Ultrasonic

Dave, buy one of those little jewelry cleaners (ultrasonic) at
your local discount drug store. I got one for about $8.00 . . .

Fishbre I thought these units were sonic cleaners. Not ultrasonic
cleaners. I think I saw the same unit and the name on the box was
lil-sonic. I dont think these are nearly as powerful as a real
ultrasonic. But then again I could be wrong. It happens all the
time. RED

Just a quick note about ‘sonic’ cleaners-they do not work. The
unit must be ultra-sonic, covering a much higher range in the
sound spectrum. The cavitation does not happen in the low sonic
spectrum.

Allan Freilich

Fishbre I thought these units were sonic cleaners. Not ultrasonic
cleaners. I think I saw the same unit and the name on the box was
lil-sonic. I dont think these are nearly as powerful as a real
ultrasonic. But then again I could be wrong. It happens all the
time.

Red, I’m sure that for $8.00 or so bucks one isn’t getting the
VERY BEST, but, as I’ve said, mine does clean and it does say
“ULTRASONIC” (perhaps just a trade name?) So it may just work
for someone who isn’t going to spend a lot of money . . . (I’m
SURE you’re not wrong!!! <GRIN!>)

Regards, Rita

< Does it really power off gobs of tripoli in recessed areas
< quicklly or do you have to brush it too? Dave >>

Dave

If you get a powerful unit with a heater set the temp high juice
it up with dish detergent and a lot of ammonia it will eat
anything out of nearly any ring. Very few times have I had to
brush a ring. The best thing to do is clean a ring before you
work on it that way the mystery gunk will not bake on inside of
the ring. I have some ideas about what some of this stuff is but
we can not go into that topic here. Needless to say a powerful
unit is wonderful. Just do not put opals or emeralds into it for
any length of time. They can suffer damage. RED

< Does it really power off gobs of tripoli in recessed areas
< quicklly or do you have to brush it too? Dave >> >>

Dave,

Yes it will, and no you won’t. Because you will be cleaning it
off with your brand new steam cleaner.

Mark P.

< Does it really power off gobs of tripoli in recessed areas
< quicklly or do you have to brush it too? Dave >> >>

Yes it will, and no you won’t. Because you will be cleaning it
off with your brand new steam cleaner.

I see now there is a conspiracy to make me buy more jewelry
tools. My wife freaks everytime she sees me looking at a tools
catalog sitting near the phone… $300 for a good ultrasonic
will have to wait and I AM NOT GONNA BUY A STEAM CLEANER, NO WAY,
NO HOW. Well, at least not THIS year, hmmmmmmm…Dave

Art Jewelry for Conscious People
http://www.opendoor.com/stephensdesign/crystalguy.html

Well, I found a used ultrasonic demo at Gesswein’s site for $159
and ordered it, aaaah the web! It doesn’t have a heater in it but
maybe I could put a coffee mug heater in it myself or just put
hot solution in it also…Dave

Art Jewelry for Conscious People
http://www.opendoor.com/stephensdesign/crystalguy.html

I AM NOT GONNA BUY A STEAM CLEANER, NO WAY, NO HOW. Well, at
least not THIS year, hmmmmmmm…Dave

Dave
There are ways to build a steam cleaner. I have seen the plans
and they did not involve much more than a pressure cooker some
tubes and valves and a hot plate. Be carefull do not blow your
self up. Perhaps someone out there can tell you how to build one.
I broke down and bought one. " You either have time or money " RED

I see now there is a conspiracy to make me buy more jewelry
tools. My wife freaks everytime she sees me looking at a tools
catalog sitting near the phone… $300 for a good ultrasonic
will have to wait and I AM NOT GONNA BUY A STEAM CLEANER, NO WAY,
NO HOW. Well, at least not THIS year, hmmmmmmm…Dave

You can use a stovetop Latte or cappuchino maker as a kind of
steam claeaner. someone gave me one that has its own heater in it
and generates a nice head of steam fast, works well. You can of
course use a steam cleaner itself the same way-maybe this is an
opportunity to discuss the purchase with your family…

Do I have one? No, it works just fine with a stainless pot,
dishwashing liquid, water and some household ammonia. I do have
an ultrasonic as well but don’t always use it. On the other hand
in a prouduction hours a steam cleaner makes more sense.

Charles

Brain Press
Box 1624, Ste M, Calgary, Alberta, T2P 2L7, Canada
Tel: 403-263-3955 Fax: 403-283-9053 Email: @Charles_Lewton-Brain

Metals info download web site: Learning Center - Ganoksin Jewelry Making Community
Product descriptions: http://www.ganoksin.com/kosana/brain/brain.htm
Links list hosted at the Metal Web News:
http://tbr.state.tn.us/~wgray/jewelry/jewelry-link.html

It doesn’t have a heater in it but maybe I could put a coffee
mug heater in it

Dave Just leave it on for a while it will get hot even though
there is no heater. RED

I AM NOT GONNA BUY A STEAM CLEANER, NO WAY, NO HOW. Well, at
least not THIS year, hmmmmmmm…Dave

Dave, used steam cleaners come up occassionally. I have bought
two and rebuilt them, then given them away… I’ll see if I can
direct you to a used one, if you want…

Jeffrey Everett

Well, I found a used ultrasonic demo at Gesswein's site for $159
and ordered it, aaaah the web! It doesn't have a heater in it
but maybe I could put a coffee mug heater in it myself or just
put hot solution in it also

If you leave it on, it will heat by itself, if you can stand the
continual noise… The coffee heaters only last a couple of
weeks or more before they are eaten through. Maybe there’s a
better heating alternatinve.

Jeffrey Everett

…Maybe there’s a better heating alternatinve.

Jeffrey,

Has anyone tried a fish tank heater?

Sharon

Has anyone tried a fish tank heater?

Sharon, I thought of that but considered it too slow. Maybe I
was wrong… never tried it… Jeffrey

I have bought most of my equipment used over the years, and some
have been OK and some not. I’d recommend not to buy an
ultrasonic used. Mine seemed to work when I turned it on, before
buying. It didn’t really do the job, so I brought it to a guy
who said he fixes them. He said he fixed it, but it isn’t as
great as many of you say an ultrasonic should be. Occasionally
I see the wave pattern across the top of the liquid. (I use
magic green) Does that mean it is working? Is the reverse true?
Does the concentration of the cleaner, number of pieces, etc.
have anything to do with the power of the cleaning? I also
bought a steam cleaner used, and although the bottom has rust on
it, and it was leaking, it was fixed by the same guy, and now it
works great! It will blast off just about everything, and works
great for things that can’t go in the unltrasound, or can’t stand
the prolonged heat of the ultrasound. One other thing I bought
is a relatively cheap unit, (about 50-80 dollars, depending upon
size) is an ionic cleaner. It takes off tarnish very well, but
also removes intentional oxidation. It is slower at removing
polishing compounds, but does do it. It is supposed to be safe
for pearls and opals. The only thing that isn’t great in it is
silver chain. For some reason, it leaves black discolorations on
parts of the chain, in random patterns, especially if pieces of
the chain are touching each other. It is a less costly
alternative, however. Ruth

I have a Bulova Ultrasonic Cleaner that just went bad. Does
anyone know where I might get it repaired and approx how much it
would cost? Thanks, Bob

Try Paragon Electronics in Miami. I don’t have their number but
I’ve used them a couple of times and they did a good job.

Brett