Ultrasonic Cleaner

starmanmm · Post by **starmanmm** » Sat Jan 31, 2009 12:07 pm

Picked one up at Harbor Freight.

Question... what would be an inexpensive cleaning solution to use in it for AB cleaning?

Andrew Gorman · Post by **Andrew Gorman** » Sat Jan 31, 2009 12:18 pm

DasPhule · Post by **DasPhule** » Sat Jan 31, 2009 12:48 pm

AB= airbrush.

I run jewelry cleaner in mine. Be advised, if you go this route and forget the parts in the tank, the chrome will come off the parts in about 24 hours. For the ultimate clean in the shortest amount of time, jewelry cleaner is the best.

A good ammonia and water mix works well, especially for cleaning acrylics out of parts. If you can find an ammonia with a soap in it, use that.

Erin
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starmanmm · Post by **starmanmm** » Sat Jan 31, 2009 2:55 pm

Sounds like a plan.

A good ammonia and water mix works well,

How about windex then?

DasPhule · Post by **DasPhule** » Sat Jan 31, 2009 5:51 pm

That should work I guess. I've never used it, but if you're cleaning acrylics out of the parts, I'm sure Windex will work just fine.

Erin
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starmanmm · Post by **starmanmm** » Sun Feb 01, 2009 2:53 pm

So........ would it be better to presoak the AB in an ammonia solution for an hour or so and then turn it on?

Or does it matter?

I have found a bottle of basic ammonia in the grocery store. I figured to cut it with some water and add a drop or two of some dishwashing detergent in it for the soap you mentioned.

DasPhule · Post by **DasPhule** » Sun Feb 01, 2009 4:50 pm

No need to soak it, just fill it up, dump in the parts, turn it on and let it run until they're clean. Rinse with water when done.

I've cleaned jewelry in ammonia, but not AB parts. Should work just fine, though. I use a commercial grade jewelry cleaner, and it's so strong it'll actually take dried enamel paint off of your fingers if you dip them into the tank while it's running. Imagine how freaked I was when I left my SOTAR parts in the tank overnight, only to find chrome parts that were now chrome free brass bits of an AB!! I probably have the only gold nosed SOTAR in the world!

Once you find a cleaner you like you'll be putting everything into it before you know it!

Erin
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starmanmm · Post by **starmanmm** » Mon Feb 02, 2009 1:12 pm

Where does one get commercial grade jewerly cleaner?

DasPhule · Post by **DasPhule** » Mon Feb 02, 2009 1:43 pm

I bought mine from a local jewelry supply shop, but here's a link to the brand I use: http://www.blitzinc.net/product/654/Gem ... allon.html

This stuff is brutally strong stuff and will actually remove plated metals from their underlying metals if you aren't careful. Mix it EXACTLY as the instructions say to. I mix mine a little hot, say 6 water to 1 cleaner instead of 10 to 1, mainly because I clean gold in it a lot. It works even better if your tank is heated as mine is.
I've taken a completely encrusted, couldn't even screw the needle out encrusted, airbrush and put it in it for 30 minutes and it came out crystal clean. You can also hang your brushes in it, bristles only, for about 5 minutes and pull out brand new brushes. Put PE sheets in it to remove the etching coating and to clean the brass. Strip plastic and resin parts of paint and putty with a quick 10 minute vibrate. Uses pop up daily!

Erin
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starmanmm · Post by **starmanmm** » Mon Feb 02, 2009 5:44 pm

Thanks.... didn't suspect that the stuff would be so hot!

DasPhule · Post by **DasPhule** » Mon Feb 02, 2009 6:41 pm

I wouldn't be surprised if it isn't a mild acid mixture. It'll make your skin flake, right out of the bottle. Good stuff!!

Erin
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