Ultrasonic cleaner, Ran my 1st batch today…. Options

[jim_hoyland]

Tan my 1st batch. Used 122 degrees and tan 2X for total of 20 min. Used Dawn and a dash of Ammonia. Parts were put into a Seperate tray
Pic 1 is after
PIc 2 is before
I’ll try Awesome soap next

[friethmiller]

I purchased this off Amazon a few years ago. It's from China and works great (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

[TheCabinetmaker]

I bought one of those. Plastic basket melted the first time l used it. Plastic lid crazed and cracked, the broke into pieces. The tub is plastic too. It cracked and leaked all over my counter. Total junk.

Then l bought this one. All stainless. Works great!

https://m.vevor.com/ultrasonic-cleaner-c_11...-p_010234521936

[Superhawk996]

I purchased this off Amazon a few years ago. It's from China and works great (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

I have something similar off amazon (but avoided digital controls) and it's been great.

Almost every review that I've seen on that HF cleaner hasn't been very good. And it's not particularly cheap. For about 50% more there are lots of viable choices on Amazon with good reviews.

[bbrock]

I purchased this off Amazon a few years ago. It's from China and works great (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

I have something similar off amazon (but avoided digital controls) and it's been great.

Almost every review that I've seen on that HF cleaner hasn't been very good. And it's not particularly cheap. For about 50% more there are lots of viable choices on Amazon with good reviews.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) I have an HF cleaner just taking up space now. The control panel is very vulnerable to moisture and eventually will fail if something else doesn't fail first.

[jim_hoyland]

I bought this one. All stainless. Works great!

https://m.vevor.com/ultrasonic-cleaner-c_11...-p_010234521936

Ok, looks good. They offer nine sizes; what size did you get and did it turn out suitable for small parts ?

[jim_hoyland]

And, what solvent do you use ?

[friethmiller]

I bought one of those. Plastic basket melted the first time l used it. Plastic lid crazed and cracked, the broke into pieces. The tub is plastic too. It cracked and leaked all over my counter. Total junk.

Then l bought this one. All stainless. Works great!

https://m.vevor.com/ultrasonic-cleaner-c_11...-p_010234521936

Same brand as mine, it looks like.

[friethmiller]

And, what solvent do you use ?

I use the purple Simple Green stuff. Works well. Curious if there's something better. I'd recommend getting a bigger size than you think you need. I believe mine is a 15L. Could have used the big rectangular one to fit more/larger parts.

[mepstein]

We are renting one like this for our barn shop and just bought one of the parts washers that looks like an oversized dishwasher. Fits a trans or engine case. Saves hours and hours of hand cleaning.

[jim_hoyland]

Hmmmm,I take it a 3L units is too small ? I’ll probably be doing things on the order or nut, bolts, small fittings….

[bdstone914]

Hmmmm,I take it a 3L units is too small ? I’ll probably be doing things on the order or nut, bolts, small fittings….

3L is fine for small parts. The Harbor freight is junk.
I found 20l one on offer up for $150. It was a $4000 unit.

[Robarabian]

Jim,

Here is the trick to these... I cleaned Firearms for years, and now I do car parts in that crappy HF one you initially showed. Have used it for years, works great. especially for nuts / bolts etc...


Put clear water into the ultrasonic cleaner reservoir. Then, use a container filled with your solvent with the parts in it, and dunk that into the tank. The ultrasonic sound waves do their magic through the container you put in there, but you only dirty the smaller amount of solvent that is in the container, not the entire several liters in the cleaner. It works great and gives you control over product use.

Hmmmm,I take it a 3L units is too small ? I’ll probably be doing things on the order or nut, bolts, small fittings….

[jim_hoyland]

Jim,

Here is the trick to these... I cleaned Firearms for years, and now I do car parts in that crappy HF one you initially showed. Have used it for years, works great. especially for nuts / bolts etc...


Put clear water into the ultrasonic cleaner reservoir. Then, use a container filled with your solvent with the parts in it, and dunk that into the tank. The ultrasonic sound waves do their magic through the container you put in there, but you only dirty the smaller amount of solvent that is in the container, not the entire several liters in the cleaner. It works great and gives you control over product use.

Hmmmm,I take it a 3L units is too small ? I’ll probably be doing things on the order or nut, bolts, small fittings….

Thanks Rob, great tip ! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Literati914]

And, what solvent do you use ?

I use the purple Simple Green stuff. Works well.

Does the purple simple green play nice with stock zinc coatings,, etc or will it strip it?


.

[bbrock]

And, what solvent do you use ?

I use the purple Simple Green stuff. Works well.

Does the purple simple green play nice with stock zinc coatings,, etc or will it strip it?


.

Don't know about stripping the zinc or if this applies to the purple stuff, but regular Simple Green is known to cause hydrogen embrittlement on hardened steel so be careful using it on grade 12.9 for sure, and probably 10.9 to be safe.

[Robarabian]

Dawn liquid soap works magical in the ultrasonic. Removes grease and soften hands while you do dishes...er clean parts...

Most manufacturers of ultrasonic cleaners refer to their solutions as "soap"...

[Chris914n6]

I have the HF one, but I think I paid half that a few years ago. No way it's worth $85. So far only use it for cleaning injectors and it does that satisfactory.

It may or may not matter, but I put the carb cleaner in an old metal paint can cap (so I use less) and poor water around it (heat) and put a few rubber plugs to brace the cap so it vibrated better (less floaty).

Purple stuff is slightly acidic so don't use it full strength and keep it off your skin & eyes.

[sechszylinder]

I purchased this off Amazon a few years ago. It's from China and works great (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

I own exactly the same type of cleaner. Actually two versions , one with 5l , the other onefeaturing 20l .

Works like a charm, when using the right cleaning agents …

br

Benno

[friethmiller]

That's it. I'm going to try dish soap next time. Simple Green is expensive.