hayfield Posted December 12, 2020 Share Posted December 12, 2020 The previous time these were available I was mildly interested as a few have reported using these for cleaning up work after soldering and prior to painting. Well with them being back on the shelf on Thursday I bagged a couple (one for my daughter) as they were only £20 each. Got the usual reply from the wife "not another gadget" until I said it could be used to clean jewellery. First my metal watch strap came out gleaming (never been cleaned in 20 years) then we tried one of her bracelets (too dirty to wear) and 2 pairs of earrings (not used as she gets an allergic reaction over time with use) Well all came out gleaming The question is what do you use your ultrasonic cleaner for, I used water with a drop of Fairy liquid in it. What liquid do you use in yours 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold chris p bacon Posted December 12, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 12, 2020 I purchased a 3L one a few months ago and some PCB cleaner, I can drop several brass coaches in at a time and use it to clean and degrease the bodies during construction. The good thing is that when you start putting detail on the bodies you don't have to scrub them with a brush to clean and so I've had less damage. I should have got one ages ago.... 1 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdamsRadial Posted December 12, 2020 Share Posted December 12, 2020 I use either a drop of washing-up liquid or a larger amount of car screen cleaner, the type supposed to get rid of grime and bugs (which I believe contains methanol). I've also tried the glass cleaner which I think is mild acetic acid, but that didn't do much. I've had good results putting a chassis in, (Triang or Hornby), with the motor removed of course. Be warned though, putting in a Triang 0-6-0 3F body shell to see how well it would clean up saw all the transfers for the lining crumble and float off. I didn't weep too long or hard as I don't model BR period so it will end up with a coat of black and "M R" on the tender sooner or later. I've also seen a warning somewhere that some sintered metals might start flaking due to the vibration. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium melmerby Posted December 12, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 12, 2020 I have the Aldi one and it does clean gunk off of almost anything. You can add just a few drops of IPA (not beer!) to help with de-greasing some components. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Torper Posted December 12, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 12, 2020 I've had a LIdl one for several years and find it invaluable for cleaning up brass kits, especially after soldering. Too small for coaches though - I reckon I'd need a tank length of not less that 250mm for those and I envy Dave his 3L one. Because I use it most after soldering I bought some specific ultrasonic flux cleaner from Allendale Ultrasonics, and that seems to work well though I've no idea whether it does any better a job than, say, IPA. I also bought some general purpose ultrasonic cleaner from the same source. DT 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Mick Bonwick Posted December 12, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 12, 2020 I have used it to clean (other people's!) hardened acrylic paint from airbrushes. Just dunk the disassembled components into IPA and the magic follows on. I have been warned off using it with white spirit for hardened enamel paint because of the adverse effects on the plastic parts of the cleaner. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike morley Posted December 12, 2020 Share Posted December 12, 2020 (edited) Had a Lidl one for a few years. It hasn't had a huge amount of use but whenever it has been used the results have been impressive. I'd read that cider vinegar works well in them and when I tried it noticed an immediate improvement in the already good results. I intend to try ordinary vinegar next on the grounds that it's far cheaper and more likely to be "in stock" than cider vinegar. I've only recently discovered that it heats the liquid as well and was surprised and impressed by how much of a difference that made. Edited December 12, 2020 by mike morley Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium boxbrownie Posted December 12, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 12, 2020 We’ve had ours from Aldi for years now and it’s always used to clean up jewellery and watch bracelets, the bodies I clean separately Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Bird Posted December 12, 2020 Share Posted December 12, 2020 We've always used a 50/50 mix of water and white vinegar. It works well, Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Enterprisingwestern Posted December 12, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 12, 2020 Funnily enough, I've just thrown mine away after about 10 years of not too intensive use, cheap enough at the price, but it did the job. It's been replaced by a more industrial version with a choice of power levels and an adjustable timer. I used either CIF/JIF or soda crystals diluted for cleaning purposes and a final zap in pure water to get rid of the soapy residue. Mike. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Phatbob Posted December 12, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 12, 2020 I use mine for stirring paint. No, really! You have to get your settled-out enamal tinlet started with a stick of some sort, but onec the "lump" of pigment is mobile, 10 minutes in the ultrasonic cleaner gives you beautiffully resuspended paint. Just like new. :-) Works for acrylics too. 1 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold chris p bacon Posted December 12, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 12, 2020 5 hours ago, Torper said: I envy Dave his 3L one Don't envy me, it was £90 ! I figured that with so many coaches to build I ought to go for the bigger tank which has proved worthwhile, if it was just small loco and tender, or whitemetal wagons the smaller Lidl one would be great. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Enterprisingwestern Posted December 12, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 12, 2020 3 minutes ago, chris p bacon said: Don't envy me, it was £90 ! I figured that with so many coaches to build I ought to go for the bigger tank which has proved worthwhile, if it was just small loco and tender, or whitemetal wagons the smaller Lidl one would be great. That's not a bad price for a larger version. Mike. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Barry Ten Posted December 12, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 12, 2020 I got mine from ebay but it's been useful for, as other have said, cleaning airbrush parts, also Rotring pens, jewellery, models to be painted, even old coins and whatnot dug up in the garden. It stays in its box for months on end but is definitely useful on occasion. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Hodgson Posted December 12, 2020 Share Posted December 12, 2020 2 hours ago, mike morley said: I'd read that cider vinegar works well in them and when I tried it noticed an immediate improvement in the already good results. I intend to try ordinary vinegar next on the grounds that it's far cheaper and more likely to be "in stock" than cider vinegar. I've only recently discovered that it heats the liquid as well and was surprised and impressed by how much of a difference that made. ... I'm waiting for some gourmet to tell us that balsamic vinegar makes a better class of smell 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium boxbrownie Posted December 12, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 12, 2020 1 hour ago, Phatbob said: I use mine for stirring paint. No, really! You have to get your settled-out enamal tinlet started with a stick of some sort, but onec the "lump" of pigment is mobile, 10 minutes in the ultrasonic cleaner gives you beautiffully resuspended paint. Just like new. :-) Works for acrylics too. I’ve wondered that recently now I have got back into more kit work for the layout, some of my older paint has pigment like a cricket ball in spirit..... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium boxbrownie Posted December 12, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 12, 2020 9 minutes ago, Michael Hodgson said: ... I'm waiting for some gourmet to tell us that balsamic vinegar makes a better class of smell No one will.......it’s bloody obvious Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Enterprisingwestern Posted December 12, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 12, 2020 4 minutes ago, boxbrownie said: I’ve wondered that recently now I have got back into more kit work for the layout, some of my older paint has pigment like a cricket ball in spirit..... I've had that phenomenon, in some not all paints of varying manufacturers, I assumed it was because of the heat it is now kept in. Mike. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Dave John Posted December 12, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 12, 2020 My Lidl one has lasted well, I use many of the methods described above. When it packs in I won't hesitate in replacing it or even spending a bit more for a slightly bigger one. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Jeremy Cumberland Posted December 12, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 12, 2020 Thanks, folks. I just popped to my local Lidl and picked one up. It will come in handy for the smaller jobs. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeTrice Posted December 12, 2020 Share Posted December 12, 2020 Snap Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damo666 Posted December 12, 2020 Share Posted December 12, 2020 5 hours ago, Phatbob said: I use mine for stirring paint. No, really! You have to get your settled-out enamal tinlet started with a stick of some sort, but onec the "lump" of pigment is mobile, 10 minutes in the ultrasonic cleaner gives you beautiffully resuspended paint. Just like new. :-) Works for acrylics too. Do you just place the tin of paint in the pan with the lid on, or do you add any liquid to the pan? I thought you should only used ultrasonic cleaners with a liquid, but maybe I'm mistaken. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Torper Posted December 13, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 13, 2020 18 hours ago, chris p bacon said: Don't envy me, it was £90 ! I didn't know they were that cheap! Spouse had been wondering what to get me Christmas, so this has solved the problem - one has been ordered. Thanks. DT 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold chris p bacon Posted December 13, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 13, 2020 I've been impressed with what they can do, they're all a generic make but I looked at a few youtube videos of them working before committing to purchasing one. This was the machine I picked up, It was listed for about £102 but I tried an offer and we settled on about £95. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/6L-Double-frequency-Digital-Stainless-Ultrasonic-Cleaner-Machine-Timer-Heater-CE/392927223837?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649 This was the cleaner I purchased to try. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Premium-Ultrasonic-PCB-Cleaning-Fluid-and-Flux-Remover-Free-U-K-Postage/221986529977?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&var=520861707842&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2648 On the coach sides I still wipe over with shiny sinks to flat the brass as the last thing before priming, but that might be more of a habit than a requirement. 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Enterprisingwestern Posted December 13, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 13, 2020 What are the actual dimensions of the inside of the tank Dave, presumably Mk1 coach sized? Mike. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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