Ultrasonic health hazzards

Jewelry Discussion
1

Another question is, if you clean your polish encrusted fingers by
dipping them into the ultrasonice while it’s running, does it have a
negative impact on your finger joints or anything on your hands in
the long run?

<edit - message split>

Thanks in advance,
Rene Howard

2

Another option might be GOO-GONE it’s citrus based. I have no idea of
safety considerations.

This topic of putting body parts into an ultrasonic was discussed at
length on this forum.

KPK

3 
Another question is, if you clean your polish encrusted fingers by
dipping them into the ultrasonice while it's running, does it have
a negative impact on your finger joints or anything on your hands
in the long run?

As a general rule, anything that hurts is bad.

Doc

4

I would not clean my hands in the ultrasonic because it wastes
cleaning solution. I was my hands in the sink and if I really need
to I use goo gone orange based cleaner just like my instructor taught
me too lol

Teri
Silver & Cameo Heritage Jewelry
www.corneliusspick.com

5

Supposedly it kills the nerve endings in your finger tips. I’ve been
cleaning my fingers tips in the ultrasonic for years. I couldn’t say
how true it is though since I can’t feel a thing! :slight_smile: Seriously,
don’t do it. Use a finger brush. Also, the latest cleaner I’ve been
using is made by Mary Kay. It’s abrasive (kind of like go jo) but it
smells like peaches. Works VERY well.

Stanley Bright
owner

6 
As a general rule, anything that hurts is bad.

That reminds me of the old joke:

Patient: “Hey Doc, it hurts when I do this”
Doc: “Then don’t do that!”

Stanley Bright
Owner

7

Just to amplify what doc said. We work with ultrasonics every day
doing warranty repair for Elma machine and others. We DONOT put parts
of our tender bodies in the solutions when the machine is running.
Please do not subject your tender body parts to ultrasonic
frequencys.

Mike and Dale, Lone Star Technical Service, Your ultrasonic repair
guys.

8

A while ago we did a pretty comprehensive search for evidence that
such damage happens. There are a lot of urban legends, but seemingly
no real evidence that an ultrasonic cleaner that is typically used by
jewelers will cause any damage.

I have cleaned my own fingers in the ultrasonics that I have used
for 37 years. I see no evidence of damage. This is just a personal
observation.

Currently, when I am going to spend any real time at the wheels, I
will slip on some baby powder and a pair of nitrile gloves. Once in a
while the wheel may snatch a glove right off of my hand, but the
extent of that damage has never been more than to scare me. Nitrile
lasts longer and has less of a tendency to be snatched off than
latex.

Let me qualify what I am saying by pointing out that these are
personal experiences and you may experience something different.

Bruce D. Holmgrain
JA Certified Master Benchjeweler