Cleaning parts

[Jon Pike <jhpike@domain.elided>]

I was wondering what people use nowadays,  in these air quality concious 
days,  for cleaning
parts?  
Was looking at a big parts washer (Harbor Freight, on sale for $69) but 
they apparently
aren't designed for the usual solvent based solutions (rubber seals in 
the pump?) and they suggest
water based stuff.

I now have an engine that has been dissassembled for years,  parts oiled 
and nicely wrapped,  now
the oil is a half dried stickey mess on a lot of them.  That, and I want 
to make sure that oil galleries
are well flushed out and clean, so some kind of pressure flow would be good.

I've bought a can of that Berryman Chem-Dip stuff,  with the parts 
basket in the paint can,  and found
it to be a heavy liquid, that they reccomend washing off the parts with 
water.  It wouldn't seem to just
evaporate without any residue..  (though it cleans pretty well) so I 
worry about contamination.  And of
course,  it's only good for small parts.

So,  what do you use, and how do you use it?  Is a forced flow cleaner 
neccicary or worth having?
What solvents do you use?  Are the water based ones worth anything, or 
something you wouldn't
want to use on a engine rebuild?

I've also picked up a $6 hand pump that is oil and gas safe,  on the 
chance I might just use it and
a large tub, for flushing parts with more "aggressive" solvents.  Don't 
worry, I know enough to not keep
5gal of gas in a wide, uncovered container in my garage.  (gas water 
heater + fumes=BOOM!!)

Thanks..

Jon
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