Ok to use white spirit instead of paraffin?

[eddystone]

Lewmar instructions for winch servicing say use paraffin to clean components. Is white spirit ok for this as paraffin not stocked by so many places these days?

 

[Old Harry]

Yes, or even diesel fuel, you are only de-greasing

 

[PCUK]

As white spirit leaves an oily residue, the answer is no. Get some engine degreaser, Gunk or similar.

 

[johnalison]

Paraffin is better for cleaning really. I then wash off the paraffin with meths, which itself is washable with water. Overall, this is much less messy.

 

[VicS]

OK I think but paraffin or kerosene is available.

B&Q stock it but you might find it under trade names elsewhere. I expect it will be cheaper than white spirit.

AFAIK my local garage still have it available "loose" from a dispenser on the forecourt although they no longer sell petrol etc

 

[VicS]

As white spirit leaves an oily residue, the answer is no. Get some engine degreaser, Gunk or similar.

White spirit should not leave an oily deposit Not that it will matter for the OP's use
It will dry more quickly than paraffin but if necessary "meths" will clean off any remaining and dry quickly

 

[CAPTAIN FANTASTIC]

Its only for cleaning and therefore white spirit or paraffin will be fine. Both white spirit and paraffin dry out. Diesel oil will do same job too.

 

[Poignard]

I use alcohol a bruler that I have on board for the Origo stove.

Otherwise I would use diesel.

 

[RichardS]

The go-to solvent used by builders and mechanics for cleaning and de-greasing is white spirit. It will not leave any residue unless it is contaminated.

Acetone is the "gold standard" as used in laboratory work but it is a lot more expensive and is more likely to attack certain substrates.

Richard

 

[lw395]

You don't want to have the parts 'free of grease', just free of dirty old grease.
Washing with water doesn't help the cause. So I'd avoid all the Gunk/Jizer/Degreaser jollop.
Paraffin, diesel, white spirit, it doesn't matter, so long as you don't leave so much on the parts it thins the new clean grease.
White spirit is a bit more volatile, fire hazard.


Remove as much as you can with kitchen roll or whatever.
If you do it often enough, you can just wipe away the old grease and replace with new.

 

[graham]

Remember you don't want any grease around the pawls just a drop of oil .when the grease gets dirty it will cause the pawls to stick in the recesses.

 

[scotty123]

Paraffin is better for cleaning really. I then wash off the paraffin with meths, which itself is washable with water. Overall, this is much less messy.

Whatever you use, dispose of it properly.

 

[Tamar]

We used to clean stuff in petrol

 

[peteK]

Wd 40 would be ok.

 

[scotty123]

We used to clean stuff in petrol

During the Battle of the Atlantic, it was rumoured that the RAF used aircraft fuel to keep hanger floors looking pristine.

 

[Biggles Wader]

I confess to not putting any more grease on my winches for several years. Filthy stuff! I tend to whip the barrels off and lube with sewing machine oil fairly often. Only takes a few minutes and keeps them running sweet. All wrong Im sure

 

[scotty123]

I confess to not putting any more grease on my winches for several years. Filthy stuff! I tend to whip the barrels off and lube with sewing machine oil fairly often. Only takes a few minutes and keeps them running sweet. All wrong Im sure

Better than putting grease near the pawls & springs, which has been known.

 

[pcatterall]

In the olden days the use of paraffin was sometimes thought to be advantageous as the slightly oily residue helped protect bare metal surfaces until they were in use and being oiled.

 

[scotty123]

In the olden days the use of paraffin was sometimes thought to be advantageous as the slightly oily residue helped protect bare metal surfaces until they were in use and being oiled.

Good for finding cracks.

 

[ghostlymoron]

I use paraffin and leave to drain on newspaper. As I put the parts in a bowlful, I wouldn't use anything expensive and don't think a slight residue will matter.