Ultrasonic Parts Cleaner Recommendations

[FastforaSlowGuy]

Who here uses one, what do you use, and do you like it?

[dave thompson]

I’ve had one for years. Got it from a friend that owns a jewelry store so it’s s bit small, won’t fit a 32t cog but it cleans anything that I can fit in it. Does a great job on chains.

Most any ultrasonic cleaner will be good for bike parts. Harbor Freight has a couple that will fit the bill nicely.

[kramnnim]

Mine is from ebay/amazon/china, stainless, 2l, 60w? Works fine. I use water and a splash of "purple power" degreaser from the dollar store.

[unterhausen]

I have one, I usually use soap and water. Mine has a heater, it usually works better when the water is hot.

[PSJoyce]

I picked up a used
lab grade Branson on eBay for short money. It's a no fooling around device that will last for years and years

[oldpotatoe]

Had one of these..'heater' function went away early on then it just stopped working..less than a year..stay away.

[msl819]

Resurrecting this thread... anyone have any good recommendations on a good unit? Also any insider tricks on best solutions or practices? Anything to avoid that a noob might not know?

I may try to grab one during the holiday sale season and wanted to solicit suggestions from the collective experiences.

Thanks!

[mt2u77]

I have the cheap Harbor Freight one and later picked up a lab grade Fisher Scientific model at a university surplus sale.

The Fisher included instructions for an efficacy test to remove pencil lead from frosted glass slide. The Fisher removed the lead about 4-5x faster than the Harbor Freight— no surprise.

Both will get the job done for bike parts eventually, but I recommend good old fashioned elbow grease for caked on crud followed by a mineral spirits bath for chains.

Best uses— reviving gummed up shifters. Cleaning carburetors.

Tips— put your parts and high concentration degreasers in a plastic bag or in a small glass partially submerged in the bath to save on chemical use.

[Idris Icabod]

I picked up a used
lab grade Branson on eBay for short money. It's a no fooling around device that will last for years and years

I have a Branson at home, same model I use at work. I've had the work one for 15+ years and it has been abused and is still perfect. If you have the opportunity, they are great.

[cmb5286]

Either of these have a heating element?

[fmradio516]

Either of these have a heating element?

I think the Harbor freight one has a heating element, but im not 100% sure.

[Bentley]

I use this one: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Stainless-Steel-10L-Liter-Industry-Heated-Ultrasonic-Cleaner-Heater-w-Timer-Top/222607737525?epid=5031296777&_trkparms=ispr%3D1&hash=item33d47482b5:g:SGIAAOSwOtdYT2zx&enc=AQAEAAACUBPxNw%2BVj6nta7CKEs3N0qXokjmyhh3EhqL4 CGOkjSQ65O9whiSdxzE77lBiva5tOUDU2KVPL1kMAOqNt3ub7F d9V9%2BzPB0ZY9mS2iFlItAUtA6AoFslJaZKKtVEieaSRQDiWP YxYcdjzhdjT2sUXT8es9XXAtkyuYMOoAh9sOg13m4NChiykdUo GfNh8fBIFyT8A18VnHoriEzWv52aeT%2FUBLUvRWkbsiUp6l6w wW2DcUFBCTXx8Kqz%2BcS%2Bai%2FLuPLLuEda4nglJp%2B1k5 z3%2FYKLYOodUA5yT4upKeHOswTCmmBAk0fa7FCCUIrHJeSIlp 9%2BE5FYEUXUsIFtWOWAUZSuLVZdOblpJTvMji%2F%2BnVqX0h M%2BCIUJ2i1KVDD1ZIUFnkcOwt63s0JknvyW8UbMcG3X3Hti%2 BpPBWpBlkfqwr2lqcqzeknnBOtIh6UtEjEP7ylWM%2Fvq15Mib 5M5u1Pk4WxI9R5183NYIQjb3uisix786%2BpB%2Bp%2Be5jaNC FfCHWk8Cdcy%2BBSwBAaL9lyQRwRv6IvapG%2FFSBfPeamNBCy tQxstECeEBw8Ffo419M3HRiHPldYVLPwfHOOKNzjmKypmUnXOq JqIMT6odmO8dxvF47uei1B8kEwZ8d2DXSA2hgtLUdy4Hn19Jd7 o3Nwo59dgurCpT85uGbSvKdR4C38PP09eWToRchHuIC2jaykwm GaCp0wZkVruwo5FTunu8IpFESTLUepUlIEC8E7a0f2xiId7Cfb wCzhDAE1L53hC4W2U4en0jmrYR4HzLsMLCKla5%2BiY%3D&checksum=222607737525a957266e703e44a091f89c463adad 729&enc=AQAEAAACUBPxNw%2BVj6nta7CKEs3N0qXokjmyhh3EhqL4 CGOkjSQ65O9whiSdxzE77lBiva5tOUDU2KVPL1kMAOqNt3ub7F d9V9%2BzPB0ZY9mS2iFlItAUtA6AoFslJaZKKtVEieaSRQDiWP YxYcdjzhdjT2sUXT8es9XXAtkyuYMOoAh9sOg13m4NChiykdUo GfNh8fBIFyT8A18VnHoriEzWv52aeT%2FUBLUvRWkbsiUp6l6w wW2DcUFBCTXx8Kqz%2BcS%2Bai%2FLuPLLuEda4nglJp%2B1k5 z3%2FYKLYOodUA5yT4upKeHOswTCmmBAk0fa7FCCUIrHJeSIlp 9%2BE5FYEUXUsIFtWOWAUZSuLVZdOblpJTvMji%2F%2BnVqX0h M%2BCIUJ2i1KVDD1ZIUFnkcOwt63s0JknvyW8UbMcG3X3Hti%2 BpPBWpBlkfqwr2lqcqzeknnBOtIh6UtEjEP7ylWM%2Fvq15Mib 5M5u1Pk4WxI9R5183NYIQjb3uisix786%2BpB%2Bp%2Be5jaNC FfCHWk8Cdcy%2BBSwBAaL9lyQRwRv6IvapG%2FFSBfPeamNBCy tQxstECeEBw8Ffo419M3HRiHPldYVLPwfHOOKNzjmKypmUnXOq JqIMT6odmO8dxvF47uei1B8kEwZ8d2DXSA2hgtLUdy4Hn19Jd7 o3Nwo59dgurCpT85uGbSvKdR4C38PP09eWToRchHuIC2jaykwm GaCp0wZkVruwo5FTunu8IpFESTLUepUlIEC8E7a0f2xiId7Cfb wCzhDAE1L53hC4W2U4en0jmrYR4HzLsMLCKla5%2BiY%3D&checksum=222607737525a957266e703e44a091f89c463adad 729

Honestly, if I was buying today I would buy either a 15L or 20L. It is big enough for everything except a crank with a spindle attached, so 10L is good, I think a bit bigger would be better.

I have tried a number of enhancers for the water, I found Simple Green works well, but some have said that it corrodes aluminum so I have settled on Dawn Detergent as the agent of choice. Also, Heater makes the cleaner work much better.

[fmradio516]

I use this one: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Stainless-Steel-10L-Liter-Industry-Heated-Ultrasonic-Cleaner-Heater-w-Timer-Top/222607737525?epid=5031296777&_trkparms=ispr%3D1&hash=item33d47482b5:g:SGIAAOSwOtdYT2zx&enc=AQAEAAACUBPxNw%2BVj6nta7CKEs3N0qXokjmyhh3EhqL4 CGOkjSQ65O9whiSdxzE77lBiva5tOUDU2KVPL1kMAOqNt3ub7F d9V9%2BzPB0ZY9mS2iFlItAUtA6AoFslJaZKKtVEieaSRQDiWP YxYcdjzhdjT2sUXT8es9XXAtkyuYMOoAh9sOg13m4NChiykdUo GfNh8fBIFyT8A18VnHoriEzWv52aeT%2FUBLUvRWkbsiUp6l6w wW2DcUFBCTXx8Kqz%2BcS%2Bai%2FLuPLLuEda4nglJp%2B1k5 z3%2FYKLYOodUA5yT4upKeHOswTCmmBAk0fa7FCCUIrHJeSIlp 9%2BE5FYEUXUsIFtWOWAUZSuLVZdOblpJTvMji%2F%2BnVqX0h M%2BCIUJ2i1KVDD1ZIUFnkcOwt63s0JknvyW8UbMcG3X3Hti%2 BpPBWpBlkfqwr2lqcqzeknnBOtIh6UtEjEP7ylWM%2Fvq15Mib 5M5u1Pk4WxI9R5183NYIQjb3uisix786%2BpB%2Bp%2Be5jaNC FfCHWk8Cdcy%2BBSwBAaL9lyQRwRv6IvapG%2FFSBfPeamNBCy tQxstECeEBw8Ffo419M3HRiHPldYVLPwfHOOKNzjmKypmUnXOq JqIMT6odmO8dxvF47uei1B8kEwZ8d2DXSA2hgtLUdy4Hn19Jd7 o3Nwo59dgurCpT85uGbSvKdR4C38PP09eWToRchHuIC2jaykwm GaCp0wZkVruwo5FTunu8IpFESTLUepUlIEC8E7a0f2xiId7Cfb wCzhDAE1L53hC4W2U4en0jmrYR4HzLsMLCKla5%2BiY%3D&checksum=222607737525a957266e703e44a091f89c463adad 729&enc=AQAEAAACUBPxNw%2BVj6nta7CKEs3N0qXokjmyhh3EhqL4 CGOkjSQ65O9whiSdxzE77lBiva5tOUDU2KVPL1kMAOqNt3ub7F d9V9%2BzPB0ZY9mS2iFlItAUtA6AoFslJaZKKtVEieaSRQDiWP YxYcdjzhdjT2sUXT8es9XXAtkyuYMOoAh9sOg13m4NChiykdUo GfNh8fBIFyT8A18VnHoriEzWv52aeT%2FUBLUvRWkbsiUp6l6w wW2DcUFBCTXx8Kqz%2BcS%2Bai%2FLuPLLuEda4nglJp%2B1k5 z3%2FYKLYOodUA5yT4upKeHOswTCmmBAk0fa7FCCUIrHJeSIlp 9%2BE5FYEUXUsIFtWOWAUZSuLVZdOblpJTvMji%2F%2BnVqX0h M%2BCIUJ2i1KVDD1ZIUFnkcOwt63s0JknvyW8UbMcG3X3Hti%2 BpPBWpBlkfqwr2lqcqzeknnBOtIh6UtEjEP7ylWM%2Fvq15Mib 5M5u1Pk4WxI9R5183NYIQjb3uisix786%2BpB%2Bp%2Be5jaNC FfCHWk8Cdcy%2BBSwBAaL9lyQRwRv6IvapG%2FFSBfPeamNBCy tQxstECeEBw8Ffo419M3HRiHPldYVLPwfHOOKNzjmKypmUnXOq JqIMT6odmO8dxvF47uei1B8kEwZ8d2DXSA2hgtLUdy4Hn19Jd7 o3Nwo59dgurCpT85uGbSvKdR4C38PP09eWToRchHuIC2jaykwm GaCp0wZkVruwo5FTunu8IpFESTLUepUlIEC8E7a0f2xiId7Cfb wCzhDAE1L53hC4W2U4en0jmrYR4HzLsMLCKla5%2BiY%3D&checksum=222607737525a957266e703e44a091f89c463adad 729

Honestly, if I was buying today I would buy either a 15L or 20L. It is big enough for everything except a crank with a spindle attached, so 10L is good, I think a bit bigger would be better.

I have tried a number of enhancers for the water, I found Simple Green works well, but some have said that it corrodes aluminum so I have settled on Dawn Detergent as the agent of choice. Also, Heater makes the cleaner work much better.

So youre satisfied with the UC in general besides size? I was going to pull the trigger on the harbor freight one, but its only 2.5L.

[mulp]

I use a cheap $25-35 one from Amazon and its been treating me well for about 3 years. I haven't tried an industrial grade cleaner but even the cheap ones get the job done if left to run long enough.

[Bentley]

So youre satisfied with the UC in general besides size? I was going to pull the trigger on the harbor freight one, but its only 2.5L.

I’ve had it for a while, it works perfect. I can put a bunch of stuff in this one, a little bigger would be great. That said, don’t put parts touching, the vibration can cause marking.

[amerikaner]

Also using a harborfreight one that I got years ago.

Sent from my SM-G973U1 using Tapatalk

[simplemind]

Here is what I think about the HF unit, yes it works, yes it’s cheap, but the transducer is pretty weak. It has a stupid timer system that basically limits itself to 4 minutes +/-. Having used Branson units in the past, I probably expect too much. Can’t return it since it still “works”, but I’d look elsewhere. :no:

[OldCrank]

I read somewhere you're safe with plain metal plate (chainrings, casettes etc.) but you may damage fussy mechs like shifters- true or BS?
Thanks

[Bentley]

I read somewhere you're safe with plain metal plate (chainrings, casettes etc.) but you may damage fussy mechs like shifters- true or BS?
Thanks

I’ve never tried Shifters, that said never had them so dirty that I thought it required it. Not sure how it would get to the internals. Plus getting water in there without a good may to get it out...

Done front and rear derailleurs, cassettes, chain rings, brakes. Honestly, it can come out of the cleaner clean as new

[gemship]

I have the Harbor Freight model. I think I paid 100$ for it in stock at my nearby Harbor Freight. I used it exclusively to clean motorcycle carburetors. It has a heating feature that works great. It has a tray to put the parts in but I preferred to use it without the tray as it seemed to clean better...more vibes in my opinion. I think it's big enough to dunk a gearing cassette in it but not a whole spindle crank arm assembly. Honestly I don't see the benefit of one of these for bicycle parts. I think it would be best to just use some kind of degreaser followed by soap and water or just soap and water and blow parts dry there after. I will say to get the most benefit out of one of these you really need to have a air compressor to blow parts dry. Worked well for my gummed up carbs but I also completely disassembled them and ran it multiple cycles with a bit of time between cycles as recommended to not burn out the heating element. I also put warm water in it with some kinda soap granular pellet solution in it that Harbor Freight sells separately. I also tried warm water mixed with Pine Sol and thought that worked just as well.

[gemship]

Here is what I think about the HF unit, yes it works, yes it’s cheap, but the transducer is pretty weak. It has a stupid timer system that basically limits itself to 4 minutes +/-. Having used Branson units in the past, I probably expect too much. Can’t return it since it still “works”, but I’d look elsewhere. :no:

Yes it's a cheap unit but I think the four minute cycle is probably a safe guard to not burning itself out. You can restart it there after. In a way it's nice as it keeps the operator somewhat honest. I mean turning the thing on and ignoring it for like a half hour could have dire consequences. Perhaps you may damage some rubber seals with too much heat...