Oil skimmers for parts washers and wash tanks
For an aqueous parts washer, use a stainless-belt oil skimmer: the standard stainless-belt model (from $469, ships in 1 business day) for warm, mild baths, or the full-stainless BSF.SS (from $938) for hot, caustic or acidic solutions to 220°F. Nothing with hydrochloric acid in it.
What floating oil does to a wash bath
Parts arrive carrying way oil, hydraulic oil and rust preventive. The washer lifts it off and it floats on the solution, where it re-deposits on clean parts as they come out through the surface, shortens bath life, and decides how often you dump and recharge the tank: chemistry, heat-up, labor and disposal every time, the biggest running cost of an aqueous washer. A belt skimmer takes the floating layer off continuously so the bath stays clean between changes and the changes get further apart. The tramp oil page explains the same mechanism on coolant.
What fails on an ordinary oil skimmer in a parts washer, and why
Three things. The belt: polyurethane is rated to 80°F (26°C) and softens in a hot bath; the Sidewinder's tubing is rated to 90°F. A Type 301 stainless belt is rated to 212°F and takes detergent and alkaline chemistry. The case: our standard stainless-belt skimmer has a painted steel case, fine over a coolant sump or a mild solution but it rusts and embrittles over a hot caustic bath. The BSF.SS makes the case, frame and belt stainless and is rated to 220°F. The chemistry: anything containing hydrochloric acid will fail a stainless belt. If the SDS lists HCl, do not put a belt skimmer in that tank; call us and we will say so plainly.
Which model for which wash tank
Prices are today's 115 V list prices on the product pages. Belt width sets the removal rate: about 1 gallon an hour for a 1 in belt, 2 gallons an hour for a 2 in belt.
| Your washer | Pick | Reach | Rated to | Price | Ships |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warm detergent bath, mild chemistry, painted case acceptable | Belt skimmer with stainless belt, 1 in (BSF1) | 8 to 24 in | 212°F belt | from $469 | 1 business day |
| Hot, caustic or acidic aqueous washer | Full-stainless belt skimmer, 1 in (BSF1.SS) | 8, 12, 18, 24 in | 220°F | from $938 | Call for lead time |
| Same, heavy oil load or a tank over 100 gallons | Full-stainless, 2 in belt (BSF2.SS) | 8, 12, 18, 24 in | 220°F | from $1,138 | Call for lead time |
| Mild bath, heavy oil load | Stainless belt, 2 in (BSF2) | 8 to 24 in | 212°F belt | from $579 | 1 business day |
| Deep wash tank, fluid more than 24 in below the lip | Long-reach belt skimmer, stainless belt | 36 to 120 in | stainless belt | from $529 | 5 business days |
| Large open tank with a stable level, hot | LH disk skimmer with the high-temp disk (LW300 / LW460) | 4.5 in / 7.5 in | 212°F disk | from $324 | In stock |
| Solution containing hydrochloric acid | No belt skimmer. Call us before you buy anything. |
Replacement stainless belts (from $82) and wiper sets are stocked for every reach. All of these are in the parts-washer skimmer collection.
Sizing an oil skimmer for a wash tank
Reach is the distance from the surface the skimmer sits on, usually the tank lip or lid, straight down to the solution at its normal level. Measure at the lowest level you run, order the next reach up, and remember the belt needs a straight drop and a 2 in x 2 in opening. The motor stays outside the fluid and above the splash line, mounted with two screws or a magnetic base on a flat surface. Oil separates best when the pump and agitation are off, so for washers that cycle between batches put the skimmer on the external timer and let it run after each load. The reach guide has the drawings; the skimmer sizer turns two photos into a part number.
Belt, disk or coalescer for a washer
Belt is the default: it mounts on the lip, reaches 8 to 120 in, and the stainless versions take the heat. A disk skimmer with the high-temp disk (212°F) suits a large open tank with a stable level and a heavy oil load, but the disk must stay partly submerged, so it does not tolerate level swings. Our coalescers are built for water-based coolant on CNC sumps, not hot caustic wash solution; polishing emulsified oil out of a washer bath is a separator job, sized by your chemical supplier. The buying guide covers all four families.
Common questions
Can I put an oil skimmer in a hot parts washer?
Yes, if the belt and case are rated for the bath. The stainless belt is rated to 212°F (100°C); the full-stainless BSF.SS is rated to 220°F in hot, caustic or acidic solutions. A polyurethane belt is rated to 80°F and tube-skimmer tubing to 90°F, so neither belongs in a washer.
Stainless belt or full stainless: what is the difference?
The standard stainless-belt skimmer (from $469) puts a stainless belt on a painted steel case, fine for coolant sumps and mild solutions. The BSF.SS (from $938) makes the case, frame and belt stainless, so hot detergent, alkaline and acidic baths do not rust or embrittle it.
Will the belt survive my wash chemistry?
Detergent, alkaline and most acidic aqueous baths, yes, on the full-stainless unit. Anything containing hydrochloric acid (HCl) will fail a stainless belt, so no belt skimmer in an HCl pickling tank. Not sure what is in the bath? Send the SDS with your photos.
Should the skimmer run while the washer is running?
It can, but it removes the most oil once the pump and agitation stop and the oil floats back up. Washers that sit idle between batches do well on the external timer ($36).
What is the warranty on a parts-washer skimmer?
The unit carries Zebra's free lifetime warranty (registration required). Belts and wipers are wear parts; stainless replacement belts are stocked from $82.
Related: Parts washer oil skimmers · Full-stainless belt skimmer · How to choose an oil skimmer · Oil skimmers for CNC machine shops · Lifetime warranty
Written by the engineering team at Zebra Skimmers Corp, Solon, Ohio. Prices and lead times are the ones on our product pages on the date shown and can change; the product page is the source of truth. Last updated October 2026.