I'm cheap! For ~$200.00 I could buy a new parts washer and fluid. But I figure I can make my own cheaper. I have been lugging around an old pump [free]
from an oil burning furnace for quite a few years now waiting for a little time and ambition to put together a parts washer. So that pump along with a dual stainless sink [free], and some air fittings [compressor controller, not working, free];
I put washers on the tee in order to hold it onto the cabinet behind the sink, it ended up being the perfect distance apart to sandwich the top firmly and not leak;
and clear braided poly line [$15.00] and 2 brushes [$6.00]
and some other misc. stuff [$18.00, fitting and filter, and a pail of fluid-$45.00, hose clamps-$6.00, extra air fittings-$9.00, flex spout-$15.00, 2x4 to build cabinet-free];
this is a filter housing and filter for hydraulic fluid. I tried using oil filters on the housing, they fit but the pump could not pull the fluid through the oil filters;
and I ended up with this, bottom view;
top view;
Edit for better pic;
In the above pic you can see the valve for the flex spout and also the blue inline valve [$5.00] for the brush
Total cost ~$125.00 and about 4 hours of work.....well, maybe 1 hour of actual work and three hours fixing my screw-ups. It's not that much cheaper than the brand new one on sale right now at princess auto, and definitely not as good looking as the bright red shiny painted .....but I built it! If I was to do this really cheap, I would skip the flex spout and filter system and save about $35.00.
The pics are small but you get the idea.
Richard