Question For the Wrenches

[OBJ]

Any you guys use a "Sonic" parts cleaner setup? I think "sonic" is the word. {I'm a little brain dead right now, just finished up a midnight shift.) I'm looking at possibly getting one for my shop and wondered if any of you have them or have used them and what your opinions are on these parts cleaners.<br /><br />Thanks....Jim

 

[Skinnywater]

Re: Question For the Wrenches

OBJ, are you talking about a small parts washer that emits ultra sonic vibrations through the cleaning solution?<br />If it is, I've used one before.<br /><br />In your shop, what kind of parts are you cleaning?

 

[BillP]

Re: Question For the Wrenches

We use ultrasonic cleaners in the electronics mfg industry all the time. They clean very well without brushing or abrasives. Different detergents and chemicals are used as the liquid, depending on what you are cleaning. Sometimes we let them go 24 hrs so it isn't always a fast clean.<br /><br />Something I use at home for small parts is a crock pot filled with antifreeze. I cook small metal parts overnight on low heat and it takes 99% of the crud off. Higher heat gives faster cleaning and antifreeze will not work cold. For the stubborn burnt parts I use a wire or nylon brush to help out. Fumes are dangerous but this method really works good and WallyWorld sells crockpots for $10 and a gallon of antifreeze lasts a long time...it can be reused.<br /><br />What type of parts are you cleaning? Big ultrasonic cleaners are way $$$expensive$$$.

 

[OBJ]

Re: Question For the Wrenches

Thanks for the replies guys. I'll be cleaning outboard engine parts. The usual fair. Carbs, engine parts and what not. I have wondered for a long time how good these things do and if they are a worth while investment. Anything to make life easier in the shop. <br /><br />I received a flyer a few weeks back for them. Forget the company name right off. They are a pricey thing. Hence the post.<br /><br />Again, thanks for the "get backs".<br /><br />Jim

 

[Hooty]

Re: Question For the Wrenches

Harbor Freight haz one for $30 and another one for $7,000.<br /><br />c/6<br />Hooty

 

[Skinnywater]

Re: Question For the Wrenches

By far the best one I've ever used is a refrigerator sized cabinet that has a water soluble heated cleaning solution. The parts are loaded into a basket the size of a half of a 55 gal. drum. This basket is automatically turned inside of the closed cabinet and there are many high pressure jets that spray the cleaning solution at the parts. It also has a 30 minute timer. <br />Parts come out very clean. The biggest bonus is that an entire disassembled automatic transmission can be placed inside and all the gaskets, crud are cleaned off nearly as new.<br />It also has a device that sits in the cleaning solution that skims off the floating oil for recycleing.<br />Not only can big parts be cleaned but by useing carburetor baskets or smaller containers small parts can be cleaned as well.<br />There isn't any residual mess to deal with. The basket rolls onto the open door and can be rinsed with water. The residual heat in the washed part usually dries it very quickly.<br />Any minute part that may get throught the mesh in the cleaning basket will fall into a fine meshed trap.<br />Having washed parts for my dad as a kid at his repair shop and over 30 years of washing parts have given me some liver damage. My tolerence to chemicals is almost a alergy these days.<br />I really am glad for the parts washer I've described. It can clean every part in a completely disassembled engine in an hour. Safely and easily.<br /><br />Can't see an ultrasonic unit cleaning cylinder heads nearly as well.

 

[Brim4Me]

Re: Question For the Wrenches

Ultrasonic cleaners work by cavitation. I bubble is created on the part while it is inside the solution and the bubble "lifts" the dirt away to the top. Then a constant flow of moving water on top pushes the dirt into a tank that is being filtered and recycled. If you have small blind holes, sonics is not the way to go. If you have bulky parts sonic is usually the way to go. They do sell jet parts washers that use sonics while the parts are submerged. If I had a shop and needed flexibility with my washer I might would look into something like that. You will find that a parts washer with just sonics limits your abilities on cleaning.

 

[OBJ]

Re: Question For the Wrenches

Thanks for all the replies folks. I'm looking for a parts cleaner that will save me some time and that I don't have to handle wet parts (I do wear rubber gloves) and blow dry them. I must be asking to much..LOL But saving time in the shop is my real goal.<br /><br />Thanks agin...Jim

 

[BillP]

Re: Question For the Wrenches

Jim,<br />Do some research on ultrasonics. You will find they are a few eccentric collectors using ultrasonics to to clean old antique mcy, car and model airplane motors. Every jeweler uses them and is an easy source to contact for how well they work. <br /><br />Part of the cleaning process includes heat and solution. Electronic waves provide motion to get them into nooks and crannies. The tiny bubbles are also generated at the surface of the part where the electronic waves meet, whether inside a nook or on the surface. All units are not alike and as noted above by Brim4Me may not work for you. Some are plug and play and other have adjustments to increase or decrease intensity. We used Bransons and they can provide reliable information for your application.