Ultrasonic Cleaner
- ValleyForge
- Posts: 1831
- Joined: Tue Jan 27, 2009 5:37 pm
- Location: Brisbane
Ultrasonic Cleaner
Postby ValleyForge » Thu Mar 04, 2010 6:29 pm
A department at work was getting rid of a Unisonics cleaner so I took it off their hands. 2 yrs old, with a 30 x 25 x 15cm tank. It nearly fits a 54 chainwheel, but most things fitted in. It has a heater too and a manual timer. It's also got a drain.
I've experimented with some cleaning solutions - water & dishwashing liquid is OK, but pretty meager. I have some biodegradable degreaser which mixes up 1:5 with water. It gets clusters, wheels & brakes spotless after at least 45mins. BUT it stripped the anodising off my Gipiemme pedals unexpectedly. Also I used a product called TurboClean which is an automotive metal preparing solution for ultrasonics and this is "the goods". Old alloy & steel came out like new. No pre-cleaning, and needed to leave the parts in for an hour.
The model is a lot bigger & more powerful than the Digitec, but I can guess you agrue about whether it's woth the extra. New, this model is a couple of grand!
- twizzle
- Posts: 6402
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Re: Ultrasonic Cleaner
Postby twizzle » Thu Mar 04, 2010 9:28 pm
...real cyclists don't have squeaky chains...
- ValleyForge
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Re: Ultrasonic Cleaner
Postby ValleyForge » Thu Mar 04, 2010 10:39 pm
Yeah - I've realized the TurboClean can't be just flushed down the pipe! Gloves and protective goggles!twizzle wrote:Yep - some of those degreasers are highly alkaline. Kero does wonders for my stuff, and I just pour it back into the bottle afterwards. I wish mine had a drain...
- Aushiker
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Re: Ultrasonic Cleaner
Postby Aushiker » Wed May 19, 2010 2:31 pm
For those interested, the RogueMechanic has put out a video on the Ultrasonic Cleaner in action ... exciting
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWq0o2BP ... r_embedded[/youtube]
Regards
Andrew
Aushiker.com
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Re: Ultrasonic Cleaner
Postby Stuey » Wed May 19, 2010 2:34 pm
- twizzle
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Re: Ultrasonic Cleaner
Postby twizzle » Wed May 19, 2010 6:55 pm
...real cyclists don't have squeaky chains...
- ValleyForge
- Posts: 1831
- Joined: Tue Jan 27, 2009 5:37 pm
- Location: Brisbane
Re: Ultrasonic Cleaner
Postby ValleyForge » Wed May 19, 2010 7:57 pm
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Re: Ultrasonic Cleaner
Postby Stuey » Wed May 19, 2010 8:44 pm
- twizzle
- Posts: 6402
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- Location: Highlands of Wales.
Re: Ultrasonic Cleaner
Postby twizzle » Thu May 20, 2010 8:49 am
I just put mine back in the bottle, let the solids separate out, then use it again. The crud in the bottom ends up in an old bottle... not sure what I'll do with it when it's full, but it's taking a long time to 'kill' the kero so I don't think it will be an issue any time soon.ValleyForge wrote:Don't think you need anything flammable like kero in it in it anyway. I've gone to a biodegradable non-alkaline cleaner which works fine and I just put it down the sink when finished.
...real cyclists don't have squeaky chains...
- Jean
- Posts: 1752
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- Location: Canberra
Re: Ultrasonic Cleaner
Postby Jean » Thu May 20, 2010 2:10 pm
Well there's 41 seconds of my life that I wish I had backAushiker wrote:Hi
For those interested, the RogueMechanic has put out a video on the Ultrasonic Cleaner in action ... exciting
Regards
Andrew
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Re: Ultrasonic Cleaner
Postby jennyj » Thu May 12, 2011 5:59 pm
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- Location: Perth
Re: Ultrasonic Cleaner
Postby mitzikatzi » Thu May 12, 2011 7:03 pm
Look a bit further and you find $80
how to build one
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Re: Ultrasonic Cleaner
Postby eeksll » Thu May 12, 2011 7:31 pm
lol, I actually found that quite interesting (you'll obviously not want me round for dinner )Jean wrote:Well there's 41 seconds of my life that I wish I had backAushiker wrote:Hi
For those interested, the RogueMechanic has put out a video on the Ultrasonic Cleaner in action ... exciting
Regards
Andrew
I always thought these things where hog wash, guess I was wrong.
- mark field
- Posts: 933
- Joined: Fri Dec 17, 2010 8:28 pm
Re: Ultrasonic Cleaner
Postby mark field » Thu May 12, 2011 8:33 pm
im with that too im afraid, i used ultrasonic cleaners for years when i was working with industrial ceramics ( same stuff as space shuttle tiles) an ultrasonic cleaner is a glorified water vibrator, but if youve got one that works then hats off to you, however, if you need to use this cleaning solution and that chemical, and have the stars and planets all in alignment then you have to wonder what it is thats actually doing the cleaning. my advice is go to supacheap auto and get a proper parts washer for $180. and $20 for the degreaser and brush. or go to Shell, Mobil, BP and get yourself $1.50 worth of the good stuff.Jean wrote:Well there's 41 seconds of my life that I wish I had backAushiker wrote:Hi
For those interested, the RogueMechanic has put out a video on the Ultrasonic Cleaner in action ... exciting
Regards
Andrew
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