WOW! You guys have a lot of nerve LOL. I can't believe you got busted boiling a chain Matt. Oh she must have rained scorn down upon you.
I went to stores that resell donated clothes, furniture and get this, cooking items. I got all manner of stainless and aluminum pots, trays, bowls and colanders for washing or cleaning carbs, alternators, starters or a whole collection of nuts, bolts and washers. Biggest problem is storing and disposing of the waste cleaning fluids or oils. I have some left over 5 gallon / 20 liter plastic pails with lids for that.
I even got two LARGE stainless steam trays from a warming table from a restaurant supplier. I happened to drive by as they were disposing of them but that was many years ago. Now everyone keeps their scrap so it might not be as easy as just driving by and finding items like that.
But the glass table trick, that is pretty ballsy too