✅Click here for an ultrasonic cleaner ➜ amzn.to/32oVRzu For more videos like this, check out: 👉UPDATE: Ultimate Tips For Using An Ultrasonic Cleaner ➜ ua-cam.com/video/jeBB-J0fOp4/v-deo.html 👉Best Way To Clean a Honda Style Carburetor ➜ ua-cam.com/video/uAHdhuDpeKw/v-deo.html 👉Easiest Way To Clean A Metal Briggs Carburetor ➜ ua-cam.com/video/kJfpTX2Lx0g/v-deo.html 👉Easiest Way To Clean a Plastic Briggs Carburetor ➜ ua-cam.com/video/eGF_ynkc3C0/v-deo.html You can connect with Steve here too: ✅Visit Steve’s WEBSITE ➜ www.stevessmallenginesaloon.com/ ✅Visit Steve’s PARTS & TOOL STORE ➜ www.amazon.com/shop/stevessmallenginesaloon ✅Follow Steve on FACEBOOK ➜ facebook.com/stevessmallenginesaloon ✅Follow Steve on INSTAGRAM ➜ instagram.com/stevessmallenginesaloon/ ✅Follow Steve on TWITTER ➜ twitter.com/SteveSaloon
Many thanks again Steve. Are you doing you tube full time or do you have a shop/‘regular job’ that you do. Best of health and keep pumpin out those videos. 👍👍
Hey Steve! What would you suggest as a more affordable cleaner for jewellery? I don't want to pay thousands, it's just for my rings that have intricate designs with lots of nooks and crannies that even Interdental brushes can't get to - but I also don't want to damage the diamond settings or stones etc. Never used one before, so not sure if I need to buy a special solution for them too? Thank you for your advice!
Hello Steve ... I love your channel, thanks for all the great advice. I do have a small hint about this video. Your explanation for using an isolating container is spot-on. I've used ultrasonic cleaners for years to clean small parts in the pharmacy industry. When using a beaker or a jar to hold the cleaning solution and the part, it is better if you use a weighted but vented cover to hold the beaker upright and sunken against the basket bottom. If you allow the beaker to float, it might stay in the same orientation the entire cycle and not all parts of your part will be exposed to the cleaning action. Always use the basket and never set the beaker or jar on the floor of the cleaner. Always fill to the fill mark. Always make sure the part in the beaker is below the water line in the cleaner .... and if at all possible, use deionized (distilled) water to fill the cleaner tank. Also I know glass is a no-no in your shop, but glass is the container-of-choice, because a plastic container can flex enough to attenuate some of the ultrasonic signal, whereas glass will allow transit with minimum attenuation. You can tell we had shop SOPs that required this stuff, but I'm only offering here just to help out. :)
Calvin: Excellent suggestions, especially on the venting idea. I have a question; I have had great difficulty finding information on high quality plastic jars that are truly resistant to gasoline. I received an ultrasonic cleaner as a gift. I want to use this isolation method to clean metal parts. I have easy access to mason jars. My fear is that the metal parts vibrating inside the glass jar during cleaning might cause it to break which would cause a huge mess. Is that a baseless fear? Your input is appreciated.
@@wrongfullyaccused7139 I'm wondering the same thing, I'm also wondering how thick of a glass container he's using. Most glass jars are fairly thick, not sure if that would be too thick or if thickness even matters here.
@@bodeine454 ;I don't think the thickness would matter that much. I do suspect that if the part being cleaned is heavy enough and sharp enough it might be capable of breaking a glass jar. Fact is I just don't know and that bugs me. My son got me an ultrasonic cleaner for a gift. I will just experiment and learn.
For cleaning really small parts, put them into a stainless steel mesh tea ball. It holds them safely and serves as a built-in strainer when removing the parts from the container. Tea balls are available in many sizes from 1" to around 4" diameter.
I work in a lab where we use sonicators daily. So you fill it up with water, then you put your parts/samples in a small glass container, and the cleaning solution in the container with the parts. I do like the tea strainer idea though.
I will be completely honest. When I came across Steve's channel for the first time, I was thinking who is this goofball but after watching several videos, I am now hooked. Steve is very sincere in helping people and is a down to earth regular guy. Thanks for all the helpful tips, new favorite channel!
Same here!...I thought this is gonna wreck the good name 😉😉 ..but truly he has some great tips and a huge wealth of knowledge in this industry. May I say very helpful personally as my business depends on his business. 👍👍 🍻 Cheers Steve!
I love learning from a real person with no hidden agenda that actually has solid advise and experience. Thanks Steve. U are the mvp on UA-cam right now.
As a watchmaker who works with ultrasonic cleaners regularly and also wears glasses, be careful because cleaning your glasses in the ultrasonic can remove coatings from your lenses. Don't ask how I know.
Hi Steve, using small glass or plastic container in the cleaner is a great idea, never thought of it. The reason that you MUST fill these ultrasonic cleaners to the top is that the water/solution acts as a heatsink for the transducers that generates the ultrasound vibration. If you fill the cleaner with only small amount of liquid, the transducer(s) will overheat and burn out very quickly.
When cleaning small parts, I sometimes use a zip-lock bag with cleaning solution just covering my parts, the bag draped over a rod or dowel, and held in place with clothes pins.
@@southern_merican Suspended is safer. draping the bag over the side can allow the bag to rest against the side of the ultrasonic cleaner, and the contents of the bag to abrade through.
I bought a big cleaner like yours several years ago and haven't used it over the past couple years. So, I forgot how to use it. Thanks to your video it gets me up and running and with some new ideas to try. I've got some wheel bearings from my trailer that I want to clean and was considering filling the whole tub with kerosene. But, now, I only have to fill it with water and put the kerosene and bearings in a plastic jar and I'm good to go. Thank God people like you help your fellow man so much with these informative videos.
The idea of using a container is Legendary. I have never seen or heard of anyone mention that idea and it totally makes sense. You're The Man Steve !! Greetings from Petrol land, here in Australia lol !
It also accelerates the effects of rust removers like evaporust. I put evaporust in jar with the parts to be cleaned and then the jar in the ultrasonic with plain water. I've also used ziploc bags instead of jars.
I had to clean a big ball bearing from an autoclave that had 20 years of baked in grease, hard as a rock. I put it in a ziplock bag with gasoline, with that inside another bag of plain water. That was because I was using the ultrasonic cleaner in surgery... late at night when nobody was there to say no. 20 minutes. Worked perfect. This was back in the 70's.
My go-to ultrasonic solution is the pro-grade Simple Green (which, ironically is purple), it has additional surfactants (reduces surface tension) which makes the ultrasonic action more effective
@@scottguyer They are basically the same thing, just different ways of production. Distilled is through distillation. Deionized is through filters. Both should result in pure H2O with no impurities. Only real difference might be the PH level. Deionized is "poor mans" distilled water. As its far less costly to produce than to actually distill.
Just got my cleaner, wasn't sure about the noise it made so went looking for a YT and got this first hit! THANK YOU!!!! You just saved me hours and hours of cleaning!!!
I really like the idea of using gasoline to clean carburetors. It shouldn’t hurt the fragile diaphragms and what nots. Thanks for the tip. Great video.
Don Better than how we did it in the 70s/80s. Soak the carbs in gas and just use pieces of wire, bristle brushes, and picks to clean them with our bare hands.
yeah I'm use to by hands with petrol but i was afraid to use petrol in the ultrasonic cleaner for risk of ignition. but containing it like that sounds great.
@@AnthemBassMan I was a mechanic back then and we used to boil them out in carb cleaner, ya that stuff wasn't toxic at all. Maybe that's why my wife insists I'm dumb?
@@mattmoilanen3813 My old work place had interesting setup to clean spray guns. 100 liter barrel half full of acetone, suction pipe to pneumatic liquid pump, from there trough rubber hose to copper pipe made into nozzle that spurt into stainless sink where it was directed back to barrel. First time cleaning the gun my rubber gloves melted, so what "smart guy" does? Takes them off and washes it by hand... After doing 4 color custom paint job and washing the gun several times, i was so drunk from skin contact and gasses i almost fall over. Hellawa hang over next day and pretty sure my IQ drop 20 points after that...
I use my ultrasonic cleaner to clean my airbrushes. I put my parts in a small container (I use a stainless steel dentists containers filled with thinner) and the sonic action transfers . Been using my Heathkit ultrasonic that I built from a kit back in the late 70’s. I’ll have to check out these newer ones.
Hey Steve, im thinking of getting an ultrasonic cleaner and turned to UA-cam to get an opinion and demo on this product. Steve, yours is the first one i watched, and i can tell you, yours is the last one anyone needs to watch. Thanks steve for your tips, advice, and solution to a dirty reservior. I dont need to watch any other
Steve l recently brought out my old leaf blower that I gave up on about five years back l was going put it in the trash. After watching your videos I cleaned the exhaust outlet adjusted the carburettor It is now running like new thanks great videos . 🏴. 🇬🇧.
I'm considering an ultrasonic cleaner and went to your channel, knowing you probably had something on it. Your tips are brilliant! I wouldn't have thought about the peanut butter jars and I WOULD have been one of those guys that partially filled the machine and paid the price. Keep up the great work!
Great video, but I have a question. Are you using the heat option when using the gasoline or de-greaser. I am new to ultra sonic cleaners and dont want to start a fire or anything, thanks a bunch!
I cleaned a whole bunch of bolts washers and nuts in a plastic quart jar filled with vinegar. When I finally got around to checking the rusty bolts out it had been about a whole year. It was messy and I had to dispose of all the rust. But the bolts nuts washers were all beautifully cleaned. I also have a Ultrasonic cleaner for small stuff and I stopped using it for the same reason you talked about having a greasy ultrasonic tub. I've been learning more about Ultrasonic cleaners and thanks to you I'm going to try vinegar in my ultrasonic cleaner. Thanks for all the valuable tips!
Love the channe keep up the good work in the content. ldo alot of small engine repair and was wondering what size ultrasonic cleaner you would recommend. I was also wondering if a cylinder from a twin cylinder engine would fit in the one you have.
Just got an ultrasonic cleaner last week, used it for a couple hours filled at partial level, still works great, but I'm so glad I saw your tip about filling it all the way up to the max fill line before I did this too long and ruined my machine. Thank you!
The amount of liquid filled to a partial level is not the problem. I have an ultrasonic cleaner that is an electron tube unit over 50 years old. (Google the history of L&R cleaners.) The one thing you should NOT do is to put any hard object such as metal on the floor of the tank. The vibration will ruin the transducers that are attached to the underside of the tank. This is why suspension baskets are used. Originally they used a stainless steel lid that a large hole in it to suspend a glass beaker in the tank.
This is the first video that came up when I wanted to get some info for a cleaner and after watching it, I purchased one immediately. So glad I watched this as it has made cleaning of my airbrushes so much easier. Great video with great info
Excellent tutorial. I'm just about to buy an ultrasonic cleaner and will be following your suggestions. BTW I come from the part of the world where we call gasoline petrol!
"Sea Clean 2" is another one, it comes in concentrate for de-rusting metal I use electrolysis first which turns the red rust black, then ultrasonic cleaning to remove the black magnetite afterwards
Hi Steve, awesome video and HUGE appreciation for the information. last year i found an Ultra Sonic cleaner designed for window blinds, the tank is 2.6 metres long, 180mm wide and 400mm deep (102 x 7 x 15 inches), capacity of 180 litres (47 Gallons) it was being used for cleaning gearbox parts and the company were moving (or closing). it has 2 power supplies, with adjustment for amplitude and frequency, and 3 massive transducers in the tank, and it has a separate tank for water and rinse aid, it also has two heating elements that operate on an external power supply. i got it for AUD$150 and was told they paid $4K, the crate of chemicals they gave me were worth 3x what i paid. with your great advice i can now use it for everything that will fit within the 7" wide constraint.
Your excellent videos convinced me to buy and try an ultrasonic cleaner. I'm her to say to everyone, DON'T WAIT to get one. They work. I was skeptical about your suggestion or opinion that toilet bowl cleaner worked the best for cleaning. So I did a really controlled test with gasoline, straight vinegar and toilet bowl cleaner with identical parts all dirty to the same degree. All three in same size containers in the same ultrasonic machine at the same time, without heat because of the gasoline. The results were dramatic. The toilet bowl cleaner blew away the vinegar and gasoline in that order. Thank you, thank you and thank you for your straight up speak and efforts to help all of us DYI types.
Awesome tip with the plastic containers. Keeps the unit clean and easier to deal with. Thanks for this tip. I actually have a small one that picked up at a garage sale and we'll use your tips.
Try mineral spirits. Mineral spirits are the standard solvent used in parts cleaner sinks. Without even ultrasonic waves, they clean grease and other junk from tools, parts, etc., just by soaking so I would think it would work beautifully in a ultrasonic cleaner. In addition, it's safer than gas. I don't know what I'd do without my parts cleaning sink and, after watching this video, I think I'll get a ultrasonic cleaner and try mineral spirits in it. BTW, your videos are the best! They're clear, accurate, well-taped, and you explain things perfectly. There are too many videos out there by people who really don't know their subject and who shouldn't be posting videos because they steer people wrong. There are people posting instructional videos on things they're doing for the very first time (incorrectly!). Keep posting these great videos and it's a pleasure watching such a nice guy explaining things who knows what he's doing and isn't on an ego trip.
I was thinking this exact same thing. Im very curious now. Dont have an ultrasonic cleaner, but am seriously thinking of getting one after watching this video
Good thought. Mineral spirits are far less flammable than gasoline. Kerosene or diesel would be similar but stinkier. I often use Coleman fuel as a low odor gasoline like cleaner, but it's just as flammable as gasoline. Every time I use it I think extra hard about any possibilities for spillage or ignition. As far as I could tell from the video, Steve is appropriately careful in handling the gasoline.
Hey guys I liked your post and the replies you received so I wanted to tell you my experience trying this out. I have a small ultrasonic cleaner that was made for cleaning firearms because you needed two different fluids to clean it, a cleanger and a oil type salutation. They were expensive and required putting one in, removing the liquid and putting in the other solution so that moisture wouldn't corrode internal parts and lubricate it. That was all a big pain in the ass so I stopped using it. When I ran across this video: I thought it was a great idea because the gas would clean and not leave any moisture behind. The first time I did it I used a plastic potato chips container and it worked great when I tried again the container leaked the dirt and gas in the water and I was left with a big mess again. Really needing to clean a barrel with a stuck and rusted part so I tried it again this time with a glass container and that worked great. Now for the next time I'm going to try and find a new solution that will clean but leave no moisture behind and not be as dangerous as gas. I didn't know that I could use it with water and just add a container with the liquids I wanted inside of it and not have a big mess. What a great tip.
To Mr Burns thanks for sharing but you must have some large oo to even think about Coleman is fuel. I was once camping when the only things you could use at that time was Coleman fuel for stoves and lantern. I was having a hard time lighting a camp fire and I got the great idea that Coleman fuel would be a good substitute for starting the fire and pored some on the wet wood and struck, a strike anywhere match on the metal ring around the wood and the spark from the match must of ignited the fumes and caused a large explosion that luckily only Burnet all the hair off my arm. After that I only used that fuel for stoves. Don't play with that it's not a good substitute for anything. Thanks for sharing but I think using that can lead to a similar thing, like my great idea 🤔
I've used distilled white vinegar and distilled water mixed 1 - 1 to clean parts and it works great by itself, but your tip about the plastic containers really knocks the process of cleanup out of the park. Thanks for sharing this great idea.
Also, be warned that you should check a list for what gemstones are ok to put in ultrasonic cleaners. Some are very susceptible to fracture due to frequency. (others are very safe) Additionally, if your gemstone has any post processing cleanups like gap filler or polish, it may take that out. Examples of very safe stones: Diamonds, zirconia Examples of risky stones: Emeralds (gap fillers), Quartz (Huge variance in quality of stones but can be very frequency sensitive and usually have surface treatments)
I just got my ultrasonic cleaner 2 weeks ago. I bought it specifically for cleaning carburetors. I haven't tried Gasoline yet but I will now after seeing how fast it cleaned that socket. I've been using Simple Green at a very mild 10% solution and it works very well to and smells much better lol. Thanks Steve for your videos and sharing your wealth of knowledge.
Thanks for the tips. I've also heard of zip lock bags. I think with that technique, as long as you keep things floating you don't need the basket at all and the machine will be a lot quieter.
Great video! Personally I use mostly ziplock bags instead of cans. I've come to understand that thicker plastic jars, or baskets for that matter will absorb more of the energy and reduce efficiency of the cleaner. Stainless beakers also absorb less. A note on detergent and aluminium parts - strong alkaline solutions will dull and etch the surface
Most important with anodized aluminium is to keep the liquid slightly acidic, never alkaline/basic as that will ruin the surface. Most detergents are alkaline so either put some citric acid in as well, or use carosene in ziplock bag
@@thomasrasmussen1132 What would you recommend for a good general purpose cleaner to use that is 100% safe on aluminum also? Fixing up/cleaning an 88 Yamaha ATV and picked up an ultrasonic cleaner a few weeks ago. So far I've only used Evaporust in it on nuts and bolts which worked great. There's a few aluminum parts I'd like to throw in there now but want to make sure they aren't going to discolor or get dull or anything like that. Thanks
Hey man. For years we have used off-road diesel and kerosene for metal parts. It acts as a solvent and a lubricant as well as protecting the parts from corrosion after cleaning.
Yes, but it needs to be the original stuff. The original is the only one that still contains actual pine gum. The other new fancy flavors are just detergent cleaners and do not work nearly as well.
Steve, I worked for Zama for almost ten years, and we used an ultrasonic cleaner nearly every day. We kept a mix of simple green and water, 50 / 50, in the tank all the time. Instead of plastic jars we used old coffee cups to put smaller parts in. Take off the gaskets, metering diaphragm, and fuel pump, and toss everything else in. If you can get the high low needles out, and have replacement Welch plugs, take those out as well and let 'er rip tater chip. The main nozzle and idle check valves won't be effected. When done, rinse with water, and then follow with denatured alcohol and GENTLY dry with compressed air. We would also put raw aluminum bodies, brass parts, and stainless parts in the same way. We learned that placing a piece of card board over the top of the basin kept the parts and the cleaning solution warm, which improved the cleaning processes. Never tried gasoline, OSHA might have frowned upon that, but I can see where it would work!
Hi Steve, Now i am retired and we took that big step in life and moved to the countryside to live I now have a life away from those long long hours and days of working to one day have a life, this is we're your videos have helped me no end. I end my day by having a few Irish whisky and a look at your video's regarding what ever my latest project is, Thanks Steve from both me my four legged friends (two rescued ones) And France, peace perfect peace (so quiet I swear you could hear a mouse fart) cheers Steve.
The reason you must fill the unit to the fill line is the resonant frequency is tuned to the volume of water at the fill line. If you use less liquid you will get poor cleaning or worse still, as you said already, you can blow up your ultrasonic transducer.
Yep, because the energy (of the vibrations) will not be used to move the cleaning solution, but will be thrown back at the sound generators, which will destroy them.
Since, you seem pretty knowledgeable regarding the topic, I'd like to ask you a question. To your knowledge, are all the transducers used in these small ultrasonic cleaners basically the same quality? I ask, because there is a price differential between the American manufactured ultrasonic cleaners and those made in China. However, I've heard that all of the transducers are made in China. So, I was wondering how I can judge the quality between the various manufacturers. I'm looking to use a ultrasonic in motorcycle and automobile restoration as a hobbyist Many thanks.
@@azul8811 Interestingly enough, I’d like to know the answer to your question as well. I also know a thing or two about parts that are made in China because I actually lived there for more than a decade. In short people complain about the cheap stuff that comes from China without stopping to consider how all of that cheap stuff got here in the first place. One of the ways cheap Chinese products come into the U.S./Canada, etc. is the same way that Steve acquired his Co-X machine, and that is direct import (so yes, they do make cheap products to sell. Why? Because most people are cheap bastards and would rather buy cheap products and complain about it later). The other way cheap Chinese products wined up on retailers shelves is because the U.S./Canadian buyers that source from China are only interested in buying cheap shit to be sold at Walmart/Canadian Tire and the like. What most people fail to realize or acknowledge is that China also has great factories too, and just one example of that is the your Apple products. I certainly don’t see anyone complaining about how shitty their IPHONE is made. From what little I have been able to learn about these cheap Chinese units are that the failure points aren’t necessarily the transducers, but rather that push button circuit board that that operates the unit. That board is filled with really cheap chips, diodes, etc. The boards are what usually burns out or overheats because the heating elements gets taxed. They will likely last a bit longer if you filled them up with boiling water from the beginning instead of relying on the heating element to bring the water up to speed.
@Liam McNieve LOL. I try to when my budget can afford it. I bought two US made Wilton bench vises last year. One cost me $900, and the other about $600. I've been pricing out a US made Baldor 2 speed buffer with pedestal and it runs over $1200. So, do I buy a US made ultrasonic cleaner for over $1000, or a Chinese one for $169? It depends on how much use I am going to give it, and if the US ones are comprised of Chinese parts. One of the US made ultrasonic cleaners doesn't include the stainless steel basket even though it is a necessary accessory. They charge $250 for the basket alone. The other thing is that some stuff is promoted as Made in USA but is actually just assembled here of foreign sourced parts. Or think about cars. Do I buy a Ford made in Canada or a VW made in Tennessee? It's a similar case with clothing. There are still sweatshops here in NYC. There are undocumented people sewing foreign sourced fabric into blouses, etc. I believe that the labels say made in USA. So yeah, buy American. I'm with you on that, but it gets complicated.
Thanks Steve, i have just started using my newly delivered 6L ultrasound cleaner and the tip you demonstrated is brilliant. I am surprised the owners manual doesn't suggest the same. And yes way down here in Sydney Australia we call it petrol :)
Nice video! I liked the "Welcome guys AND girls" part. Just a little heads up to everyone - be SUPER careful with gasoline in your shop and also think about the vapors (extremely flammable). Gas in containers other than for a motor is a very delicate thing. /Guy speaking from - several plastic surgerys, weeks in the hospital and years of recovery - experience
Some great tips Steve, will give them a try, I wanted to clean old camera shutters that stick because of some dried on grease, what do you think, John Moore, Sherwood Forest, England.
I use my old guitar strings for cleaning my jets works great and never use the air nozzle to clean carbs the pressure from the b12 can is plenty. I’ve done literally hundreds of carbs and this looks like a keeper wish I know about this years ago thanks man my sonic machine will be much cleaner
What a great video. I never would have thought of using containers like that. This is one I won't forget the next time I use my ultrasonic cleaner. Thanks Steve!
You are correct, great way to keep the cleaner clean and reduce the cost of solvents. I've worked in several material labs where we needed to use solvents to etch materials, which would harm the stainless tub. We used pyrex beakers, so you only use the amount of solvent you need and you do not damage the cleaner tub. The peanut butter jar concept is great as long as it stays sealed and you aren't using a cleaner that will eat through it. Also some solvents will gas just from the heat of the ultrasonic action and could build up pressure on a sealed container.
Aside from heat, the gas can't build up significant pressure because it's not adding gas to itself--it's sealed, right? No? I can see a tad of build up but not more than space the bubbles would occupy. As long as you aren't adding heat!
Tested my new sonic cleaner ,using your method of plastic containers, i used kerosene versus gasoline , cleaned up parts from a 1945 pistol. In about 3 minutes the parts came out looking wonderful, another good idea from steves small engine salon, keep up the good work
Brilliant! It occurred to me too that you could put a plastic liner in the tank to clean dirty objects and then just pull the plastic liner out. I'm definitely going to try the jar method.
Hi Steve, nice video and tips. I have a small sonic cleaner that I bought around 20 years ago (from China). The instructions from mine says to INCREASE the ultrasonic cleaning capabilities, remove the basket. My basket is plastic. The unit does not have heat control; just time in 5 minute increments up to 30 minutes. Temperature does go up considerably after the 3rd session. It is still working today, I use it to clean my airbrush and related parts used for painting my models; works great.
You're smarter than you like us to believe. Nice vid, with a good explanation of cavitation too. Enjoyable as always. Respect from UK. Edit: I suspect that the transducers blow, if you don't fill the cleaner, because there's not enough mass to absorb the ultrasonic energy, the transducer will vibrate more than it should and, un-dampened, will overheat and shake itself to a fault situation.The energy has to go into the water otherwise it has nowhere else to dissipate.
I have a similar unit, but with 2 dials. 1 for heat, and 1 for time. I rebuild old tube test equipment & old tube radios. It's great for cleaning parts of these devices. Thanks for the tip on using jars!
@@SiaD777 You are correct. You should use glass if you are going to put a container into an ultrasonic cleaner. You need to transmit the shockwaves, not have them absorbed. You should avoid plastics, rubber, UHMW, etc....
Dude that is genius! I wouldn't have thought that would work, but now i see it does. 👍 I would've thought gas would be dangerous, but i guess im wrong. I use a mix of white vinegar, and Dawn. I've also used other types of degreasers including Awesome Soap. When i saw you holding the beer at the end it got me wondering....🤔 I wonder how well beer would work? 😅
I was wondering about that. It works pretty good normally so I'd think in an ultrasonic cleaner it would work well. And it's pretty cheap. Have you found anything else better since?
I have almost the exact same unit, and have tried MANY different solutions in it. IMO, the best, and safest is Krud Kutter Parts Cleaner (made by RustOleum). Biodegradable, and safe for ALL metals.....will not discolor aluminum or pot metal. I use it mainly on small engine carbs, and it's amazing. Another trick....turn on the ultrasonic part while waiting for the solution to heat up....it will heat up twice as fast.
I use a mix of white vinegar, dish soap and water. Dish soap breaks down grease, white vinegar breaks down other dirt particles and water cause it’s a chap add in. I then use distilled water to wash it all off. I mainly clean circuit boards but that mix works well for jewelry and other items as well. 😄
I see some of you use zip lock bag but I am wondering if you use gasoline will it eat through it what if you use vacum bags for food i have a oldwon the vacum don't work but the Sealer part works so I can put the part in the bag an gasoline and seal it an put it in the sonic mushen. Thanks for the video
We use the ultrasonic cleaners in laboratories for mixers of compounds inside vessels like test tubes for instance. So they make a great no touch mixer!
Great idea with the jars! I usually use zip-locks and cling-wrap along with baskets since you end up using much less cleaner to submerge the parts. Only 2 things I'd add: 1 - use de-ionized or distilled water in the dawn solution, it works far better 2 - pre-heat the water bath on the stove and then let the part soak to reach temp, hot cleaners work waaaay better
Thanks ... I’m in the market for a machine To clean my carbs of my bike 🏍 . Do ultrasonic cleaners differ not just in price or volume but in service which one should people get and where do we look for one thanks Steve great video .
Well, you just sold me on an ultrasonic cleaner. I've been debating one for vinyl records but it seemed like a big spend just for my hobby, and while I liked the idea of cleaning _other_ stuff in it I was dreading the idea of constantly changing out fluid between always-super-clean for records and potentially gritty-greasy-nasty for other projects. You just settled it for me. Great tip.
Great tip Steve , thanks . I need to rebuild a couple carbs and was going to use my ultrasonic cleaner. Better tell them it will remove paint with just plain water.
Simple Green works well, I've used 50 50 water mix on carburetors that had aluminum bases and did not get that grey coating you mentioned. They cleaned up well. The only negative was a little powder residue left over, in some spots (not a a lot of areas, tiny amounts) I think that de-greaser your're using is a phosphate based cleaner and that can leave the grey deposits, especially if you use the heater. I use heat for a better clean ( 35 C / 95 F ), and can walk away from it, I would not walk away from gasoline, in that cleaner hot or cold, way too volatile for my comfort.
I'm going to start using my sonic cleaner for my rock finds. and the plastic or glass bottle tip? WOW! that's going to be the thing I get the most from. thank you!
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For more videos like this, check out:
👉UPDATE: Ultimate Tips For Using An Ultrasonic Cleaner ➜ ua-cam.com/video/jeBB-J0fOp4/v-deo.html
👉Best Way To Clean a Honda Style Carburetor ➜ ua-cam.com/video/uAHdhuDpeKw/v-deo.html
👉Easiest Way To Clean A Metal Briggs Carburetor ➜ ua-cam.com/video/kJfpTX2Lx0g/v-deo.html
👉Easiest Way To Clean a Plastic Briggs Carburetor ➜ ua-cam.com/video/eGF_ynkc3C0/v-deo.html
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Many thanks again Steve. Are you doing you tube full time or do you have a shop/‘regular job’ that you do. Best of health and keep pumpin out those videos. 👍👍
Can I put my baby there?
Hey Steve! What would you suggest as a more affordable cleaner for jewellery? I don't want to pay thousands, it's just for my rings that have intricate designs with lots of nooks and crannies that even Interdental brushes can't get to - but I also don't want to damage the diamond settings or stones etc. Never used one before, so not sure if I need to buy a special solution for them too?
Thank you for your advice!
@@GildedFashion Liquid dishwashing detergent and water works well.
I hate to break glass too I always buy or recycle plastic also
Hello Steve ... I love your channel, thanks for all the great advice. I do have a small hint about this video. Your explanation for using an isolating container is spot-on. I've used ultrasonic cleaners for years to clean small parts in the pharmacy industry. When using a beaker or a jar to hold the cleaning solution and the part, it is better if you use a weighted but vented cover to hold the beaker upright and sunken against the basket bottom. If you allow the beaker to float, it might stay in the same orientation the entire cycle and not all parts of your part will be exposed to the cleaning action. Always use the basket and never set the beaker or jar on the floor of the cleaner. Always fill to the fill mark. Always make sure the part in the beaker is below the water line in the cleaner .... and if at all possible, use deionized (distilled) water to fill the cleaner tank. Also I know glass is a no-no in your shop, but glass is the container-of-choice, because a plastic container can flex enough to attenuate some of the ultrasonic signal, whereas glass will allow transit with minimum attenuation. You can tell we had shop SOPs that required this stuff, but I'm only offering here just to help out. :)
You are right on the spot.
Calvin: Excellent suggestions, especially on the venting idea. I have a question; I have had great difficulty finding information on high quality plastic jars that are truly resistant to gasoline. I received an ultrasonic cleaner as a gift. I want to use this isolation method to clean metal parts. I have easy access to mason jars. My fear is that the metal parts vibrating inside the glass jar during cleaning might cause it to break which would cause a huge mess. Is that a baseless fear? Your input is appreciated.
@@wrongfullyaccused7139 I'm wondering the same thing, I'm also wondering how thick of a glass container he's using. Most glass jars are fairly thick, not sure if that would be too thick or if thickness even matters here.
@@bodeine454 ;I don't think the thickness would matter that much. I do suspect that if the part being cleaned is heavy enough and sharp enough it might be capable of breaking a glass jar. Fact is I just don't know and that bugs me.
My son got me an ultrasonic cleaner for a gift. I will just experiment and learn.
@@bodeine454 ; That seems logical. Perhaps you end up with a mess, but it can be cleaned up afterwards. Best of luck. Be blessed and stay safe.
I use nitroglycerin, it cleans the whole barn right down to bare Earth, 6" reinforced floor and all. However, I am still looking for the carburetor
😂😂
@@stevehairston9940 LMAO - Hillarious
Always someone who brings us all back to reality with humor.
@@JayHutchG I wonder how many people read that, but didn't get that it was a joke. 😂
@@stevehairston9940 that is okay there won't be enough pieces left to prosecute
Here it is in my garden. Come and get it I’m in Brisbane Australia
For cleaning really small parts, put them into a stainless steel mesh tea ball. It holds them safely and serves as a built-in strainer when removing the parts from the container. Tea balls are available in many sizes from 1" to around 4" diameter.
I have done this too ! Many times, for watches
I work in a lab where we use sonicators daily. So you fill it up with water, then you put your parts/samples in a small glass container, and the cleaning solution in the container with the parts. I do like the tea strainer idea though.
I will be completely honest. When I came across Steve's channel for the first time, I was thinking who is this goofball but after watching several videos, I am now hooked. Steve is very sincere in helping people and is a down to earth regular guy. Thanks for all the helpful tips, new favorite channel!
Thank You...
Same here!...I thought this is gonna wreck the good name 😉😉 ..but truly he has some great tips and a huge wealth of knowledge in this industry. May I say very helpful personally as my business depends on his business. 👍👍 🍻 Cheers Steve!
Steve is the bomb 👌👌great info always. Ireland callin
Steve is sincere and helpful...but that doesn't mean he is not a goofball!
Agreed!!
I love learning from a real person with no hidden agenda that actually has solid advise and experience. Thanks Steve. U are the mvp on UA-cam right now.
I appreciate that!
You have something brown on your nose.
I agree. I like your attitude.
As a watchmaker who works with ultrasonic cleaners regularly and also wears glasses, be careful because cleaning your glasses in the ultrasonic can remove coatings from your lenses. Don't ask how I know.
Thank you!
Thank you!
It can definitely remove or damage the clear coat finish and other finishes from the frame/temple bars. Don't ask...same.
It can also loosen screws to the point that they fall out!
Great information thanks
Had no idea it would work through jars like that. It brings it to another level.
Thanks for the great idea.
I agree.
You're Welcome...
Sound waves don't care bout containers 🤣
I agree, but in retrospect, I feel like I should have realized that. Glass conducts sound quite well.
@@MrTheHillfolk Like honey badgers?
Yet more super useful info. Thanks!
My pleasure!
Hi Steve, using small glass or plastic container in the cleaner is a great idea, never thought of it. The reason that you MUST fill these ultrasonic cleaners to the top is that the water/solution acts as a heatsink for the transducers that generates the ultrasound vibration. If you fill the cleaner with only small amount of liquid, the transducer(s) will overheat and burn out very quickly.
When cleaning small parts, I sometimes use a zip-lock bag with cleaning solution just covering my parts, the bag draped over a rod or dowel, and held in place with clothes pins.
me too, do you have to suspend it or can't it just drape over the side? I'm new to this
wow great idea, thanks
@@southern_merican Suspended is safer. draping the bag over the side can allow the bag to rest against the side of the ultrasonic cleaner, and the contents of the bag to abrade through.
I bought a big cleaner like yours several years ago and haven't used it over the past couple years. So, I forgot how to use it. Thanks to your video it gets me up and running and with some new ideas to try. I've got some wheel bearings from my trailer that I want to clean and was considering filling the whole tub with kerosene. But, now, I only have to fill it with water and put the kerosene and bearings in a plastic jar and I'm good to go. Thank God people like you help your fellow man so much with these informative videos.
Right on buddy! Thank You...
The idea of using a container is Legendary. I have never seen or heard of anyone mention that idea and it totally makes sense.
You're The Man Steve !!
Greetings from Petrol land, here in Australia lol !
Thanks Mate!
It also accelerates the effects of rust removers like evaporust. I put evaporust in jar with the parts to be cleaned and then the jar in the ultrasonic with plain water. I've also used ziploc bags instead of jars.
How long will the bag survive in the cleaner?
@@gustav901 It would depend on the actual bag, I would think. Temperature matters also,. I haven't done any testing to failure.
I see people in the 3d printing community use mylar bags as they last a lot longer than regular plastic.
Ziplock bags was what I was thinking about
I had to clean a big ball bearing from an autoclave that had 20 years of baked in grease, hard as a rock. I put it in a ziplock bag with gasoline, with that inside another bag of plain water. That was because I was using the ultrasonic cleaner in surgery... late at night when nobody was there to say no. 20 minutes. Worked perfect. This was back in the 70's.
My go-to ultrasonic solution is the pro-grade Simple Green (which, ironically is purple), it has additional surfactants (reduces surface tension) which makes the ultrasonic action more effective
Why would deionized water (distilled water) work better, do you know?
@@riccardocarbo2479 deionized and distilled water are 2 totally different kinds of water. For an ultrasound cleaner you'll want to use distilled water
@@scottguyer They are basically the same thing, just different ways of production. Distilled is through distillation. Deionized is through filters. Both should result in pure H2O with no impurities. Only real difference might be the PH level. Deionized is "poor mans" distilled water. As its far less costly to produce than to actually distill.
@@scottguyer i presume the goal is to keep the tank clean and free from deposits. deionized/demineralized works just as well. why distilled?
@@asusreviews you have no idea what de-ionized means. if it was filtered , it would be called "filtered".
Just got my cleaner, wasn't sure about the noise it made so went looking for a YT and got this first hit! THANK YOU!!!! You just saved me hours and hours of cleaning!!!
Fantastic!
I really like the idea of using gasoline to clean carburetors. It shouldn’t hurt the fragile diaphragms and what nots. Thanks for the tip. Great video.
Don Better than how we did it in the 70s/80s. Soak the carbs in gas and just use pieces of wire, bristle brushes, and picks to clean them with our bare hands.
yeah I'm use to by hands with petrol but i was afraid to use petrol in the ultrasonic cleaner for risk of ignition.
but containing it like that sounds great.
@@AnthemBassMan I was a mechanic back then and we used to boil them out in carb cleaner, ya that stuff wasn't toxic at all. Maybe that's why my wife insists I'm dumb?
@@mattmoilanen3813 Yep! Then we graduated from straight gas to the 1 gallon cans of Berryman's B12 carb cleaner.
@@mattmoilanen3813 My old work place had interesting setup to clean spray guns. 100 liter barrel half full of acetone, suction pipe to pneumatic liquid pump, from there trough rubber hose to copper pipe made into nozzle that spurt into stainless sink where it was directed back to barrel. First time cleaning the gun my rubber gloves melted, so what "smart guy" does? Takes them off and washes it by hand... After doing 4 color custom paint job and washing the gun several times, i was so drunk from skin contact and gasses i almost fall over. Hellawa hang over next day and pretty sure my IQ drop 20 points after that...
I use my ultrasonic cleaner to clean my airbrushes. I put my parts in a small container (I use a stainless steel dentists containers filled with thinner) and the sonic action transfers . Been using my Heathkit ultrasonic that I built from a kit back in the late 70’s. I’ll have to check out these newer ones.
Hey Steve, im thinking of getting an ultrasonic cleaner and turned to UA-cam to get an opinion and demo on this product. Steve, yours is the first one i watched, and i can tell you, yours is the last one anyone needs to watch. Thanks steve for your tips, advice, and solution to a dirty reservior. I dont need to watch any other
WOW! Thank You...
Steve l recently brought out my old leaf blower that I gave up on about five years back l was going put it in the trash. After watching your videos I cleaned the exhaust outlet adjusted the carburettor It is now running like new thanks great videos . 🏴. 🇬🇧.
Right on John! You're Welcome...
Who throws your lower in the garbage? Do you do it to the wife also?
I'm considering an ultrasonic cleaner and went to your channel, knowing you probably had something on it. Your tips are brilliant! I wouldn't have thought about the peanut butter jars and I WOULD have been one of those guys that partially filled the machine and paid the price. Keep up the great work!
Awesome! Thank you!
Great video, but I have a question. Are you using the heat option when using the gasoline or de-greaser. I am new to ultra sonic cleaners and dont want to start a fire or anything, thanks a bunch!
You don't like having glass in your shop, but there are 30 glass beer bottles behind you:)
lol good point.
LOL! Great point, but I don't use those, they just sit there as ornaments....
The beer won't be knocked over. That would be alcohol abuse and simply not tolerated!
Steve's Small Engine Saloon what about Naptha?
@@StevesSmallEngineSaloon , Those lined up bottles there are Great BB gun targets. Just go to the other side of the garage and see for yourself :-)
I cleaned a whole bunch of bolts washers and nuts in a plastic quart jar filled with vinegar. When I finally got around to checking the rusty bolts out it had been about a whole year. It was messy and I had to dispose of all the rust. But the bolts nuts washers were all beautifully cleaned. I also have a Ultrasonic cleaner for small stuff and I stopped using it for the same reason you talked about having a greasy ultrasonic tub. I've been learning more about Ultrasonic cleaners and thanks to you I'm going to try vinegar in my ultrasonic cleaner. Thanks for all the valuable tips!
Love the channe keep up the good work in the content. ldo alot of small engine repair and was wondering what size ultrasonic cleaner you would recommend. I was also wondering if a cylinder from a twin cylinder engine would fit in the one you have.
Just got an ultrasonic cleaner last week, used it for a couple hours filled at partial level, still works great, but I'm so glad I saw your tip about filling it all the way up to the max fill line before I did this too long and ruined my machine. Thank you!
You're Welcome...
The amount of liquid filled to a partial level is not the problem. I have an ultrasonic cleaner that is an electron tube unit over 50 years old. (Google the history of L&R cleaners.) The one thing you should NOT do is to put any hard object such as metal on the floor of the tank. The vibration will ruin the transducers that are attached to the underside of the tank. This is why suspension baskets are used. Originally they used a stainless steel lid that a large hole in it to suspend a glass beaker in the tank.
This is the first video that came up when I wanted to get some info for a cleaner and after watching it, I purchased one immediately. So glad I watched this as it has made cleaning of my airbrushes so much easier. Great video with great info
Thank You...
I'm using it for airbrushes also, what solution are you using. Super Clean (Purple Container) does an OK job but I'm not sure how corrosive that is.
@@GaryNorton_C, I just use standard acetone. Does the job perfectly
Excellent tutorial. I'm just about to buy an ultrasonic cleaner and will be following your suggestions. BTW I come from the part of the world where we call gasoline petrol!
"Sea Clean 2" is another one, it comes in concentrate
for de-rusting metal I use electrolysis first which turns the red rust black, then ultrasonic cleaning to remove the black magnetite afterwards
If you're struggling to find a decent sized jar I found that ziplock bags work just as well.
Literally just thinking, fill the bath, but put the part eg bike cassette or chain in a zip lock....
thanks, i'll try that :)
...then after pour the cleaner back into it's storage container but through a coffee filter to remove gunk
I've been doing that for a few years with my pistol parts. It's been fantastic
I asked this question then immediately saw your comment. (Embarrassed)
Greetings from Western Australia. You provided all the information I needed before purchasing one of these. Many thanks for the hard work..
Cheers mate! Glad I could help.
I use Mr. Clean liquid. Just restored an entire drum kit and a lot of tools. Worked like a charm. I re use the solution until it's too dirty.
Hi Steve, awesome video and HUGE appreciation for the information.
last year i found an Ultra Sonic cleaner designed for window blinds, the tank is 2.6 metres long, 180mm wide and 400mm deep (102 x 7 x 15 inches), capacity of 180 litres (47 Gallons) it was being used for cleaning gearbox parts and the company were moving (or closing).
it has 2 power supplies, with adjustment for amplitude and frequency, and 3 massive transducers in the tank, and it has a separate tank for water and rinse aid, it also has two heating elements that operate on an external power supply.
i got it for AUD$150 and was told they paid $4K, the crate of chemicals they gave me were worth 3x what i paid.
with your great advice i can now use it for everything that will fit within the 7" wide constraint.
Excellent!
Great score on that tank!
Duude score!
Your excellent videos convinced me to buy and try an ultrasonic cleaner. I'm her to say to everyone, DON'T WAIT to get one. They work. I was skeptical about your suggestion or opinion that toilet bowl cleaner worked the best for cleaning. So I did a really controlled test with gasoline, straight vinegar and toilet bowl cleaner with identical parts all dirty to the same degree. All three in same size containers in the same ultrasonic machine at the same time, without heat because of the gasoline. The results were dramatic. The toilet bowl cleaner blew away the vinegar and gasoline in that order. Thank you, thank you and thank you for your straight up speak and efforts to help all of us DYI types.
Thank You...and You're Welcome...
did you dilute the cleaner or use it straight?
Jet Fuel/Kerosene. Works awesome in an ultrasonic cleaner. We used it to clean our oil filters (rebuildable/reusable) when I worked on Helicopters.
Awesome tip with the plastic containers. Keeps the unit clean and easier to deal with.
Thanks for this tip. I actually have a small one that picked up at a garage sale and we'll use your tips.
Great video! I definitely am gonna use your ideas. Thanks a bunch
Glad it was helpful!
Try mineral spirits. Mineral spirits are the standard solvent used in parts cleaner sinks. Without even ultrasonic waves, they clean grease and other junk from tools, parts, etc., just by soaking so I would think it would work beautifully in a ultrasonic cleaner. In addition, it's safer than gas. I don't know what I'd do without my parts cleaning sink and, after watching this video, I think I'll get a ultrasonic cleaner and try mineral spirits in it.
BTW, your videos are the best! They're clear, accurate, well-taped, and you explain things perfectly. There are too many videos out there by people who really don't know their subject and who shouldn't be posting videos because they steer people wrong. There are people posting instructional videos on things they're doing for the very first time (incorrectly!). Keep posting these great videos and it's a pleasure watching such a nice guy explaining things who knows what he's doing and isn't on an ego trip.
I was thinking this exact same thing. Im very curious now. Dont have an ultrasonic cleaner, but am seriously thinking of getting one after watching this video
Good thought. Mineral spirits are far less flammable than gasoline. Kerosene or diesel would be similar but stinkier. I often use Coleman fuel as a low odor gasoline like cleaner, but it's just as flammable as gasoline. Every time I use it I think extra hard about any possibilities for spillage or ignition.
As far as I could tell from the video, Steve is appropriately careful in handling the gasoline.
Flammable liquids in an ultrasonic are a no no. Can combust
Hey guys I liked your post and the replies you received so I wanted to tell you my experience trying this out. I have a small ultrasonic cleaner that was made for cleaning firearms because you needed two
different fluids to clean it, a cleanger and a oil type salutation. They were expensive and required putting one in, removing the liquid and putting in the other solution so that moisture wouldn't corrode internal parts and lubricate it. That was all a big pain in the ass so I stopped using it. When I ran across this video: I thought it was a great idea because the gas would clean and not leave any moisture behind. The first time I did it I used a plastic potato chips container and it worked great when I tried again the container leaked the dirt and gas in the water and I was left with a big mess again. Really needing to clean a barrel with a stuck and rusted part so I tried it again this time with a glass container and that worked great. Now for the next time I'm going to try and find a new solution that will clean but leave no moisture behind and not be as dangerous as gas. I didn't know that I could use it with water and just add a container with the liquids I wanted inside of it and not have a big mess. What a great tip.
To Mr Burns thanks for sharing but you must have some large oo to even think about Coleman is fuel. I was once camping when the only things you could use at that time was Coleman fuel for stoves and lantern. I was having a hard time lighting a camp fire and I got the great idea that Coleman fuel would be a good substitute for starting the fire and pored some on the wet wood and struck, a strike anywhere match on the metal ring around the wood and the spark from the match must of ignited the fumes and caused a large explosion that luckily only Burnet all the hair off my arm. After that I only used that fuel for stoves. Don't play with that it's not a good substitute for anything. Thanks for sharing but I think using that can lead to a similar thing, like my great idea 🤔
I've used distilled white vinegar and distilled water mixed 1 - 1 to clean parts and it works great by itself, but your tip about the plastic containers really knocks the process of cleanup out of the park. Thanks for sharing this great idea.
You're Welcome...
Putting the parts in smaller containers with various solutions is a brilliant idea
Level 1000 genius. Best video I’ve seen on ultrasonic cleaners. Thank you!
Glad it helped
Also, be warned that you should check a list for what gemstones are ok to put in ultrasonic cleaners. Some are very susceptible to fracture due to frequency. (others are very safe)
Additionally, if your gemstone has any post processing cleanups like gap filler or polish, it may take that out.
Examples of very safe stones: Diamonds, zirconia
Examples of risky stones: Emeralds (gap fillers), Quartz (Huge variance in quality of stones but can be very frequency sensitive and usually have surface treatments)
I just got my ultrasonic cleaner 2 weeks ago. I bought it specifically for cleaning carburetors. I haven't tried Gasoline yet but I will now after seeing how fast it cleaned that socket. I've been using Simple Green at a very mild 10% solution and it works very well to and smells much better lol.
Thanks Steve for your videos and sharing your wealth of knowledge.
You're Welcome...and Thank You...
Does the simple green discolor the carb body ... cause it to go darker in color ??
@@SteffanoDucati try simple green Pro HD. $14 a gallon. Not supposed to effect aluminum
I would hold off on flammable liquids, a flash fire could result.
Steve Thanks for making this video, I wonder if a thick plastic bag would work with a weight in the bottom ????
The best introduction I have seen yet for starting to use my new Ultrasonic cleaner.
Thanks Steve!
Wow, thanks!
Phenomenal idea Steve. Keep it up I learn something new from you every time you put out a new video.
Thank You...
Thanks for the tips. I've also heard of zip lock bags. I think with that technique, as long as you keep things floating you don't need the basket at all and the machine will be a lot quieter.
Great video! Personally I use mostly ziplock bags instead of cans. I've come to understand that thicker plastic jars, or baskets for that matter will absorb more of the energy and reduce efficiency of the cleaner. Stainless beakers also absorb less. A note on detergent and aluminium parts - strong alkaline solutions will dull and etch the surface
This is what I do.
May I ask what cleaning solution is best for anodized aluminum bike parts? Thanks
Most important with anodized aluminium is to keep the liquid slightly acidic, never alkaline/basic as that will ruin the surface. Most detergents are alkaline so either put some citric acid in as well, or use carosene in ziplock bag
@@thomasrasmussen1132 What would you recommend for a good general purpose cleaner to use that is 100% safe on aluminum also? Fixing up/cleaning an 88 Yamaha ATV and picked up an ultrasonic cleaner a few weeks ago. So far I've only used Evaporust in it on nuts and bolts which worked great. There's a few aluminum parts I'd like to throw in there now but want to make sure they aren't going to discolor or get dull or anything like that. Thanks
Hey man. For years we have used off-road diesel and kerosene for metal parts. It acts as a solvent and a lubricant as well as protecting the parts from corrosion after cleaning.
I just got a small ultrasonic cleaner and wanted to see a good technique for this. Thanks! Excellent video
You're welcome!
Pinesol hands down best cleaner I've found. Plus the shop smells great
Yes, but it needs to be the original stuff. The original is the only one that still contains actual pine gum. The other new fancy flavors are just detergent cleaners and do not work nearly as well.
Steve, I worked for Zama for almost ten years, and we used an ultrasonic cleaner nearly every day. We kept a mix of simple green and water, 50 / 50, in the tank all the time. Instead of plastic jars we used old coffee cups to put smaller parts in. Take off the gaskets, metering diaphragm, and fuel pump, and toss everything else in. If you can get the high low needles out, and have replacement Welch plugs, take those out as well and let 'er rip tater chip. The main nozzle and idle check valves won't be effected. When done, rinse with water, and then follow with denatured alcohol and GENTLY dry with compressed air.
We would also put raw aluminum bodies, brass parts, and stainless parts in the same way. We learned that placing a piece of card board over the top of the basin kept the parts and the cleaning solution warm, which improved the cleaning processes.
Never tried gasoline, OSHA might have frowned upon that, but I can see where it would work!
Right on Dan..
Hi What do you mean with green? Is it dish wash? Best R Henrik
@@henrikjonsson4340 Simple Green. It’s a cleaner / degreaser sold in the United States.
Be sure to use 90% or better isopropyl alcohol. Anything less is rubbing alcohol that has other added lubricants in it.
Hi Steve, Now i am retired and we took that big step in life and moved to the countryside to live I now have a life away from those long long hours and days of working to one day have a life, this is we're your videos have helped me no end. I end my day by having a few Irish whisky and a look at your video's regarding what ever my latest project is, Thanks Steve from both me my four legged friends (two rescued ones)
And France, peace perfect peace (so quiet I swear you could hear a mouse fart) cheers Steve.
Super simple way to not waste cleaning fluid with this machine! Great tip Steve.
Thank You...
I watch HUNDREDS of youtube vids on how to do stuff. This is one of the best tips I've ever seen!!!
WOW! Thank You...
Thank you. Never thought about gas. Was worried about water cleaning and some water still left in the carb afterwards
The reason you must fill the unit to the fill line is the resonant frequency is tuned to the volume of water at the fill line. If you use less liquid you will get poor cleaning or worse still, as you said already, you can blow up your ultrasonic transducer.
Yep, because the energy (of the vibrations) will not be used to move the cleaning solution, but will be thrown back at the sound generators, which will destroy them.
Since, you seem pretty knowledgeable regarding the topic, I'd like to ask you a question. To your knowledge, are all the transducers used in these small ultrasonic cleaners basically the same quality? I ask, because there is a price differential between the American manufactured ultrasonic cleaners and those made in China. However, I've heard that all of the transducers are made in China. So, I was wondering how I can judge the quality between the various manufacturers. I'm looking to use a ultrasonic in motorcycle and automobile restoration as a hobbyist Many thanks.
@Liam McNieve Somehow I don’t think 🤔 that’s the answer he was looking for.
@@azul8811 Interestingly enough, I’d like to know the answer to your question as well. I also know a thing or two about parts that are made in China because I actually lived there for more than a decade. In short people complain about the cheap stuff that comes from China without stopping to consider how all of that cheap stuff got here in the first place. One of the ways cheap Chinese products come into the U.S./Canada, etc. is the same way that Steve acquired his Co-X machine, and that is direct import (so yes, they do make cheap products to sell. Why? Because most people are cheap bastards and would rather buy cheap products and complain about it later). The other way cheap Chinese products wined up on retailers shelves is because the U.S./Canadian buyers that source from China are only interested in buying cheap shit to be sold at Walmart/Canadian Tire and the like. What most people fail to realize or acknowledge is that China also has great factories too, and just one example of that is the your Apple products. I certainly don’t see anyone complaining about how shitty their IPHONE is made.
From what little I have been able to learn about these cheap Chinese units are that the failure points aren’t necessarily the transducers, but rather that push button circuit board that that operates the unit. That board is filled with really cheap chips, diodes, etc. The boards are what usually burns out or overheats because the heating elements gets taxed. They will likely last a bit longer if you filled them up with boiling water from the beginning instead of relying on the heating element to bring the water up to speed.
@Liam McNieve LOL. I try to when my budget can afford it. I bought two US made Wilton bench vises last year. One cost me $900, and the other about $600. I've been pricing out a US made Baldor 2 speed buffer with pedestal and it runs over $1200. So, do I buy a US made ultrasonic cleaner for over $1000, or a Chinese one for $169? It depends on how much use I am going to give it, and if the US ones are comprised of Chinese parts. One of the US made ultrasonic cleaners doesn't include the stainless steel basket even though it is a necessary accessory. They charge $250 for the basket alone.
The other thing is that some stuff is promoted as Made in USA but is actually just assembled here of foreign sourced parts. Or think about cars. Do I buy a Ford made in Canada or a VW made in Tennessee? It's a similar case with clothing. There are still sweatshops here in NYC. There are undocumented people sewing foreign sourced fabric into blouses, etc. I believe that the labels say made in USA. So yeah, buy American. I'm with you on that, but it gets complicated.
Thanks Steve, i have just started using my newly delivered 6L ultrasound cleaner and the tip you demonstrated is brilliant. I am surprised the owners manual doesn't suggest the same. And yes way down here in Sydney Australia we call it petrol :)
Right on mate! Thank You...
Do you have a trick for putting things in there with o rings or gaskets, so the engine parts get cleaned but don't harm the gaskets or o rings?
Nice video! I liked the "Welcome guys AND girls" part.
Just a little heads up to everyone - be SUPER careful with gasoline in your shop and also think about the vapors (extremely flammable). Gas in containers other than for a motor is a very delicate thing.
/Guy speaking from - several plastic surgerys, weeks in the hospital and years of recovery - experience
I can't belive no body is mentioning this. That little plastic jar is holding back an explosion. Surely, it's pressured during the clean.
Do not heat the gasoline.
I never would’ve thought of doing it that way you have such great information I appreciate it
Any time!
Some great tips Steve, will give them a try, I wanted to clean old camera shutters that stick because of some dried on grease, what do you think, John Moore, Sherwood Forest, England.
I use my old guitar strings for cleaning my jets works great and never use the air nozzle to clean carbs the pressure from the b12 can is plenty. I’ve done literally hundreds of carbs and this looks like a keeper wish I know about this years ago thanks man my sonic machine will be much cleaner
Right on! I also use guitar strings
Best idea for using an ultrasonic cleaner I've ever heard. Steve you're the Einstein of small engine repair!
WOW! Thanks Donny...
Steve, could this method be used for cleaning Clock works. How do you dispose of used cleaner?
WOW. Never thought of putting it in separate jars to keep the solution clean
Simple green…and it’s biodegradable. Love your videos and tips
Cheers Steve, great instructive video. Gonna use the peanut butter jar method for cleaning my bike cycle parts
Right on
What a great video. I never would have thought of using containers like that. This is one I won't forget the next time I use my ultrasonic cleaner. Thanks Steve!
You are so welcome!
You are correct, great way to keep the cleaner clean and reduce the cost of solvents. I've worked in several material labs where we needed to use solvents to etch materials, which would harm the stainless tub. We used pyrex beakers, so you only use the amount of solvent you need and you do not damage the cleaner tub. The peanut butter jar concept is great as long as it stays sealed and you aren't using a cleaner that will eat through it. Also some solvents will gas just from the heat of the ultrasonic action and could build up pressure on a sealed container.
Aside from heat, the gas can't build up significant pressure because it's not adding gas to itself--it's sealed, right? No? I can see a tad of build up but not more than space the bubbles would occupy. As long as you aren't adding heat!
Could I use hi strength vinegar to clean carburetors
Tested my new sonic cleaner ,using your method of plastic containers, i used kerosene versus gasoline , cleaned up parts from a 1945 pistol. In about 3 minutes the parts came out looking wonderful, another good idea from steves small engine salon, keep up the good work
Right on
Brilliant, thanks for posting !
I have a 15 liter cleaner and when it gets dirty I clean it in my 30 liter cleaner.
Now I need one to clean my 30. It never ends 😞.
You're an holy consumer for the buyers 😂
🤣
Sofa King Funny
Need to know ,.. will this machine remove gold plating from electronics/parts ? Along with the vinegar thing ?
Brilliant! It occurred to me too that you could put a plastic liner in the tank to clean dirty objects and then just pull the plastic liner out. I'm definitely going to try the jar method.
I'm thinking a Crock Pot liner would work well to line the tank.
Hi Steve, nice video and tips. I have a small sonic cleaner that I bought around 20 years ago (from China). The instructions from mine says to INCREASE the ultrasonic cleaning capabilities, remove the basket. My basket is plastic. The unit does not have heat control; just time in 5 minute increments up to 30 minutes. Temperature does go up considerably after the 3rd session. It is still working today, I use it to clean my airbrush and related parts used for painting my models; works great.
Thanks for the tip. I have just bought one for cleaning carbs. I didn't know you can use petrol so I really appreciate your video.
You're Welcome...
You're smarter than you like us to believe. Nice vid, with a good explanation of cavitation too. Enjoyable as always. Respect from UK. Edit: I suspect that the transducers blow, if you don't fill the cleaner, because there's not enough mass to absorb the ultrasonic energy, the transducer will vibrate more than it should and, un-dampened, will overheat and shake itself to a fault situation.The energy has to go into the water otherwise it has nowhere else to dissipate.
Great reason why you fill it. Thanks
I've been using simple green and water in mine. Has worked well cleaning small carburetors.
I have a similar unit, but with 2 dials. 1 for heat, and 1 for time. I rebuild old tube test equipment & old tube radios.
It's great for cleaning parts of these devices. Thanks for the tip on using jars!
Very cool!
I talked to a application engineer at a ultrasonic company and she said that plastic absorbs the energy and glass is best.
I read that soft surfaces absorb the waves and so are less efficient.
@@SiaD777 You are correct. You should use glass if you are going to put a container into an ultrasonic cleaner. You need to transmit the shockwaves, not have them absorbed. You should avoid plastics, rubber, UHMW, etc....
Yep it sure does -- and you beat me to it! :)
@regalblue41 that's a line that should have been added to the Constitution and etched in stone above every court house in America.
@latest plague ew
I need a suggestion for a cleaner to use in ultrasonic machine for glass insulators from the old telephone poles.
Dude that is genius! I wouldn't have thought that would work, but now i see it does. 👍 I would've thought gas would be dangerous, but i guess im wrong. I use a mix of white vinegar, and Dawn. I've also used other types of degreasers including Awesome Soap. When i saw you holding the beer at the end it got me wondering....🤔 I wonder how well beer would work? 😅
I use cooking oil, vinegar for rusty parts, and degreaser. Thank you that was helpful.
Great advice. I will eventually be able to use the ultrasonic cleaner which is under my kitchen sink
Outstanding my friend. Thank you for the amazing tip that not only saves money but saves time. Hats off to you sir.
Glad to help
I use *Simple* *Green* for cleaning most of the items you mentioned, but I also clean electronic parts as well.
I was wondering about that. It works pretty good normally so I'd think in an ultrasonic cleaner it would work well. And it's pretty cheap. Have you found anything else better since?
@@andrewt9204 - On Jewelry I use Woolite.
Thanks man, so many helpful info !!!
I have almost the exact same unit, and have tried MANY different solutions in it. IMO, the best, and safest is Krud Kutter Parts Cleaner (made by RustOleum). Biodegradable, and safe for ALL metals.....will not discolor aluminum or pot metal. I use it mainly on small engine carbs, and it's amazing. Another trick....turn on the ultrasonic part while waiting for the solution to heat up....it will heat up twice as fast.
I use a mix of white vinegar, dish soap and water. Dish soap breaks down grease, white vinegar breaks down other dirt particles and water cause it’s a chap add in. I then use distilled water to wash it all off. I mainly clean circuit boards but that mix works well for jewelry and other items as well. 😄
I see some of you use zip lock bag but I am wondering if you use gasoline will it eat through it what if you use vacum bags for food i have a oldwon the vacum don't work but the Sealer part works so I can put the part in the bag an gasoline and seal it an put it in the sonic mushen. Thanks for the video
We use the ultrasonic cleaners in laboratories for mixers of compounds inside vessels like test tubes for instance. So they make a great no touch mixer!
Cool!
Great idea with the jars! I usually use zip-locks and cling-wrap along with baskets since you end up using much less cleaner to submerge the parts.
Only 2 things I'd add:
1 - use de-ionized or distilled water in the dawn solution, it works far better
2 - pre-heat the water bath on the stove and then let the part soak to reach temp, hot cleaners work waaaay better
Thanks ... I’m in the market for a machine To clean my carbs of my bike 🏍 . Do ultrasonic cleaners differ not just in price or volume but in service which one should people get and where do we look for one thanks Steve great video .
Well, you just sold me on an ultrasonic cleaner. I've been debating one for vinyl records but it seemed like a big spend just for my hobby, and while I liked the idea of cleaning _other_ stuff in it I was dreading the idea of constantly changing out fluid between always-super-clean for records and potentially gritty-greasy-nasty for other projects. You just settled it for me. Great tip.
Glad I could help!
Hi Miles, I am interested in your feedback on having used a ultrasonic cleaner for LP's. Would you mind updating your comment from a year ago? Thx!
Steve delivers with every video. This was huge
Thank You...
Thank you Sir, enjoy listening to you
Great tip Steve , thanks . I need to rebuild a couple carbs and was going to use my ultrasonic cleaner. Better tell them it will remove paint with just plain water.
Simple Green works well, I've used 50 50 water mix on carburetors that had aluminum bases and did not get that grey coating you mentioned. They cleaned up well. The only negative was a little powder residue left over, in some spots (not a a lot of areas, tiny amounts) I think that de-greaser your're using is a phosphate based cleaner and that can leave the grey deposits, especially if you use the heater. I use heat for a better clean ( 35 C / 95 F ), and can walk away from it, I would not walk away from gasoline, in that cleaner hot or cold, way too volatile for my comfort.
Solvents in a container seems workably safe, as long as the seal is good and the glass is strong (plastic not cracked or seeping through the lid).
I'm going to start using my sonic cleaner for my rock finds. and the plastic or glass bottle tip? WOW! that's going to be the thing I get the most from. thank you!
Have fun!
Nice tip!!! I'll give it try with jars and sockets. Thank You!
You're Welcome...