Ultrasonic cleaners...suggestions?

[Lime]

Looking for an ultrasonic cleaner to do jewelry such as rings,bracelets,etc. Any suggestions? For home use. Preferably not that expensive..

[Valenciawatchrepair]

I'm in the business. I've used $400+ machines. Had a gemoro my dad gave me that he had in his shop. It died. I'm a one man shop and I use this

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?m...2F112561716833

I've had it 3+ years. Zero issues. For the price, why not.

A store I do work for has been through 3 in the last year. And they weren't cheap!

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[Lime]

Thanks guys. For the one on the posted ebay link can I just use water? Or is another cleaning solution always required. If something else is required can someone post the link? Gold rings,gold and silver bracelets,etc

[Valenciawatchrepair]

Originally Posted by Lime

Thanks guys. For the one on the posted ebay link can I just use water? Or is another cleaning solution always required. If something else is required can someone post the link? Gold rings,gold and silver bracelets,etc

Magic Green Ultrasonic Solution 32oz https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002HIP86O..._jolHAbMWEXBZ8

Ammonia and water works fine too. I sometimes use a mix of Palmolive, Ammonia, and water. Vapor can be brutal though lol. Usually just use the Palmolive and water though.

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[dysondiver]

i use one at work too , and we just buy the cheapest available with a heater , then throw them away and get another , we get a few years out of them , keep the fluid clean is my tip.

[Valenciawatchrepair]

Originally Posted by dysondiver

i use one at work too , and we just buy the cheapest available with a heater , then throw them away and get another , we get a few years out of them , keep the fluid clean is my tip.

Yeah. The one I linked on eBay gets HOT! Really melts away dirt and polishing compounds! I figure it lasted 3 years and counting its way ahead of a more expensive model hands down. I use mine almost daily. And some days it stays on multiple hours. No signs of quitting. Keep the water topped off. Don't let them get low.

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[dysondiver]

yep , good tip , ,, mine runs eight hours a day on heat cycle , i maybe run the clean cycle ten times a day , three days a week.
i use vinegar as an additive to cut through salt build up , but thats in servicing dive gear.

[Lime]

When we go to the jewellers they clean our diamond ring in an ultrasonic cleaner and it looks like new almost like it was polished. This device would do that?

[Valenciawatchrepair]

Originally Posted by Lime

When we go to the jewellers they clean our diamond ring in an ultrasonic cleaner and it looks like new almost like it was polished. This device would do that?

Ultrasonic cleaners only remove contaminates. No polishing is done. But, ammoniated cleaners do brighten up metals that have become dull. It won't remove tarnish from things like brass or silver though. Same applies to watch cleaning solutions. I should post a before and after of movement components. Sometimes something that looked terrible comes out looking brand new. Even if it was made 50+ years ago.

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[Valenciawatchrepair]

Also, make sure it's warmed up. The difference in how quickly it will remove stuff between cold solution and hot is very noticeable. I usually turn mine in first thing so it's nice and hot before I ever drop anything in it. You can watch the dirt melt off the second you drop the piece in.

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[cop414]

I’ve used this model for the last couple of years, I put hot water in and ultrasonic solution and let it rip. Cleans my wife’s jewelry great, just don’t let anything touch the metal sides or each other or things will “etch” marks on either or both pieces. I’ve also used it to clean small “machine ” parts. I had some higher end items that when I contacted the manufacturer about cleaning. They advised me to seal the component in in a plastic bag with cleaning solvent as it contained oils and grease, put water in the ultrasonic drop the bag in and turn it on the waves travel through the water and into the item sealed in the bag, worked like a charm. I’ve also used old electronic toothbrush heads for the same type of cleaning of these items.

[1st amg]

I have the same one Tim

[Bluside]

Originally Posted by cop414

I’ve used this model for the last couple of years, I put hot water in and ultrasonic solution and let it rip. Cleans my wife’s jewelry great, just don’t let anything touch the metal sides or each other or things will “etch” marks on either or both pieces. I’ve also cleaned small “machine ” parts. I had some higher end items that I contacted the manufacturer about cleaning and he told me to seal in in a plastic bag with cleaning solvent as it contained oils and grease, put water in the ultrasonic drop the bag in and turn it on the waves travel through the water and into the item sealed in the bag, worked like a charm. I’ve also used old electronic toothbrush heads for the same type of cleaning of these items.

I bought one of these also from recommendations on this forum. For my purposes and occasional use, it works great.

[Syed117]

Originally Posted by cop414

I’ve used this model for the last couple of years, I put hot water in and ultrasonic solution and let it rip. Cleans my wife’s jewelry great, just don’t let anything touch the metal sides or each other or things will “etch” marks on either or both pieces. I’ve also used it to clean small “machine ” parts. I had some higher end items that when I contacted the manufacturer about cleaning. They advised me to seal the component in in a plastic bag with cleaning solvent as it contained oils and grease, put water in the ultrasonic drop the bag in and turn it on the waves travel through the water and into the item sealed in the bag, worked like a charm. I’ve also used old electronic toothbrush heads for the same type of cleaning of these items.

Have the same one

Seems to work well.

I did make the mistake of putting a pair of old eyeglasses in without first placing them in the plastic basket. The metal tub removed almost all applied material on the frames where they made contact with the metal.

[boktan]

I just bought something similar to the above for cleaning watches and jewellery. I read somewhere its not advisable to drop the whole watch in, just the strap, just wondering why is that so since its supposed to be waterproof?

TIA

[pickettt]

Originally Posted by boktan

I just bought something similar to the above for cleaning watches and jewellery. I read somewhere its not advisable to drop the whole watch in, just the strap, just wondering why is that so since its supposed to be waterproof?

TIA

I would guess that the ultrasonic vibration would get the cleaning solution past the seals. Probably not great for the movement either.

We use ultrasonic cleaners for our surgical instruments at our hospitals, and I bought the same unit for home.....in not putting my watch case in it, that's for sure.

[cop414]

Don’t ever put your watch head in the ultrasonic. The ultrasonic waves can cause oils to migrate in the movement causing some parts to not have oil where they need it. The effects might not be immediately noticeable but could cause premature wear and damage to the movement. The use of the plastic bridge that comes with most ultrasonic cleaners does not mean that the waves can’t still travel through the bracelet and still cause this to happen.
This information from one of our resident Rolex watch techs Bas aka searchart.

[Lime]

can someone used the commercial style and also the home use style? Can they comment on results?

Also, what is the best thing to put in to make 10-18kt gold shine? (also note some of it is rose gold not sure if the copper reacts with anything??

Is this one similar to the one posted? The link posted on the first response does not ship to Canada

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2L-Industry...0AAOSwYVlaA8h5

[pickettt]

Originally Posted by Lime

can someone used the commercial style and also the home use style? Can they comment on results?

Also, what is the best thing to put in to make 10-18kt gold shine?

Commercial ones work terrific, but keep in mind, they are not polishing machines. If your gold is pitted, it will get debris out of the pits, but will not "shine" your gold. It will look overall cleaner though.

[cop414]

Originally Posted by Lime

can someone used the commercial style and also the home use style? Can they comment on results?

Also, what is the best thing to put in to make 10-18kt gold shine? (also note some of it is rose gold not sure if the copper reacts with anything??

Is this one similar to the one posted? The link posted on the first response does not ship to Canada

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2L-Industry...0AAOSwYVlaA8h5

I’ve never used the commercial one, as posted above they will remove gunk but not polish out any imperfections. If you’re concerned about possible reactions I’d use hot water and a couple of drops of Dawn dish detergent.
Not to muddy the waters but I also have one if these, works well too, no so much for watches but for my wife’s jewelry.

[mjclark32]

Same as Tim, I bought the cheapo one off amazon years ago. Still working well. Reminds me, I should probably do the bracelets this week

[pickettt]

Originally Posted by mjclark32

Reminds me, I should probably do the bracelets this week

In that note, after using the ultrasonic cleaner, we soak our instruments in "instrument milk", a lubricant for clamps, hemostats, etc. Then we rinse them in distilled water. I wonder if this would benefit the bracelet links at all. Just a thought. Someone try it on their $10k watch and share the results.

[kilyung]

I own both types of cleaners listed in this thread, commercial and home style. I find the commercial style works better for cleaning movements and especially dirty parts like bracelets. Probably because it heats better than the home unit. I’d never leave it unattended though. The home cleaner is to clean things that aren’t too dirty.

I use my cleaners with water in the tub and drop in glass jars, with L&R cleaning/rinse solutions, which contain the parts being cleaned. Parts are cycled through one cleaning jar and two rinse jars. Cleaning jar fluid is eventually disposed and the rinse jars cycle up and become cleaning jars with a new rinse jar taking their place.

Neither machine will polish gold or make it shinier other than as a byproduct of being clean. You’ll need to manually polish the surfaces if you want to eliminate the micro abrasions that dull the shine.

[SearChart]

We use an Elma (they go for around $1000). These things run pretty much all day long so they only last 1-2 years.
And like Mike, I prefer to use L&R as well.

[Lime]

Thanks for the replies. So the one I foundis similar to the ones used here?
https://m.ebay.com/itm/2L-Industry-D...56?_mwBanner=1