I just picked up an ultrasonic cleaner for cleaning rifle brass for reloading, and was wondering if anybody used these for cleaning razors. I don't know much about ultrasonic cleaning and its effects on plated razors, especially razors which are starting to loose their plating in places. Does anybody here do this? If so, what kind of mixture do you use (or just water)? Thanks!
Cleaning razors with an ultrasonic cleaner?
- Thread starter nuclear_shaver
- Start date
I have a CHEAPO Con-air version. It vibrates more than ultra sonic clean. Now that I've cleared that up let me tell you they are fantastic little time savers. On real bad razors it's nice to leave it in the cleaner for half hour stretches as that's about as long 180 deree water starts to taper off and let it do it's magic. As for solution a light mix of dish detergent for the first run would be good with really hot water. Take it out, inspect it, maybe run a soft toothbrush over it and see where you are. Remember it took 40-50 years to get that razor that funky so it'll take time on the most extreame cases to get it tip top shape. As for plate loss I only ran into one case a President that was already showing sign of plate loss and once through the cleaner it came out with some brassing. So a cleaner will not cause plate loss, or brassing because toothbrush cleaning would have ended the same way. I need to get a better one.
Good luck!
Good luck!
The only caveat I have is with brushes that have lacquered numbers or letters on them. The synthetic can take the numbers right off.
My mechanic used one of these (cheap model) to clean carburetors at the scooter shop, said it was great. I can't imagine soap scum is tougher than carb varnish. Of course his did catch fire at some point so I'd suggest a higher end model if you try it.
Scott
Scott
- Thread starter
- #5
Great info! Mine isn't much better, its the Harbor Freight version. It does a good job with rifle brass though, just doesn't hold a lot. Do you do one razor at a time?
Watch out adding hot water to the Harbor Freight version. I blew some sort of thermal fuse in mine and ruined it when I tried to use hot water for cleaning.
On my Harbor Fright model you add regular tap water and you can clean with heat.
Got a HF cheapo on order because I aim to find out!
- Thread starter
- #9
Let me know how it goes!
I can do three at once if they are laid out in alternate direction head/tto.
- Thread starter
- #11
I just got around to testing my razors in my US cleaner (been busy with the start of school et cetera). Seems to work GREAT! Just used water with a splash of Palmolive soap. My only question is... after cleaning a bomb door style razor (Like the Fat Boy) do I need to apply some oil to any parts of the mechanism?
Yes. Mineral oil (baby oil) will work fine, as will Ballistol.
- Thread starter
- #13
Where exactly should I put it?
Where metal rubs against metal. A drop on the hinges and a few drops down inside the handle. Personally I use quite a bit, wiping the entire razor down, and just wipe off the excess.
The only plate loss problem I've had is when two razors sat touching on a several hour ultrasound cleaning and rubbed together for a long time. They rubbed each other down to the brass in a couple spots.
Add a tablespoon of mild laundry soap to your tap water and you'll find the ultrasonic cleaner does a much better job. It's also way cheaper than buying ultrasonic fluid. Also, start with a soak in scrubbing bubbles, it loosens the soap gunk and makes the ultrasonic have less work to do.
On the oil, my preferred stuff is Nyoil II - goes on wet, dries out, gives a nice long term coating. And the applicator helps get the oil in the tight spots. In addition to oiling the doors and inside the handle, I open the razor doors all the way, pull down gently on the handle, and put a drop of oil in the gap on between the knob and handle.
Add a tablespoon of mild laundry soap to your tap water and you'll find the ultrasonic cleaner does a much better job. It's also way cheaper than buying ultrasonic fluid. Also, start with a soak in scrubbing bubbles, it loosens the soap gunk and makes the ultrasonic have less work to do.
On the oil, my preferred stuff is Nyoil II - goes on wet, dries out, gives a nice long term coating. And the applicator helps get the oil in the tight spots. In addition to oiling the doors and inside the handle, I open the razor doors all the way, pull down gently on the handle, and put a drop of oil in the gap on between the knob and handle.
I borrowed a friend's cheapo Deluxe Gem-Sonic cleaner. It barely fit the filthy 1941 Tech Ranger my buddy gave me. I had already cleaned it numerous times by hand (with scrubbing bubbles and Flitz). I expected nothing from this piece of junk. To my surprise there was a lot of dirt in the cleaner after running it. I ran it several times with several different cleaners.
I think it's clean enough now, but it doesn't shine and looks like it needs to be polished. The Flitz isn't getting it done. I was thinking of taking it to a place that cleans jewelry and see if they would put it through the tumbler. Would that work, or is it as stupid as it sounded while I typed it?
I think it's clean enough now, but it doesn't shine and looks like it needs to be polished. The Flitz isn't getting it done. I was thinking of taking it to a place that cleans jewelry and see if they would put it through the tumbler. Would that work, or is it as stupid as it sounded while I typed it?
Here's a couple of old threads that might help
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showth...-Some-Razors-(Pic-Heavy)?highlight=ultrasonic
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/105759-Little-guide-in-Ultrasonic-Cleaners
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showth...-Some-Razors-(Pic-Heavy)?highlight=ultrasonic
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/105759-Little-guide-in-Ultrasonic-Cleaners
I have run all of my Safety Razors through my ultrasonic cleaner. I make sure to avoid any metal-to-metal contact, so I never put two razors in the same compartment. Luckily, my machine (handed down to me from my wife) has two compartments - so cleaning two razors at the same time is always an option.
The process seems to work very well on TTO razors - as it can loosen grime from inside of the open-end of the twist knob (on most American SS and Adjustable models). Basically, it can get dirt out of areas that simply cannot be reached with a soft-bristle toothbrush. The first time I did this with a particularly dirty F2 Fat Boy, I was surpised at the amount of sediment that had settled to the bottom of the ultrasonic cleaner.
Chris
The process seems to work very well on TTO razors - as it can loosen grime from inside of the open-end of the twist knob (on most American SS and Adjustable models). Basically, it can get dirt out of areas that simply cannot be reached with a soft-bristle toothbrush. The first time I did this with a particularly dirty F2 Fat Boy, I was surpised at the amount of sediment that had settled to the bottom of the ultrasonic cleaner.
Chris
I got a Blazer mainly for dental cleaning (partial plate.) But the guide with it was also very focused on cleaning all sorts of jewelry - I did try some and the results were good. I would have to assume it would be good on razors too, and in fact after coming across this thread I'll have to try it! BTW be careful: many products call themselves, or hint that they are, "ultrasonic" when they are only sonic (audio-frequency vibrations . These DON'T work very well.
John B.
John B.
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