Ultrasonic cleaners

This is the place for posts that don't fit into any other category.

Moderator: RichardW

Post Reply
User avatar
bobins
Donor 2023
Posts: 5697
Joined: 05 Jul 2012, 18:07
Location: Midhurst, West Sussex
My Cars: Kia Sportage
Mazda BT-50
Land Rover SIII SWB
V-F-R800
SL320
MX5
x 2871

Ultrasonic cleaners

Post by bobins »

Does anyone have any experience with benchtop ultrasonic cleaners ? I'm after a fairly cheap (sub £100) 3-5 litre cleaner to clean up various carb bits and some other relatively delicate mechanical bits. I know the cheap Chinese 'eBay special' ones can stop working - repairs aren't that expensive - but do they actually work well enough or are they a waste of money ? Any thoughts or views welcome.
Cheers muchly.
Sadly no longer a C5 owner :(
elma
Posts: 3745
Joined: 13 May 2007, 02:17
Location: United Kingdom
My Cars: Undisclosed
x 287

Re: Ultrasonic cleaners

Post by elma »

Brilliant, especially for carbs. Second hand advice though as my friend bought one to clean the carbs on his Golf. Worked a treat.
addo
Sara Watson's Stalker
Posts: 7098
Joined: 19 Aug 2008, 12:38
Location: NEW South Wales, Australia. I'll show you "Far, far away" ;-)
My Cars: Peugeot 605
Citroën Berlingo
Alfa 147
x 93

Re: Ultrasonic cleaners

Post by addo »

Evilally on here (Alastair) used one for a bunch of kit.
User avatar
Zelandeth
Donor 2024
Posts: 4731
Joined: 16 Nov 2014, 23:36
Location: Milton Keynes
My Cars: 2006 Peugeot Partner Escapade 1.6HDi.
1988 Renault 25 Monaco 2.0i.
1985 Sinclair C5.
1984 Trabant 601S.
1975 Rover 3500.
1973 AC Model-70.
x 1403
Contact:

Re: Ultrasonic cleaners

Post by Zelandeth »

I've got a little desktop one and it's quite handy. Great for cleaning things like carb jets, manky keys, valve/coil screening cans in old radios and the like. Used it once to clean all the keycaps from a manky keyboard too.

Last time I cleaned a carb out the jets got thrown in the ultrasonic cleaner and the body got stuffed in the dishwasher. End result was a fully working carb afterwards, even if it did take a bit of time with the air line getting the water out of all the ports!
Current fleet:
06 Peugeot Partner Escapade 1.6HDi, 88 Renault 25 Monaco, 85 Sinclair C5, 84 Trabant 601S, 75 Rover 3500, 73 AC Model 70.
User avatar
Stickyfinger
(Donor 2016)
Posts: 10411
Joined: 28 Mar 2013, 21:05
Location: Somset my lovleee
My Cars: Xantia V6 ACTIVA 3ltr 24v Manual p1
Xm 2.1TD Ph2 Exclusive
AX, little Daffodil
SAXO White Mk1. Sally
x 1280
Contact:

Re: Ultrasonic cleaners

Post by Stickyfinger »

Yep....they are great. Cleans all sorts of crap off whatever you can get in one....get one (if you can) with a liner that you can take out/add dependant on the chemicals you wish to use.

For general cleaning stuff like low foam carpet liquid is good, on steels/iron try patio cleaner as a good liquid.
Take car with chemicals on machined surfaces/thin alloys....try them first. Heating any liquid usually helps as well.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Digital-Stain ... 3aad4781a2
Alasdair
Activa, the Moose Rider
3x C5x7 Steering racks and counting
User avatar
bobins
Donor 2023
Posts: 5697
Joined: 05 Jul 2012, 18:07
Location: Midhurst, West Sussex
My Cars: Kia Sportage
Mazda BT-50
Land Rover SIII SWB
V-F-R800
SL320
MX5
x 2871

Re: Ultrasonic cleaners

Post by bobins »

Thanks for the info guys. I'm a bit wary of the Chinese ones in Sticky's eBay link though - these are the ones that even the sellers say don't use them for too long at a time to make them last longer ! They normally offer to replace them though - providing you send them back to China :roll: Anyone had good results with <specifically> the el-cheapo Chinese ones ?
Sadly no longer a C5 owner :(
macplaxton
Posts: 168
Joined: 08 Jun 2011, 18:09
Location: Ireland
My Cars: 1978 GS X2

Re: Ultrasonic cleaners

Post by macplaxton »

Friend of mine has got this 6L one. He seems happy with it so far.
Image
I can ask him more about it if you like.
User avatar
bobins
Donor 2023
Posts: 5697
Joined: 05 Jul 2012, 18:07
Location: Midhurst, West Sussex
My Cars: Kia Sportage
Mazda BT-50
Land Rover SIII SWB
V-F-R800
SL320
MX5
x 2871

Re: Ultrasonic cleaners

Post by bobins »

In the end I took the plunge and bought myself an ex-display 6 litre ultrasonic cleaner. I shall be trying it out this week.
Sadly no longer a C5 owner :(
macplaxton
Posts: 168
Joined: 08 Jun 2011, 18:09
Location: Ireland
My Cars: 1978 GS X2

Re: Ultrasonic cleaners

Post by macplaxton »

Do let us know how you get on with it, I'm rather temped myself.
addo
Sara Watson's Stalker
Posts: 7098
Joined: 19 Aug 2008, 12:38
Location: NEW South Wales, Australia. I'll show you "Far, far away" ;-)
My Cars: Peugeot 605
Citroën Berlingo
Alfa 147
x 93

Post by addo »

Do they clean "permanently grimy" fingers if not used boiling hot? I'm curious.
User avatar
CitroJim
A very naughty boy
Posts: 49526
Joined: 30 Apr 2005, 23:33
Location: Paggers
My Cars: Bluebell the AX, Polly the C3 Picasso, Pix the Nissan Pixo, Propel the duathlon bike, TCR Pro the road bike and Fuji the TT bike...
x 6160
Contact:

Re:

Post by CitroJim »

addo wrote:Do they clean "permanently grimy" fingers if not used boiling hot? I'm curious.
Swimming does it for me so on that basis, pop some bleach into the water and then dip the digits!!
Jim

Runner, cyclist, time triallist, duathlete, Citroen AX fan and the CCC Citroenian 'From A to Z' Columnist...
evilally
(Donor 2020)
Posts: 742
Joined: 17 Apr 2008, 22:39
Location: Clydebank, Near Glasgow.
My Cars:
x 2

Re: Ultrasonic cleaners

Post by evilally »

Yes, I got an old medical ultrasonic from my last place when a change in health and safety regulations meant they were all getting replaced. Useful now and then, makes you popular with the ladies as it does an exceptional job of cleaning jewelry.
'96 405 1.6 GLX with 306 GTI engine on Cat cams @ 195bhp

'05 RenaultSport Clio 182 Cup, 102k

'97 406 1.9TD, 314k.
addo
Sara Watson's Stalker
Posts: 7098
Joined: 19 Aug 2008, 12:38
Location: NEW South Wales, Australia. I'll show you "Far, far away" ;-)
My Cars: Peugeot 605
Citroën Berlingo
Alfa 147
x 93

Post by addo »

You might attract bejewelled dowagers, rather than chirpy young things wanting all sorts of piercings removed, cleaned and refitted.
User avatar
bobins
Donor 2023
Posts: 5697
Joined: 05 Jul 2012, 18:07
Location: Midhurst, West Sussex
My Cars: Kia Sportage
Mazda BT-50
Land Rover SIII SWB
V-F-R800
SL320
MX5
x 2871

Re: Ultrasonic cleaners

Post by bobins »

macplaxton wrote:Do let us know how you get on with it, I'm rather temped myself.

Well, I think I'll declare it a success ! I've just finished cleaning a couple of old Kohler 8hp carbs and a Briggs 11hp carb in a filthy condition and the results were quite successful. I did 3 sessions of about 15 minutes each and used a mix of water and APL Chemicals (ultrasonic) engine parts cleaner at 60 degrees. Once rinsed, a quick blast with an airline brought them up pretty good - including removing a lot of the old paint. I took 'before and after' photos, but just imagine a dirty corroded carb, then imagine a clean carb - and you'll get the idea :) The water was filthy at the end !
Sadly no longer a C5 owner :(
User avatar
CitroJim
A very naughty boy
Posts: 49526
Joined: 30 Apr 2005, 23:33
Location: Paggers
My Cars: Bluebell the AX, Polly the C3 Picasso, Pix the Nissan Pixo, Propel the duathlon bike, TCR Pro the road bike and Fuji the TT bike...
x 6160
Contact:

Re: Ultrasonic cleaners

Post by CitroJim »

That's a nice result Bobins :D
Jim

Runner, cyclist, time triallist, duathlete, Citroen AX fan and the CCC Citroenian 'From A to Z' Columnist...
Post Reply