Recommend a ultrasonic cleaner?

[scottmandue]

Wife has started dropping hints for Christmas... she cut out an ad for a small ultrasonic cleaner from one of those gadget catalogs we get.

Pretty sure you don't get the best price and quality of product from such catalogs.

I know these things are popular with the spoon crowd and maybe even the concourse folks.

Don't need one big enough for a .44 spoon or a weber carburetor, just for small jewelry, rings, necklace, eyeglasses, etc.

Anyone have a small reliable ultrasonic they can recommend?

Thanks!

[herr_oberst]

Not using it for jewelry, but I use the largest one HF sells for my bike chain and gears. Works pretty good, but it needs about three hits to get all the crud.

A couple of hints. I use some all purpose cleaner from one of the dollar stores. Works just as good as anything from a FLAPS, and since you'll use lots for greasy parts, you can save a few bucks.
Guns and jewelry may need a more specialized cleaning solution.
Also, instead of filling the whole unit with cleaner, "float" a smaller vessel of parts and cleaner, and fill the rest of the ultrasonic cleaning tub with plain water.

[scottmandue]

Yep, HF did come to mind.

Surfing the reviews at Amazon some of these things don't seem to last too long.

We have a few people here in the jewelry biz so I am hoping they might chime in.

And reading the reviews I see the spoon folks use them too...

[masraum]

Do a search. I think I remember a decent thread on here before. But that may have been someone that got a really good model cheap off of Craig'slist. I want to say that redbeard may have had one or just lots of info about them.

[VINMAN]

I snagged this one at a yard sale for $5.00 retails for $2000.00

Big enough to fit a SB ford head in it.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by VINMAN

I snagged this one at a yard sale for $5.00 retails for $2000.00

Big enough to fit a SB ford head in it.

If you had a thread about it, then I think that's the one that I'm thinking of. I think Redbeard may also have had a lot to say about them in a thread somewhere. Or maybe not.

[fanaudical]

Anything by Branson is high quality and $$$. You got luck with that one!

I have the Harbor Freight 2L cleaner and have abused it heavily over the last couple of years to do car parts. It's still working well.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by fanaudical

Anything by Branson is high quality and $$$. You got luck with that one!

I have the Harbor Freight 2L cleaner and have abused it heavily over the last couple of years to do car parts. It's still working well.

A bunch of Bransons on eBay, if they have long lives might be worth it to buy used (smaller ones are $100-$200).

HF and Amazon have no name brand for $90.

[LWJ]

I have one from HF. Abuse it. It works. Great little tool.

[look 171]

Scott,

My dad was in the business. We only buy Branson machines. They would be left on all day sometimes on with nothing in it. He just forgets to shut them off and it works better when the solution was hot. They make great machines but the price reflects that. My questions is, how often will you be using to clean her stuff? Buy used or buy HF would be my advice. Keep in mind that a professional tool has been used daily for a long time, so how much life is left in it and for how much? If you want to just clean the occasional ring, use acetone and soak the ring in there for 10 minutes then use a tooth brush to get at the grime. It works really, really well. Just don't so it to pearls. there are a couple more precious stone that should not be soaked in acetone other then that, diamond, jade, ruby, topaz, and a whole bunch of other stones are fine. Wash it out with soap and a toothbrush and make yourself look good. Another tip about the ultra sonic machines is that they sometimes will cause the stone that isn't set property to fall out of its setting. Smaller stones usually. Then we have to drain and fetch.

Forget all the fancy solutions you see on the net. We use simple dish washing detergent and dangle the ring on a copper wire with plastic sheathing. simple 12 or 14 awg electrical wire works great.

PM me if you need help with any of that stuff. I grew up in my dad's shop and worked for him during High school and college.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by look 171

Forget all the fancy solutions you see on the net. We use simple dish washing detergent and dangle the ring on a copper wire with plastic sheathing. simple 12 or 14 awg electrical wire works great.

PM me if you need help with any of that stuff. I grew up in my dad's shop and worked for him during High school and college.

My grandmother taught my mother to use dish soap with a little ammonia and a toothbrush.

[look 171]

Steve,

My father is from the old country where they made everything by hand (Custom Jewelry is ALWAYS better made completely by hand then any casting or machine). No ultra sonic machines. He always told me that people will always find way to do something faster and sometimes better. Ultra sonic cleaner is one of them, but a tooth brush and a little chemical or soap isn't too fat behind. I have done my share of acetone and soap for cleaning. He still did it until he closed up shop. Sometimes, we don't want to jiggle a small worn out setting loose. Out comes the toothbrush.

[quattrorunner]

Originally Posted by look 171

Steve,

My father is from the old country where they made everything by hand (Custom Jewelry is ALWAYS better made completely by hand then any casting or machine). No ultra sonic machines. He always told me that people will always find way to do something faster and sometimes better. Ultra sonic cleaner is one of them, but a tooth brush and a little chemical or soap isn't too fat behind. I have done my share of acetone and soap for cleaning. He still did it until he closed up shop. Sometimes, we don't want to jiggle a small worn out setting loose. Out comes the toothbrush.

This is totally ridiculous. Why on earth would you want to take more time cleaning something than is needed?
I own a jewelry store and shudder to think of life without an ultrasonic cleaner. My father and grandfather also had jewelry stores and they used them as well.
That being said, I have experience with the Branson machines shown above. They're big but not as strong as others. Crest makes strong ultrasonic cleaners. L&r are good as well. There are so many selling these days it's confusing.
We had a test we used to check the strength of a cleaner and it involved holding a flat sheet of aluminum foil in the running cleaner with the solution used in it. If strong, it will put holes in the foil in a minute. Also put your hand in and see if it hurts.
That Branson for $5 is a screaming score though. I'd like that deal as long as it worked well. The ones we had didn't though.

[quattrorunner]

Originally Posted by masraum

My grandmother taught my mother to use dish soap with a little ammonia and a toothbrush.

I always advise customers to use mr clean and 50% hot water and toothbrush at home. Works well.