ultrasonic cleaning tubs

[svandamme]

thinking about one of these to clean up old engine parts
has anyone ever tried this?

is it really a simple matter of dunking whatever you want in it
turning it on, and then voila , 45 minutes later, all the crud , carbon and dirt is simply gone from your part???

or is that a bit to optimistic?



and if so , do i simply look at size of the tub for the parts i want
or do i need to get the really big suckers with more transducers, because it's engine parts, not jewelery ?

[Overpaid Slacker]

I picked up one for about $100, and it works well, but it doesn't work miracles. Then again, I haven't tried a 45 minute cycle...

Try using a water/vinegar (white vinegar) solution for best results on metal parts.

JP

[svandamme]

well , i'm thinking bigger parts, like dirty pistons with carbon on it..or a 911 head ....

so i can't get the smaller (cheap)tubs, and don't wanna shell out on a big one if it doesn't do anything on things like pistons with carbon on em....

the tiny ones are intended for jewelery and dental stuff, i'm talking industrial buggers with heated tub, and 6 transducers...

[lendaddy]

I have three industrial units we use daily. Ultrasonics do amazing things

I have never tried anything with carbon, but they do a good job on grease and crud. Parts are perfectly clean when done.

[svandamme]

sounds good,
about scalability , is size of the tub enough
or do stronger dirts require bigger tubs simply because they have more transducers??

do you use special fluid and does it need replacing often?? or simply filtering from time to time?

[lendaddy]

Originally posted by svandamme
sounds good,
about scalability , is size of the tub enough
or do stronger dirts require bigger tubs simply because they have more transducers??

do you use special fluid and does it need replacing often?? or simply filtering from time to time?

We do use special solvent (stabilized NpB) and it's $1.50 a lb.

I don't know a ton about the machines but the more transducers the better best I can tell as there are sweet spots inside the tubs where it appears they converge their energy and you can feel the part going crazy through a hanging wire.

[Anton]

Use methanol in them, they'll clean most anything.

[svandamme]

i'll get one , seems like a good gadget to have when screwing around with old cars and their parts... i'm regulary selling off stuff again, and shiny stuff get's more money then oil,carbon stuff...
Steve Wilkinson said it best, Porsche people are like magpie


besides, i need something in case my cat is misbehaving... sonic tub will straighten him out , i'm sure of it

now to find a good price on one, or score one on ebay (22 Liter cleaner on ebay in DE running out tomorrow, price is super now, but that could easely change off course ... 35 hours to go on the auction )

i'll bump this thread when i get my thing, and have some results

[azasadny]

We used to use those in the medical field to clean surgical instruments. I remember that someone put their jewelry in one and the settings were damaged. The equipment rep told us never put jewelry in one of those ultrasonic cleaners. This was back in the '80's, so the new ones may be better.

[svandamme]

it's a known thing that these things will shake stones from the setting,
i'm not P Diddy , i don't have any jewelery

[svandamme]

fyi, i did get the 6L , 2 transducer tub
turned out to be less then usefull


heads would fit,
so do pistons
mfi throttlebodies fit half at a time

but fitting something isn't enough , the ultrasonic sweetspot is to small , so unless you constantly reposition the parts for the sweetspot, you might as well piss on the parts to clean em.

chemicals, toothbrush, elbow grease, still the best way for most jobs.. just sold the bugger again with not to much loss, good ridance..

[rammstein]

What would happen if I put myself in an ultrasonic tub- would I get really clean, or really dead?

[on2wheels52]

Re using US on jewelry, I have been less than pleased with the two units I have purchased.
Jim

[kjb]

You can get away from the problem of having a sweet spot by buying a unit that uses multiple frequencies to clean with. At least this is what I remember from looking into buying an ultrasonic cleaner about six years ago.

/ J

[svandamme]

Originally posted by rammstein
What would happen if I put myself in an ultrasonic tub- would I get really clean, or really dead?

probably just tingle all over
had my hands in it, doesn't do much

[cashflyer]

Originally posted by svandamme
fyi, i did get the 6L , 2 transducer tub
turned out to be less then usefull

Unfortunately, I too have recently discovered this. Mine is the same style as your picture above.