Fleetwing wrote:

You're talking about cleaning the mechanicals, I assume, rather than the body shell? Mineral spirits should evaporate quickly enough, but if you set up a fan to blow on it that would help as well. Same applies for using a cleaner with water for the shell -- wipe it down and get as much water off as you can, and then place it near a fan to evaporate the water residue before it has a chance to cause rust.. But if you can leave it in a sunny spot, that will help!

Thank you! Yes, I meant the mechanicals...I have several dirty machines and everyone talks about cleaning it with mineral spirits or other strong cleaners and then letting it bake in the sun. I live in CT, we don't see the sun again until April!

I agree with fleetwing.  I generally don’t do harsh chemical cleaning or anything like that, unless the machine is really rusted.  Brushing the mechanics with A LOT of mineral spirits is my general method.  I use a stiff brush to scrub, and a lot of mineral spirits to flush out all the stuff.  It evaporates in about 20 minutes depending on the volume and ambient temperature, my last cleaning went through about a pint of that stuff.

JeffMo74 wrote:

I often read that people clean their machines and then leave them to "bake" in the sun. My question is what do you do in the winter? I live in the Northeast and I really don't want to wait until spring (if it ever comes). Putting a machine in the oven is a no-go. Anybody have any suggestions? Can I clean a machine with mineral spirits and just let it air dry? Thanks as always for your help!

I know this sound weird. But put it your oven on 100 for 2-5 minutes.

JeffMo74 wrote:

Snoopee wrote:

JeffMo74 wrote:

I often read that people clean their machines and then leave them to "bake" in the sun. My question is what do you do in the winter? I live in the Northeast and I really don't want to wait until spring (if it ever comes). Putting a machine in the oven is a no-go. Anybody have any suggestions? Can I clean a machine with mineral spirits and just let it air dry? Thanks as always for your help!

I know this sound weird. But put it your oven on 100 for 2-5 minutes.

Oddly enough my oven won't go below 200. So I rigged up a heat lamp setup and checked the temperature and it peaked at about 90 degrees F.  Worked out well, I used it on a really dirty Clipper and it's my go to machine now.

great machine. I don't have one but have a sterling that I like. recently acquired a Royal KMG and have fallen for it like crazy.