Ultrasonic cleaner recommendation
- Thread starter kalex
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Try to stay away from the ones with the buttons on the lid, the wires don't hold up well if you use it a lot.
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- #3
Mine is two or three years old and is the cd-4800 model but this looks to be the new model of what I have: http://cgi.ebay.com/IMPROVED-DIGITAL-ULTRASONIC-CLEANER-JEWELRY-TATTOO-CD1w-/310237053333?cmd=ViewItem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item483b91c195
It works really good for me. I'm not endorsing the seller just the product. I don't know if you can find it cheaper or not.
It works really good for me. I'm not endorsing the seller just the product. I don't know if you can find it cheaper or not.
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- #5
I had one of these CD-2800s, and it conked out after four months. Go with the advice to avoid the ones with buttons on the lid.
I picked up this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Blazer-Ultras...r_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=jewelry&qid=1280894641&sr=1-1
2 things I like about it:
- no buttons on the lid
- variable timings for cleaning cycles
Yeah, it's not the cheapest, but I'm already happier.
Hope it helps,
-- Chet
I picked up this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Blazer-Ultras...r_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=jewelry&qid=1280894641&sr=1-1
2 things I like about it:
- no buttons on the lid
- variable timings for cleaning cycles
Yeah, it's not the cheapest, but I'm already happier.
Hope it helps,
-- Chet
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- Thread starter
- #7
Thanks Chet.
I think I'm going to pick this one up
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003BG4LXM/ref=ord_cart_shr?ie=UTF8&m=A2LM6ZPY06LT1N
also no buttons on the lid and variable timings. Not sure if i want to spend $60, $35 is ok
I think I'm going to pick this one up
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003BG4LXM/ref=ord_cart_shr?ie=UTF8&m=A2LM6ZPY06LT1N
also no buttons on the lid and variable timings. Not sure if i want to spend $60, $35 is ok
Thanks, I was trying to decide on which one to buy, this helps! 
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- #9
The German brand JPL has a model I'm tempted to try out myself:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ultrasonic-...1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1280921281&sr=8-1
I don't know about availability outside of Europe. There is a seller on Ebay.de who sends to all European countries.
But as a newbie (and not a collector) I really can't decide whether I'll need one or not
. I've even read here somewhere that a bathroom cleaning spray etc. + a toothbrush or boiling would be just as effective (or even more effective) in getting the gunk out?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ultrasonic-...1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1280921281&sr=8-1
I don't know about availability outside of Europe. There is a seller on Ebay.de who sends to all European countries.
But as a newbie (and not a collector) I really can't decide whether I'll need one or not
. I've even read here somewhere that a bathroom cleaning spray etc. + a toothbrush or boiling would be just as effective (or even more effective) in getting the gunk out?
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Any word of the offerings from Harbor Freight?
Well, maybe not the JPL after all - not enough watts, I guess.
http://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B00...&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=463375173&pf_rd_i=301128
This one seems to be getting good reviews, it's 50W and it's relatively cheap on Ebay.de (shipping within EU).
I've heard you should be using water in the 60-70 Celsius/140-158 Fahrenheit range for an ultrasonic cleaner to clean properly - any thruth in that?
http://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B00...&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=463375173&pf_rd_i=301128
This one seems to be getting good reviews, it's 50W and it's relatively cheap on Ebay.de (shipping within EU).
I've heard you should be using water in the 60-70 Celsius/140-158 Fahrenheit range for an ultrasonic cleaner to clean properly - any thruth in that?
From what I have read, TRUE ultrasonic cleaning works by creating cavitation bubbles, which, when they burst, create temperatures almost as hot as the sun. I think if they recommend hot water, it might not be true ultrasonic, and merely vibrating.
Actually this recommendation (to use hot enough water) came from someone who repairs & cleans mobile phones (or something). His opinion was that cheap ultrasonics are fine as long as you know how to use them.
He was using a Carrera brand 50 watt cleaner and that's where I got the idea from.
He was using a Carrera brand 50 watt cleaner and that's where I got the idea from.
Well, my point is that you are creating heat of several thousand kelvin when you ultrasonically clean. IMHO, having cooler water would be better, because as things like grease release from the surface, the cooler water would make them solidify and give them a better chance to float away from the object, as opposed to remaining liquid, and surface tension keeping them attached.
But that's just my humble opinion.
I have a JPL Ultra 7000 which rates at 50w I bought it from amazon uk for about 30 pounds last year, and it performs very well.
It looks exactly to the model suggested by rodneyk915 and apino. Apart from the watts difference (but to be honest I don't know how true is the stament that you need at least 50w)
As far as the solution goes, I use warm water (I would say at about 20ºc or less) and a few drops of dishwashing liquid. I have not tried with cold water, but I'm sure it would work.
Usually I run it on a 3 minutes cycle, check the razor and run it again if needed. Just make sure you don't run it over extended periods. If I use it for like 15 minutes (enough to clean about 10 to 15 razors) I would let it cool for a couple of minutes.
Also, if you're planning on cleaning painted razors (or any other piece) make sure the paint is outside the water, or else it will be removed.
Finally feel free to take a look at my short guide on ultrasonic cleaners, there I have a list of things you can and cannot clean with it, and also a demo of an Aristocrat 19 being cleaned.
I hope this helps.
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=105759
It looks exactly to the model suggested by rodneyk915 and apino. Apart from the watts difference (but to be honest I don't know how true is the stament that you need at least 50w)
As far as the solution goes, I use warm water (I would say at about 20ºc or less) and a few drops of dishwashing liquid. I have not tried with cold water, but I'm sure it would work.
Usually I run it on a 3 minutes cycle, check the razor and run it again if needed. Just make sure you don't run it over extended periods. If I use it for like 15 minutes (enough to clean about 10 to 15 razors) I would let it cool for a couple of minutes.
Also, if you're planning on cleaning painted razors (or any other piece) make sure the paint is outside the water, or else it will be removed.
Finally feel free to take a look at my short guide on ultrasonic cleaners, there I have a list of things you can and cannot clean with it, and also a demo of an Aristocrat 19 being cleaned.
I hope this helps.
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=105759
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I've now spent hours just Googling all things ultrasonic... 
So here's a tip for any fellow Scandinavians that might be reading: OBH Nordica makes a 50W ultrasonic cleaner (model Ultra Clean 6185). Probably pretty good quality judging by the other household appliances they make. So I think I'll settle for this one and pick it up from a local store. Besides, saves me the p&p of ordering overseas and I should be much happier with a brand I know vs. a more "obscure" one.
So here's a tip for any fellow Scandinavians that might be reading: OBH Nordica makes a 50W ultrasonic cleaner (model Ultra Clean 6185). Probably pretty good quality judging by the other household appliances they make. So I think I'll settle for this one and pick it up from a local store. Besides, saves me the p&p of ordering overseas and I should be much happier with a brand I know vs. a more "obscure" one.
A good test for an ultrasonic is to put in a piece of tinfoil/aluminum foil, run the machine for about couple of min or so and you should see pin to small sized holes in the foil where the cavitation action has eaten through. If there are no holes or deformation of the foil then you have bought a piece of junk.
Hot water is better as it dissolves the grease and lets it float away, not too hot though the transducers are glued to the bottom of the ultrasonic bowl and high heat will melt the glue bond. I use a Harbor freight ultrasonic for jewelry and it works fine.
Rig up a holder for a jar that holds your cleaning liquid and items to be cleaned in the water but not touching the bottom of the ultrasonic and you won't have to change the water in the ultrasonic each time just dump the jar and fill with new cleaning liquid.
Hot water is better as it dissolves the grease and lets it float away, not too hot though the transducers are glued to the bottom of the ultrasonic bowl and high heat will melt the glue bond. I use a Harbor freight ultrasonic for jewelry and it works fine.
Rig up a holder for a jar that holds your cleaning liquid and items to be cleaned in the water but not touching the bottom of the ultrasonic and you won't have to change the water in the ultrasonic each time just dump the jar and fill with new cleaning liquid.
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- #19
After all these discussions, I am looking into getting this cleaner:
http://www.harborfreight.com/25-liter-ultrasonic-cleaner-95563.html
Here is a question I have. I collect Zippo lighters, and sometimes they have a thin gold plating/coloring, as well as engraving, which is sometimes enamel filled. I will pull the insert out, of course, but I am wondering if the plating or enamel will suffer from a cleaning. Any info?
http://www.harborfreight.com/25-liter-ultrasonic-cleaner-95563.html
Here is a question I have. I collect Zippo lighters, and sometimes they have a thin gold plating/coloring, as well as engraving, which is sometimes enamel filled. I will pull the insert out, of course, but I am wondering if the plating or enamel will suffer from a cleaning. Any info?
