Tag: parts cleaner

Temperature control with PID

I watched these 3 great videos from Johnny’s Reloading Bench and decided to make one.

MYPIN PID Temperature Controller – Demo and Parts List

MYPIN PID Temperature Controller – Building and Wiring the Controller

MYPIN PID Temperature Controller – Initial Programming, Testing, Auto-Tuning

There are more great videos, but for this I am only concerned with the above.

I used a panel mount outlet in mine instead of piping the cord out the back. Everything else is the same. All parts he lists fit.

PID Controller Inside View
PID Controller Inside View

Front with lid and high speed test light:

PID Controller Front View
PID Controller Front View

Back and Side shots:

PID Controller Back View
PID Controller Back View
PID Controller Side View
PID Controller Side View

As always, If you want me to print you one let me know in the comments.

You can download it from Thingiverse

Questions? Reach out on the Contact page

Parts Washer

Got me a Harbor Freight parts washer and moving thing to put it on. There are a ton of videos on modifications and how to put it together on the internet. Not going to put you through all that. Just going to show what I did.

I will not be using this for heavily soiled auto parts or farm equipment. Mostly weapons and parts, and to ‘finish’ clean other items.

Harbor Freight parts washer mounted on a moving dolly

I purchased the Oriflo With Hose (OR101H) Flow-Thru Parts Washer Brush and Immersion Water Heater from Amazon. The rest of the items I had laying around.

I did not realize the heater came with a timer, the price was the same as the ones with the timer. I removed it and put a standard plug in it place.

Timer removed from the immersion water heater and replaced with a standard plug

Before I put the plug back on, I drilled a hole above the full line for the cord and put a grommet in.

Grommet installed in a hole drilled above the fill line for the heater cord

Ran the cable and put the plug on:

Heater cord routed through the grommet with the plug attached

I dont want the big metal sprayer thing. I took it off and put a fitting in its place:

Metal sprayer removed from the parts washer and replaced with a hose fitting

I cut the end off the brush hose. It was designed to fit over the end of the metal sprayer. I then slid it over the fitting and clamped:

Parts washer brush hose cut and clamped onto the new fitting

I had to order the drain plug as it is metric:

Metric drain plug installed in the parts washer basin

I built a PID for casting and I have an extra temperature sensor. I drilled a hole in the wash shelf and ran the cable through the grommet.

Temperature sensor cable routed through a grommet in the parts washer shelf to the PID controller

The only other modification I made for now is putting a block of wood on top of the power switch to stop some of the wobble.

Block of wood added on top of the power switch to steady the parts washer

Next up is testing.

Sweet success! I used plain water for the the just in case. It took a long time for the flow to start. So long that I removed the brush and blew air through the tube to make sure it was clear. That must have primed it, started flowing after that.

Parts washer brush flowing water successfully after priming the line

No leaks at the drain after 24 hrs….

Parts washer drain checked for leaks after 24 hours, none found

The PID worked as well. Set it at 100 degrees for now. Can adjust as needed.

PID controller display showing the parts washer heater set to 100 degrees

Questions? Reach out on the Contact page