Mold cleaning alternative to brake cleaner

[Tonto]

Yesterday I started to prep a new RCBS mould for a casting session. A couple squirts of brake cleaner followed by two hot water and Dawn scrubs with an old toothbrush then sitting the handled mould on the Lee pot. Once the alloy was melted and fluxed, corner dipped the mould for 30-45 seconds and the second pour produced keepers. A little further into the session the mould top, spruce plate and locator pins were treated with a mould prep/2-cycle oil. Easy, fast and it’s tough to beat these iron moulds.

[DocSavage]

Regular Simple Green isn't something you want to use on aluminum. I think they make one they claim is safe to use with aluminum, but I've never seen it.

Simple Green stainless/aircraft when I worked for a major jet engine maker we used it for cleaning stainless steel and exotic alloys.

[HumptyDumpty]

Regular Simple Green isn't something you want to use on aluminum. I think they make one they claim is safe to use with aluminum, but I've never seen it.

That's their aviation-specific product. It can be had from Aircraft Spruce.
https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catal...s/09-00809.php

[PhilC]

I use ordinary lacquer thinner same as I use in my (paint) gun washer...can get at any auto paint supply store.

[Charlie Horse]

I use lighter fluid. The stuff for a zippo. I spritz the mould good and dry it. Then as I preheat the mould, I open the sprue cutter and fill the cavities with fluid. It boils in the cavity when the mould is hot. Seems to scrub all the nooks and crannies good. It has never burst into flames like I first expected it would doing this.

AKA naphtha.