Experience with Ultrasonic Cleaners?

[Sothalor]

I've been contemplating getting an ultrasonic cleaner for cleaning my fountain pens/glasses, and the idea of using one to help clean mold release residue from Forgeworld resin models popped into my head.

 

Does anybody have any experience doing something like this, or know of any problems that can happen?

[Gederas]

I've been contemplating getting an ultrasonic cleaner for cleaning my fountain pens/glasses, and the idea of using one to help clean mold release residue from Forgeworld resin models popped into my head.

 

Does anybody have any experience doing something like this, or know of any problems that can happen?

Owner of my FLGS uses one for that. His only complaint is certain parts (currently: The Misericordia on the FW Cutsodes) can slip through the grating of the one he has and he has to fish them out of the cleaner's main liquid reservoir.

[Firedrake Cordova]

The Misericordia on the FW Cutsodes) can slip through the grating of the one he has and he has to fish them out of the cleaner's main liquid reservoir.

What I do with my airbrush nozzle is to put the parts in an appropriately-sized pot filled with detergent/water, put that in the ultrasonic cleaner reservoir, and fill the rest of the reservoir with water - the percussion waves will transmit through the sides of the container, and into whatever is in the container. No more fishing parts through the mesh, and save on detergents, too.

Edited May 2, 2021 by Firedrake Cordova

[Arkhanist]

 

The Misericordia on the FW Cutsodes) can slip through the grating of the one he has and he has to fish them out of the cleaner's main liquid reservoir.

What I do with my airbrush nozzle is to put the parts in an appropriately-sized pot filled with detergent/water, put that in the ultrasonic cleaner reservoir, and fill the rest of the reservoir with water - the percussion waves will transmit through the sides of the container, and into whatever is in the container. No more fishing parts through the mesh, and save on detergents, too.

 

 

Yeah, for small parts you can just put them in a plastic bag or container, then put that in a half-bath of water so you don't have to fish through the soapy water at the bottom of the cleaner. Though it's no great problem, to be honest. It's the recommended way to do it If you want to use IPA or other flammable solvent in a sonic cleaner - a static spark has a small chance to potentially ignite IPA fumes, so it's best to have it in a sealed container rather than straight in the sonic cleaner.

 

I do have a sonic cleaner - it's most useful for cleaning the inner guts of my airbrush, cleaning liquid UV resin from 3d printed parts (with IPA in its own sealed tub), and finishing off stripping paint off models after I've done most of the work with biostrip and an electric toothbrush. I haven't needed to use it for cleaning mold release, but I see no reason it wouldn't work effectively. It does a decent job of cleaning my specs!

 

My cleaner is a pretty small one so I can't fit much in it, so I mostly clean larger or bulk lots of stuff generally under running water with the electric toothbrush, which works about as effectively (not UV resin, that's toxic to fish). More effort though.

[duz_]

I love using my USC for cleaning resin

A bit of detergent and about 12mins in the bath then a rinse seems to work

Have to do it in batches though since mine was just a small cheapish one from Amazon

[blackbabyjesus]

As above, I put the parts in a Ziploc bag with a strong detergent, then put the bag in the reservoir. The vibration goes through the plastic bag just fine and no parts ever get lost. I never put anything other than water in the reservoir of my cleaner, that way I never have to worry about what's in it.