Ultrasonic cleaner question

[bmwpower]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200343610187

This thing is cheap. Is there anyway to remove the small container and replace it with a larger cylinderical container? Or are these things generally non-removable? Look like it might be missing the lid? Like I said it was cheap for an ultrasonic cleaner.


...edit....

Just found this from the manufacturer website:

Pulsed Ultrasonic Cleaner
Several times more powerful than similar devices, PUC dislodges dirt left behind by ordinary ultrasonic cleaners. Although very compact (the well is 8 cm diameter by 3.5 cm deep), PUC creates maximum turbulence by combining a subsonic wave and a high intensity ultrasonic wave. The well will hold small microdissection instruments. Insert the plastic cup in the well and triple the volume available for cleaning. It contains a dual setting for normal or high power and shuts off automatically after 5 minutes.

I wonder how big a cup you could use?

 

[BillK]

BMW,
They are usually fixed as part of the machine. What are you thinking of cleaning with it ? We had a slightly larger unit on trial at my shop a few years ago and I was generally not impressed with it. We were told it would clean engine parts etc but it really did not do that great of a job.

 

[bmwpower]

BMW,
They are usually fixed as part of the machine. What are you thinking of cleaning with it ? We had a slightly larger unit on trial at my shop a few years ago and I was generally not impressed with it. We were told it would clean engine parts etc but it really did not do that great of a job.

Really? I'm not sure what I would use it for. Maybe cleaning bolts, nut and small tools maybe.

Was it just not powerful enough to clean parts?

 

[BillK]

It would get the oil and grease off them about as well as scrubbing them in a parts washer, but it did not remove any baked on carbon and the brown "baked oil" residue that engine parts get on them. It does nothing for rust and corrosion so I doubt that it would be good for cleaning nuts and bolts etc. The one we tried was more like this one:

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-INDUSTRIAL-...emQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item20af1e3c80

Maybe the technology has gotten better but I would not spend any money on one without some type of money back warranty.

 

[Busted_Knuckles]

Have to use the right cleaning solution, I remove rust, baked grease/engine oil, steel, engine parts, carb parts, tools, you name it, with the right cleaner, there aint nothing that comes out looking like new. Mine also has heat. I love it! Its also 20 times bigger than this one, but this one looks really tiny.

You cant change the "tub", the transducers are epoxied onto them, the tub vibrates, so there is no changing it. (actually the transducers vibrate the tub, or vibrate with it, or how ever you want to say it)

These are rated in watts of power, and this might be a little on the small end to use even for corroded/greasy fasteners, but for $35 you can find out.

You need a basket to make this work, if you throw fasteners into it and they sit on the bottom, you will burn of the transducers, been there...

 

[Davefr]

Use a 20% off coupon and get this one instead:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=95563

It has heat which makes a big difference.

 

[BillK]

Have to use the right cleaning solution...

BK,
So which solution do you use ??

 

[Bull]

Are these a good choice for cleaning old greasy tools? If you put a batch of nasty, oily sockets in the HF unit (which I like the size and price of, btw) how long does it take to clean them? How often does the solvent have to be changed? In such a small volume, I imagine it gets nasty pretty quick.

 

[Busted_Knuckles]

BK,
So which solution do you use ??

Zep Industrial Degreaser, available at HD, or from any zep rep. Any of the the other purple cleaners too, but the Zep appears to be significantly stronger. There is another thread on here, where the purple cleaners and degreasers where broke down by active ingredients. I prefer the zep because its the strongest I have found and you can get it in a 5 gallon pail. I play with transmissions and differentials, I clean allot of parts and tools....

I think the zep has lye in it, it will remove paint, and any anodized finishes, also black oxide, but it will also remove rust, light rust, you wind up with clean bare metal. It even does a number on the stainless tub of the ultrasonic cleaner. Chrome tools come out looking great. (keep in mind, mine has heat)

Will do a number on aluminum, would not recommend aluminum in that cleaner, unless you spray on scrub and wipe off, if you bake in ultrasonic machine, it does a number on the finish.

 

[Busted_Knuckles]

Are these a good choice for cleaning old greasy tools? If you put a batch of nasty, oily sockets in the HF unit (which I like the size and price of, btw) how long does it take to clean them? How often does the solvent have to be changed? In such a small volume, I imagine it gets nasty pretty quick.

Yes, about two "sets" maybe three of nasty tools and I change the fluid, I run about 50/50 cleaner/water. About an hour for recently slimed tools, several hours if they are tools I bought at a sale and have never been cleaned once. You can probably run the fluid much longer, its just that all that **** gets suspended in the cleaner, it looks nasty, but I'm guessing it could be used significantly longer if you wanted. (mine is not HF, mine is a us made one, and probably has more watts than the chinese one, mine was made for medical devices)

Ive not found a better way to clean tools and small parts, and I'm a bit a clean freak, and a tool freak, so if there is a better way, Id love to hear about it. I spent almost 2k on a regular parts cleaner if that means anything. I burned up my ultrasonic cleaner, I used it so much. There is another active thread on this topic running within the last week, where I talked about dos and donts. I burned mine up as a result of ignorance. Id love to get one as big as my parts washer, but those are like 10k used.... that aint gonna happen, but would be really nice....

My tool boxes are very clean inside and out, as well all my shop equipment, I spend way too much time cleaning (I'm half Dutch and half German, boy cant help it!) Nothing gets put away without cleaning, Ive got the foaming citrus cleaner and foaming class cleaner hanging on the side of my service cart, everything gets a wipe down as it gets put away, and that only if it didn't have to go through the parts washer first. Depends on the work, I just wrapped up a head job, those tools just get a wipe, if I'm pulling a trans or axle, they usually get a bath first.

 

[Bull]

Busted Knuckles (heretofore known as BK for the sake of brevity!) what is the brand you have, and what did it run ya?

What do you do with the old cleaner? For an average shmoe, disposing of a toxic sludge pool every couple batches of parts is going to get a bit tiresome, I imagine.

I know there is another thread about this topic, somewhere. I will check it out. Maybe I should merge them.

 

[Davefr]

Use 75% stoddard solvent (mineral spirits) and 25% Naptha (Coleman fuel). 15 minutes is usually long enough. (yea, I know you shouldn't use heat with solvents but I do anyway and keep a close on it)

When the solvent gets dirty just rack it to a can and let the **** settle out and then pour off the top portion and re-use it. The solvent will last indefinately.

 

[BillK]

Use 75% stoddard solvent (mineral spirits) and 25% Naptha (Coleman fuel)..

If I did that in my business and osha came around .............

That mixture would probably clean without the ultrasonic waves

 

[Davefr]

If I did that in my business and osha came around .............

That mixture would probably clean without the ultrasonic waves

It's nearly the same as L&R #222 that sells for $50/gallon:

http://www.lrultrasonics.com/msds/222Non-AmmoniatedUltrasonicInstrumentCleaningSolution2-24-09.pdf

 

[Busted_Knuckles]

Busted Knuckles (heretofore known as BK for the sake of brevity!) what is the brand you have, and what did it run ya?

What do you do with the old cleaner? For an average shmoe, disposing of a toxic sludge pool every couple batches of parts is going to get a bit tiresome, I imagine.

Mine is a Branson, my used cleaner goes in the trash (I have a dumpster). I dont really know what I paid for it, I bought it in a lot of Parts, it was boxed brand new, was sort of a suprise.. it was not represented, but present! I was like, "Wow" thats cool...

 

[robin1731]

Use a 20% off coupon and get this one instead:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=95563

It has heat which makes a big difference.

This is the one I have. I use it for motorcycle carbs. I use a mix of simple green and distilled water. I don't know the mix, I just put the SG in about an inch or so deep then the rest water. It works pretty good for carbs. I can't get a full rack of four in it though. Two will fit but sometimes you need to rotate them to get all sides. For the money spent I am very happy.

 

[Bull]

Maybe BK or you, robin1731, can do a before and after demonstration for us, using your respective units? There have been at least two threads about these things in recent weeks...the people want to know (and see!)

 

[Busted_Knuckles]

Hey Bull,

As I mentioned in other thread, I recently ran mine with tools on the bottom and burned out the transducers. I bought new ones (transducers), I ground off the old ones (messy-pia), but have not epoxied on the new ones...the specific epoxy I bought got for the project got consumed for something else in the meantime. If no gets around to it, I will. Ive got a car to get out of here this weekend, and then I should have some time to play...(have to go to town to find more epoxy).

Anyone else, feel free to step up to the plate and do a show and tell,... or this will give me a reason to get-r-done!

 

[Bull]

Understood, BK!

Robin, you game? Have any greasy old tools to throw in yours and fire it up? Good thing about you is if you have the HF machine, then that is one that a lot of folks might consider buying because of the price and the decent 2.5 liter capacity.

 

[lt1guy97]

I'd like to see the before/after of greasy or rusty tools, if anyone has them

 

[9GUY9]

Understood, BK!

Robin, you game? Have any greasy old tools to throw in yours and fire it up? Good thing about you is if you have the HF machine, then that is one that a lot of folks might consider buying because of the price and the decent 2.5 liter capacity.

no super greasy but here ya go

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=757423#post757423