Ultrasonic Cleaner

[skom25 2630]

Hi,

Do you think it is good idea to buy Ultrasonic Cleaner to wash parts?

If yes, what temperature I should set?

Do you recommend to buy cleaning liquid or e.g. distilled water + soap + IPA will be fine?

[Grumpy pants 5565]

I’ve been using an ultrasonic cleaner for 10+ years, was a TC recommendation.

Superb bit of kit, probably from Amazon, just jewellery size. 

I’m on holiday until next Tuesday, can post some pictures up on my return. 

[Tbird232ci 405]

I have a Vevor 6L ultrasonic cleaner I got off of Amazon. I love it. 

I usually use a mixture of water, Simple Green and Dawn dish detergent. I set the temp to 40c and usually run it for an hour to an hour and a half. 

Something I do is I will mostly fill the cleaner with water. I then fill jars with water and detergents, and then the parts to be cleaned. Then I drop the jars into the cleaner. Sometimes I will use something like Seafoam in a jar with all of the hardware and drop that in as well. 

[GToddC5 2887]

^ I have the same one and love it. I did discover my heat setting was too high was getting parts fade, so definitely keep it around the 50C (125F) range, and definitely get one!

[No Slack 619]

I use my basic ultrasonic cleaner for about 25 years. It is good for cleaning RC parts but also for many other applications. Glasses, small bicycle parts, jewellery, airbrushes etc.

As cleaning fluid I use dedicated Tikopur (sold as airbrush cleaner) but also dish washing detergent and even Coca Cola (not very effective).

 

[Wooders28 5125]

Got a cheap battery one out of Argos, absolutely useless.

So if you're getting one, don't skimp.

[skom25 2630]

I have plan to buy this one or similar:

[BuggyDad 6592]

I've got a Vevor one too. I have only really used it for bike parts so far but it's extremely effective and I intend to run my Falcon plastics through it to clean it up for the shelf. 

[Tamiyastef 3073]

I have this one

It's smaller than I expected.

[Tamiyastef 3073]

With rallyblocktires on TC wheels for size comparison 

15 cm x 13,5 cm wide and 7 cm deep

The basket on the left in the second picture is meant to be used but it takes away a lot of the depth so I usually don't put it in. If I had to get one knowing what I know now, I would get the largest I can afford and have enough space to store it.

[BuggyDad 6592]

56 minutes ago, Tamiyastef said:

If I had to get one knowing what I know now, I would get the largest I can afford and have enough space to store it.

More by luck than judgement, mine is 10l. I sized it for mountain bike cassettes, which only just fit in it but which I figured would be the largest thing I'd want to put through it. And they're a pain to clean well so doing this with them once in a while is useful. But I think you're right in that really I don't see a disadvantage to extra size, other than cost.

Well, there's also detergent use, but I saw some advice where people fill them just with water and then put the parts to be washed in a bag with a smaller quantity of cleaning fluid in. This way you don't waste unnecessary chemical/detergents but also you can just lift a bag out, no need to drain. You could also use different chemicals/concentrations per part if you wanted. Seems sensible and I intend to try that method when I do any RC parts.

[skom25 2630]

What kind of detergent do you use?

I see many dedicated products, but I do not want to risk too much. Distilled + dish washing liquid + IPA will be fine?

In terms of size: I know that it will be small, because I ordered smallest 2l version. It will be fine enough for me, if I will be able to fit few plastic parts at the same time. I bought it mainly for really small stuff like screws etc.

[BuggyDad 6592]

5 hours ago, skom25 said:

What kind of detergent do you use?

I can't give you the benefit of any experience on RC plastics. All I have used so far is a natural degreaser, diluted, on anodised aluminium. It was very effective. 

What would be the rationale for adding IPA to a water based detergent mix?

[skom25 2630]

I read about this somewhere. IPA should help to dissolve grease, but I am not sure if e.g. 10% solution will help with anything .

IPA can be mixed with water.

[Tamiyastef 3073]

I use the same stuff I use to do the dishes. Some generic household detergent stuff that smells like lime or pine 

What is IPA?

[skom25 2630]

Isopropyl Alcohol.

It is very cheap 99,9% clean alcohol. I use it as a parts degreaser, glue cleaner and degreaser before I apply stickers.

It is widely used in industry and e.g. in car detailing.

[skom25 2630]

I did quick check and...

sound is awful. Really. I have no idea how I will use that device. It is even worse, because of metal basket.

I check manual and there is information, that it is forbidden to put parts directly and basket must be used.

Why? It that case, it is nonsense because many parts are too small to put them in basket.

[No Slack 619]

What  I do is: use the basket (mine is plastic), fill the cleaner with water, put the small parts in a small jar (I use a cleaned Tamiya paint jar) fill the jar with the desired cleaning medium, and put the jar in the basket. Works perfect and saves cleaning medium. 

Why you have to use the basket? Maybe because the frequency and your parts will wander around.

Check your cleaning medium in relation to the material of your parts. Metal parts require a medium that may be to agresive for plastic parts.

[skom25 2630]

I do not have plan to clean very dirty, greasy parts. My hands are just "tired" and I want to strip car and put plastic parts into cleaner, to save some time and skin on my hands.

Good advice with jar! I will try to use plastic bag.

[Pylon80 4287]

7 hours ago, Tamiyastef said:

What is IPA?

India Pale Ale. My favorite beer.

[Tamiyastef 3073]

1 hour ago, Pylon80 said:

India Pale Ale.

That's exactly what I found. I was curious how that would clean up rc parts 

[skom25 2630]

When you are drunk, everything looks better

At least I heard about this, because I do not drink 

[alvinlwh 8010]

On 10/12/2024 at 7:01 AM, No Slack said:

Coca Cola

 

1 hour ago, Pylon80 said:

India Pale Ale. My favorite beer.

 

24 minutes ago, Tamiyastef said:

That's exactly what I found. I was curious how that would clean up rc parts 

Oh not this again! Weak! All of you! No you should use what real men in Scotland use. 

It is said to be able to strip paint from the Forth Bridge, and most of your insides as well! 

Or use this. 

A drain cleaner so good that it works best pouring straight down the toilet and bypass the middleman! 

(Note: probably only the Brits will get the joke) 

 

[Pylon80 4287]

27 minutes ago, alvinlwh said:

 

 

Oh not this again! Weak! All of you! No you should use what real men in Scotland use. 

It is said to be able to strip paint from the Forth Bridge, and most of your insides as well! 

Or use this. 

A drain cleaner so good that it works best pouring straight down the toilet and bypass the middleman! 

(Note: probably only the Brits will get the joke) 

 

Google says: BRU'd in Scotland since 1901. Secret Recipe of 32 Flavours. Indescribable Taste.

That sounds about the same as HP sauce but in drink format! I want to try it. I visited Scotland a few years ago and can't wait to go back. And I'm sick and tired of the sun. Oh how I would go out to the pub on a rainy day! 😍👌🍻 

[Gibbo78 13]

I am glad I was not alone as IPA to me refers to beer, which has alcohol content so not far off the mark!! 

When I look at the market place there are a lot of versions that look very similar (isn’t that just the way these days with so many wannabe low quality components etc).

For those who have some experience is there a ‘go to’ brand?  
I have read that there are some units that will go above their preset temp, which is a concern for plastic components.  Any guidance would be appreciated. 

Cheers