Small Ultrasonic cleaner

[Sage55]

Looking for a small ultrasonic cleaner and know harbor freight sells one for $30 but found what looks to be the same thing for less here.

Have any of you used either of these models and can share some feedback about them? Thanks!

 

[GSteg]

That one looks quite small. In fact, too small to be useful unless you're only cleaning small sockets. The one from HF is at least twice the size.

 

[madison069]

Actually they are both pint sized. Harbor freight says pint while the other says 16 oz. which is a pint.

 

[Sage55]

Actually they are both pint sized. Harbor freight says pint while the other says 16 oz. which is a pint.

Ha ha, okay I'm glad I'm not the only one that thought the "twice as big" was just a little off.

 

[GSteg]

Sorry. Thought you were referring to the 2.5L version. Overlooked the $30 comment.

 

[Skin]

you may as well throw your money away.

 

[Catamount]

That size looks pretty useless. Get the HF model that's about twice as big. My experience with it here: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=3171276&postcount=7

 

[IndyGarage]

I've got one of those.

For cleaning jewelry or small items, which is what they were made for, it works pretty good. My wife puts her engagement ring in it and it makes it sparkle. I've used it on my watches (waterproof ones of course) and it cleans them up real nice.

I have a medical device that uses gold plated paste on electrodes and it cleans them up real nice.

 

[mark52621]

Just don't put an emerald in it. I hear the ultrasonics will destroy it.

 

[jtrace]

It might be kinda small for garage use,but I just bought one off Amazon for less than $30.00.But I just use it to clean my airbrushes I use for modeling. I don't remeber the number but its on the first page when you look them up.
John

 

[cinco]

I bought mine (from HF) five or six years ago and it runs through about 15 cycles per week, give or take (I'm a hobbyist watchmaker). It's still doing its job, but the "off" button quit working after about six months... not that I really need it. My other ultrasonic is a GemOro and seems to do its thing with more gusto than the one you're looking at, but for the money the cheap one isn't bad.

The best advice I have is to start collecting small jars for whatever different cleaning solutions you're going to use. That way you can just fill the ultrasonic's tank with water and drop in whatever jar you need at the time. Beats the heck out of trying to pour that nonsense back out of the tank when you're done.

IndyGarage's comment makes me cringe a little bit. A watch's water rating is only valid on the day you buy it and I'd worry about doing this to any watch you can't live without. A toothbrush in the sink would put a lot less pressure on the seals, though that's still not really advisable in the crowd I run with. Unless he happens to have a Rolex Sea-Dweller, in which case, go nuts .

 

[IndyGarage]

Casio Atomic and G-Shock - no prob. Citizen and Seiko divers - no prob.

More expensive stuff - no.