Ultra sonic cleaning

[Boiler BriParticipant @boilerbri]

Liquid

[Boiler BriParticipant @boilerbri]

Is the liquid in these ultrasonic cleaner units specific to the parts being cleaned. ?

I was offered one but know nothing about them

Bri

[Martin King 2Participant @martinking2]

Hi Bri,

i use mine on an almost daily basis with water, (unit is heated), with just some washing up liquid in it.

Works very welll indeed. Mainly smaller parts and grungy castings etc.

Cheers, Martin

[Nigel Graham 2Participant @nigelgraham2]

I used one at work for cleaning mainly small metal parts, admittedly already quite clean, and the proprietary detergent didn't appear to be anything very special that washing-up liquid would not match.

Any specificity would be in material, not item; and there might be fluids appropriate for certain things like printed circuit-boards. Best source of information on that are the stockists of the plant and fluids – they want to sell you it but despite the "use outside our control" caveat, it's in their interest to help customers to select wisely.

The bath I used had a heater which helps the action and speeds the drying time.

[David JuppParticipant @davidjupp51506]

There are specialised solutions/chemicals available for different purposes. You can get a long way with a general detergent or de-greaser solution.

Don't use flammables unless you known exactly what you are doing, and take the appropriate precautions.

[Nick Clarke 3Participant @nickclarke3]

My unheated unit (It is a 15quid Aldi special) uses water with a spot of washing up liquid as above.

I have not had to use it for engineering stuff but for mechanical film camera parts, fountain pens and spectacles it works a treat.

Edited By Nick Clarke 3 on 11/02/2021 19:08:07

[Dave Smith 14Participant @davesmith14]

I use Allendale general ultra sonic cleaning solution in my 2L heated version. All my machined and small soldered parts go into his machine no matter the material. For delicate stuff, watches, jewellery, 4mm scale loco chassis and bodies I have a small unheated one I put warm water and washing up liquid in.

Dave

[Graham StoppaniParticipant @grahamstoppani46499]

There was an earlier thread on this subject that may be useful, including my own contribution about using solvents in glass jars.

LINK

[Russell EberhardtParticipant @russelleberhardt48058]

I have found that dishwasher rinse aid is preferable to washing up liquid as it is a non foaming detergent. However my main machine is almost permanently fille with clock cleaning liquid to this recipe:

Clock cleaning solution

Brass parts in particular come out bright and shiny.

Russell

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