Using Ultrasonics To Clean Dirty Parts

Using Ultrasonics To Clean Dirty Parts FARM HOME Miscellaneous When FARM SHOW editors saw an article in Green magazine on an ultrasonic cleaner they told this writer to get one and try it out The results were impressive Decades of oil and dirt residue on an old spring-bottom oil can disappeared Jewelry was brighter and cleaner A string trimmer replacement head unused for years but covered in old plant juice and grime cleaned up with a little light brushing Overall the results were positive for the 5-pint machine While the 5 1/2-in by 9 1/2-in by 2 1/2-in high size limited its use to small parts it could prove useful in most farm shops Ultrasonic cleaners work by creating high-frequency sound waves that agitate a liquid creating bubbles The agitation releases contaminants on most surfaces including metals plastic glass rubber and ceramics However the ultrasound waves also penetrate cracks and crevices pulling out undetected dirt and grime Ultrasonic cleaners are easy to find online as well as in retail stores We bought ours at Harbor Freight The unit and a recommended cleaning agent came in at less than $100 The Central Machinery Ultrasonic Cleaner offers different settings from 90 to 480 sec and the option of added heat We experimented with different settings repeating when unsatisfied with the initial cleaning or increasing the duration Naturally the more grime the longer cleaning took The manufacturer recommends activating no more than three cycles in a 15-min period to avoid overheating An automatic shut-off will activate after 45 min of continuous use Use can resume after cooling off for 15 min Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Jim Ruen 33750 Forster Rd La Crescent Minn 55947 ph 507-895-2229; farmshowjim@gmail com

To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click here to register with your account number.