Preferences for ultrasonic soap

[Robert_Wise1]

Hi All

I'm writing to see if folks would share their preferences for ultrasonic concentrate. I noticed I was low on that very thing, and was wondering if their was a better/cheaper option? Who better to ask than the Orchid community.

I'm using Stuller's ultra-CR. It works very well at a low
concentration, (75ml to about 3.0L), but it is a bit pricey. I've used quite a range of wacky mixes in the past. Years back I worked for a fellow who swore by Wisk and ammonia. It was pretty good.

I clean an average of 30 pieces a day after repair, so I 'm a light to moderate user. I'd sure like to hear from you folks.

Best to you all,
Bob
Robert Wise Studio

[John_Donivan]

Years back I worked for a fellow who swore by Wisk and ammonia. It
was pretty good.

We use the Otto Frei soap because we get it locally without shipping. No doubt it's like Stuller's. No doubt people will answer with their own preferences. Simple Green often pops up, as does ammonia. We buy the commercial products because they are way more powerful and also the #1 most important thing: They don't smell.

[David_Huffmann]

Hi Bob;

Did a lot of experimentation with this. Once upon a time, we used amonia and trisodium phosphate. Works well but the amonia smell, and the pollution from the phosphate enclined us to keep trying. Tried that organic Green cleaner (forgot the name) but it stunk too, like licorice.

We found an excellent cleaner which we can no longer get, it's no longer made (damn!). Now we use one we get from a restaurant supply place called "Like Magic" (premium cleaner and degreaser) which works pretty good and doesn't smell bad. I'd stay away from anything with amonia. Cleans well, but the fumes are surely not healthy to breath. I've never tried powdered detergent for dish washing machines, but you might want to experiment with that, as it's low sudsing and cheap.

David L. Huffman

[Noman]

I use ZEP brand concrete floor stripper (in the blue one gallon jug at Homo Depo).

Interestingly, ZEP makes an ultrasonic solution but I've never tried it.

http://www.ganoksin.com/gnkurl/ep80fw

Their floor stripper is a very base pH so it's safe on pearls and other stones.

Paf Dvorak

[Vernon_Wilson]

Simple Green has worked for me for 20 years. biodegradable too..

[davidphelps7]

After a lot of experimentation with pretty much all of the solutions recommended in this thread and others, I went back to using Gesswein's ultrasonic concentrate. An ultrasonic works by creating and then exploding microscopic bubbles, hundreds if not thousands of times per second. Solutions made to do this work better than substitutes, at least that's my experience. It's considerably pricier than the non-ultrasonic soap substitutes, but it's worth the money if getting the most effective cleaning from your ultrasonic is the objective.

Dave Phelps

[2audrita]

Simple Green, buy on special at big box by the gallon. The smell doesn't last long mix with water. If You pickle after solder what else do you need? Also S. G. is great for degreaser for tripoli, zam, etc... Audrita

[charlesian2000]

Magic green is a top seller when we have it in store.

Regards Charles

[joris]

Is this the power washer concentrate?

Joris

[rbhyder]

When working and instructing at GIA we used Oakite...a purple cleaning solution. It just blows grease grime off of jewelry in a heartbeat and is non toxic.

Russ Hyder
The Jewelry CAD Institute

[janetb]

Russ,

Any way of finding out what Oakite's ingredients are? I assume it is not available in my country.... Interested to know what blows grease grime off but does not damage the tank....:-)....

Janet in Jerusalem

[rbhyder]

Janet, here is a link to some about Oakite BCR. buffing
compound remover. I don't know if you have a distributor in your area but companies will ship worldwide..

I personally have used this and it is very impressive.

Russ

[albalmer]

Any way of finding out what Oakite's ingredients are?

Just Google for the MSDS.
http://www.ganoksin.com/gnkurl/ep80ge [PDF file]

Al Balmer

[Kay_Davis2]

Any way of finding out what Oakite's ingredients are?

Short answer No, not with the originally provided. Some
people have made educated guesses, but in industrial health and safety we don't guess has given the range of products made by almost everything.

Chemetall Oakite is a company that makes chemical products for industry.

Their products range from glorified dish soap to de-rusting / degreasing agents that will turn your hand to bones in almost no time. To quote from the corporate website: " Chemetall Oakite offers over 400 specialized products and systems for more than 30

industries, including aerospace, appliance, architectural,
automotive, coil coating, cold forming, general industries and other surface treatment-related markets including food, pharmaceuticals and pulp and paper."

I wish people would actually specify which product by its full name / catalog number that they are referring to rather than generic or company names like "Ether"or"Oakite and in which country the product is.... Yes some of us really do not live in the center of the universe (as many US citizens seem to believe it is) surprise surprise.... why which country, because the 'same' product by the same manufacturer can and often does have different formulations in different countries.

Kay

[rebecca_rourke1]

BCR original ultrasonic cleaning solution by oakite is a commonly sold to the trade additive. Esslinger, the jewellery supply vendor lists it in their catalogue as well as common Online Auction sites that sell it, I believe many will ship it internationally too as it is not a hazardous chemical. The US based company that manufactured Oakite was bought out in the 90's by a German concern and is now sold by the Chemetall group an industrial supplier with International Offices. You will have to search them yourself for a nearby location to yours if you want to request a sample from them, otherwise try online if you are set on Oakite ("BCR", is the original US formula - it is called "Oakite 100" internationally and the bulk of the ingredients are proprietary unless you use the "way back machine" to find an MSDS from the original manufacturer. It is based on a Monoethanolamine and DSP (yes "D"- disodiumphosphate, sold as the "phosphate free" alternative to TSP available at home stores) formulae with the balance being trade secret surfactants, degreasers and emulsifiers.

Esslinger sells it for $7.49 USD in the smallest size in the US. You will have to research it in your area or have someone in the US that you know ship it to you if you want it. There are many vendors that sell similar formulas and many products that rival it (Simple Green for instance is a similar formulation, but is more bio-friendly than "Esscor/Esslinger's Oakite made by Chemetall group GmBH)..

Karl Fischer Co. in Germany sells an ultrasonic cleaner that is safe for all jewellery including pearls that they will ship

internationally called Semida Universal. It is a liquid, can be disposed of down the sink and is quite effective. Many liquid products cannot be shipped internationally by the vendors. You may have to have a friend send them to you if there is a specific brand you want that you cannot get in Israel. Most powdered products (to be mixed with tap or distilled waters as the individual product will specify) are more likely to be shippable. Karl Fischer makes an excellent product "UltraCleaner U2000" that is for dissolving compound and residues on metals (without pearl or coral) that can be mailed internationally. It is inexpensive (before shipping options) however Israeli jewellery suppliers have similar formulations that you should be able to buy easily..

If you need assistance in getting any products feel free to contact me off list. rer