Originally Posted by pierce

I've been using WD-40 for cleaning small parts. I'll put 1 or 2 fingers in the bottom of a coffee can, put the parts in, slwish them around, pull out the parts, and go over them with a stiff parts brush, maybe even dig into the corners with qtips and wd40, put them back in and swish some more, then wipe everything off with clean rags or shoptowels, polish it all, and grease where needed and reassemble..

I cleaned a chain a few weeks ago that was *so* black, that I had to use a wire brush on it after soaking it overnight in solvent and even then it only came sort of clean. amazingly, after clean, compressor blow dry, and a light oiling with triflow, that chain worked great on a beater roadie my kid wants to flip.

If I was doing this full time, I could see having a parts cleaning tank with a solvent filter and recirculating pump, but I only do this a few times a year... a gallon of wd40 lasts me years. but... is there a better way? should I be using a detergent and water, instead of solvents, for cleaning parts? if so, what sort of detergent cleaner thats commonly available cheaply ?