of more environmentally and health friendly chemical in our world.
A new take on an old product that I recently started using in my shop.
ZEP Purple Industrial Degreaser, about $12 bucks at Home Depot.
Contains a bunch of stuff but a certain amount of an old time cleaner, sodium hydroxide.
Mix up with water and clean away.
This stuff works great on grease and will dissolve rust and paint given some time.
I find it works best when you use hot water and a wire brush.
Most recently I cleaned up a bunch of filthy hub and steering knuckle parts.
I’ve been back to them a couple times over the last couple weeks letting them soak in between.
Let’s just say it’s like having a poor mans hot tank less the normal hazard of using a straight sodium hydroxide solution.
Rinse and dry the parts and they come out clean almost the same as OEM castings.
Pics to follow