Reel Repair by Alan Tani

General Maintenance Tips => General Questions and Trouble Shooting => Topic started by: mitchman on March 22, 2017, 04:49:31 PM

Title: cheap Ultra-sonic cleaners?
Post by: mitchman on March 22, 2017, 04:49:31 PM
I've seen some of the cheap ultrasonic jewelry cleaners on amazon for $30-50 and was wondering if they would work well to clean parts. I own about a dozen reels that I service every year. I would degrease parts before putting them in and mostly use it for gunked or corroded parts. I know that the cheap ones have small capacities but I would mostly just be putting small parts in anyways. Thoughts?
Title: Re: cheap Ultra-sonic cleaners?
Post by: foakes on March 22, 2017, 05:06:06 PM
Sorry, Mitch --

Those little plastic ones will not work.

However, the Ultrasonic cleaners have come down so well in price -- you can get a very good one online made of stainless steel for a little over $100, I believe.

They need to have the solid state power, plenty of wattage, as well as the SS reservoir.

Keith (Handi2) bought a couple of these, I think -- and sez they work well.

Daron recently bought one, also.

Best,

Fred

This is $73 -- ebay -- free shipping
Title: Re: cheap Ultra-sonic cleaners?
Post by: Tiddlerbasher on March 22, 2017, 10:52:27 PM
Yep - bought the same 18 months ago - works fine and does the job. Can't say any more :)
Title: Re: cheap Ultra-sonic cleaners?
Post by: Dominick on March 22, 2017, 11:27:59 PM
Yep!  I got one.  It works well. Dominick
Title: Re: cheap Ultra-sonic cleaners?
Post by: handi2 on March 22, 2017, 11:44:53 PM
I have them too and almost one year on one of them. It still works great.

I do like the heat function but don't let it get too hot in case you need to stick your hand in to get a parts that fell thru.
Title: Re: cheap Ultra-sonic cleaners?
Post by: Shark Hunter on March 23, 2017, 03:48:02 AM
I still haven't used mine yet.
It will be there when I'm ready.
Title: Re: cheap Ultra-sonic cleaners?
Post by: oc1 on March 23, 2017, 09:17:07 AM
Don't run them without a nearly full tank of liquid.  Without the weight of the liquid they will vibrate themselves to death.
-steve
Title: Re: cheap Ultra-sonic cleaners?
Post by: Tiddlerbasher on March 23, 2017, 10:02:06 AM
A full tank of water (cleaner) is necessary to prevent overheating. Even without the heat facility, when run for a few minutes, it will get quite warm.

Don't forget you can also clean the wife's jewellery (except real pearls - they will disintegrate - a lot of semi-precious stones are in the same category) ;)
Always worth a few brownie points.

If you are a fan of vinyl records - they can also be cleaned very effectively and easily.

The larger cleaners have a tap for draining them - very useful ;)
Title: Re: cheap Ultra-sonic cleaners?
Post by: mitchman on March 23, 2017, 12:44:16 PM
Thanks for the input everyone!
Title: Re: cheap Ultra-sonic cleaners?
Post by: FatTuna on March 23, 2017, 03:52:51 PM
I've tried the jewelry cleaner ultrasonics and they do almost nothing to remove grease and grime. They are not powerful enough.
Title: Re: cheap Ultra-sonic cleaners?
Post by: Tiddlerbasher on March 23, 2017, 06:55:13 PM
The one Fred indicated is not simply a jewellery cleaner - it is more than capable of cleaning our reels, as several of us already know.
Title: Re: cheap Ultra-sonic cleaners?
Post by: FatTuna on March 23, 2017, 07:34:47 PM
I know, that's one of the Chinese made Ebay ultrasonics. I almost bought one of those but a friend gave me an old jewelry cleaner to test. It's one of the plastic ones. Doesn't do much.
Title: Re: cheap Ultra-sonic cleaners?
Post by: Tightlines667 on March 23, 2017, 08:16:46 PM
I love my labratory grade Fisher.  It has a large basin, and is more powerful then most.  Gotta be careful with shims, and dog springs though.

John
Title: Re: cheap Ultra-sonic cleaners?
Post by: handi2 on March 24, 2017, 12:17:50 AM
Don't use it to remove grease. Use it to get metal parts shining better than new.

It will break down the corrosion on a chromed brass spool. The corrosion will then come off very easy.
Title: Re: cheap Ultra-sonic cleaners?
Post by: Lensters on March 24, 2017, 09:08:32 AM
The cheapest one now is $64 + $6 shipping but it come with the UK power cord.  Is the power jack on the machine (where the power cord plugs in) the typical one where I could use one of my many old PC power cords?
Title: Re: cheap Ultra-sonic cleaners?
Post by: oc1 on March 24, 2017, 10:06:35 AM
UK uses 230 volt, 50 hertz. It won't work in the US.
-steve
Title: Re: cheap Ultra-sonic cleaners?
Post by: Lensters on March 24, 2017, 10:38:28 AM
Quote from: oc1 on March 24, 2017, 10:06:35 AM
UK uses 230 volt, 50 hertz. It won't work in the US.
-steve

I assumed that it would be switchable like computer power supplies, but it doesn't look like it is.  I wonder why they are selling these in the USA.

Update, one of the sellers (cnpeking) has a chart which shows it automatically switches to accept "AC 100~130V, AC 220~240V, 50/60Hz".  Even though if you zoom in on pictures of the models sold as 110V it shows "220V/50HZ" on the tag.
Title: Re: cheap Ultra-sonic cleaners?
Post by: Tiddlerbasher on March 24, 2017, 03:48:42 PM
I believe they are configured internally for 230 or 110 V.
I checked the mains label , on the back of mine (same as Fred pictured), my one has a tick against 230V the 110v box did not have a tick.
There was no indication that it could auto switch between voltages. Some appliances are universal - 100 to 240V -  my one obviously isn't.
If it is supplied with a UK plug I wouldn't touch it!.
Contact the supplier for further info - it may just be a standard photo he used.
Title: Re: cheap Ultra-sonic cleaners?
Post by: alantani on March 27, 2017, 02:56:08 AM
here you go!!!!!

Quote from: Santa Cruz Armory;19861048Ultrasonics international two tank (one clean, one rinse) Fully stainless steel Ultrasonic Cleaner.

Perfect for most any type of cleaning. Firearms, Golf clubs, Piping, Restoration of items, Blinds, Tools, Auto parts, etc. Too big for my needs and space. This is a professional grade US cleaner. Not a Harbor freight special.

New they are $15,000 to $18000. Looking for $8500 obo. In Scotts Valley.

If you know of someone who could benefit send them our way.
Email: Sales@santacruzarmory.com


(http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e346/BLFD1/66451564-a85f-4d07-b3be-fa55d5bfdb40_zpsxi78urxs.jpg)

(http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e346/BLFD1/20170317_103102_resized_zpsxnykg3d7.jpg)

Title: Re: cheap Ultra-sonic cleaners?
Post by: Dominick on March 27, 2017, 03:09:33 AM
Alan thanks for posting that.  It is a perfect size for my wife's jewelry.   ::) Dominick
Title: Re: cheap Ultra-sonic cleaners?
Post by: Tiddlerbasher on March 27, 2017, 07:55:39 AM
OMG :o
Title: Re: cheap Ultra-sonic cleaners?
Post by: oc1 on March 27, 2017, 07:32:10 PM
You could lay down in it.... for a cheap thrill.
-steve
Title: Re: cheap Ultra-sonic cleaners?
Post by: Dominick on March 27, 2017, 07:39:03 PM
Quote from: oc1 on March 27, 2017, 07:32:10 PM
You could lay down in it.... for a cheap thrill.
-steve
;D ;D ;D Dominick
Title: Re: cheap Ultra-sonic cleaners?
Post by: Cadman on March 29, 2017, 11:27:43 PM
I wonder if I laid down in there, would I be cleaner than if I took a shower. ;D ;D ;D  Would be an interesting experiment, however a little too pricey for me.
Title: Re: cheap Ultra-sonic cleaners?
Post by: sdlehr on March 30, 2017, 01:11:16 PM
Quote from: Cadman on March 29, 2017, 11:27:43 PM
I wonder if I laid down in there, would I be cleaner than if I took a shower.
I bet you would! But there is a practical limit to how clean one needs to get!

Sid
Title: Re: cheap Ultra-sonic cleaners?
Post by: Dominick on March 30, 2017, 06:27:26 PM
Quote from: sdlehr on March 30, 2017, 01:11:16 PM
Quote from: Cadman on March 29, 2017, 11:27:43 PM
I wonder if I laid down in there, would I be cleaner than if I took a shower.
I bet you would! But there is a practical limit to how clean one needs to get!

Sid
But if you laid down in one you would get a buzz on.   ::) Dominick
Title: Re: cheap Ultra-sonic cleaners?
Post by: Cadman on March 31, 2017, 11:32:52 AM
Quote from: Dominick on March 30, 2017, 06:27:26 PM
Quote from: sdlehr on March 30, 2017, 01:11:16 PM
Quote from: Cadman on March 29, 2017, 11:27:43 PM
I wonder if I laid down in there, would I be cleaner than if I took a shower.
I bet you would! But there is a practical limit to how clean one needs to get!

Sid
But if you laid down in one you would get a buzz on.   ::) Dominick

Dominick
 Would be cheaper than drinking, and probably healthier without any side effects? ;D ;D ;D
I also have a bad back, maybe that would help my back problem. Beats going to the chiropractor. ;D ;D ;D