Ultrasonic cleaner recommendations

[ponytug]

Those of you who have them, what do you recommend? Size? Power? Brand/model?

Anything to look for / watch out for?

I've used them a lot for work, but never owned myself, but any use tips or tricks are welcome as well.

Thanks for any tips!

All the best,

Peter

 

[dodge man]

I have no advice but when we did all are drafting by hand using ink pens we used an ultra sonic cleaner for the tips when they got clogged up. It was a small one, the reservoir was probably 5” square but that thing worked really well , very effective at cleaning small parts.

 

[5030]

I actually have a pretty large one and I see, like everything else they have went way up in price. If you get one, make sure it has a built in drain on the side so you can empty it easily and refill with a different fluid. I use different fluids in mine depending on what I want to clean and mine has a digital timer and heater as well. You will also need a small parts container to contain small parts like carb parts if that is what you are planning on cleaning.

I use Simple Green in mine as well as Berryman's B12 Chem Tool and concentrated degreaser and other solutions. depending on what I want to clean, which is why I need a convenient side drain.

I even use a heated lye and water solution in mine to clean saw chain loops prior to grinding them.


When I bought mine a few years ago, they were pretty reasonable in price but today, not so much. Mine is all stainless steel btw.

 

[ponytug]

I actually have a pretty large one and I see, like everything else they have went way up in price. If you get one, make sure it has a built in drain on the side so you can empty it easily and refill with a different fluid. I use different fluids in mine depending on what I want to clean and mine has a digital timer and heater as well. You will also need a small parts container to contain small parts like carb parts if that is what you are planning on cleaning.

I use Simple Green in mine as well as Berryman's B12 Chem Tool and concentrated degreaser and other solutions. depending on what I want to clean, which is why I need a convenient side drain.

I even use a heated lye and water solution in mine to clean saw chain loops prior to grinding them.


When I bought mine a few years ago, they were pretty reasonable in price but today, not so much. Mine is all stainless steel btw.

Do you know the model/brand?

All the best, Peter

 

[mrmikey]

This is the one I have.
All the points 5030 said are valid, sounds like his machine is the same as mine. All I've ever used is simple Green and it seems to work fine. For small parts, I use either a small kitchen strainer that'll stay up right with the small parts inside or a tea infuser ball.

Amazon.ca

 

[Code54]

SHZOND Ultrasonic Cleaner 5.8Gal / 22L Sonic Cleaner Stainless Steel Heated Ultr | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for SHZOND Ultrasonic Cleaner 5.8Gal / 22L Sonic Cleaner Stainless Steel Heated Ultr at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

I bought this one about a year ago. Works great. All stainless, has a drain and does a good job.

Go as large as possible and make sure it has a heated tank.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

I have Rovsun 15L from amazon. works good. I use only water in mine, and put items to clean in a baggie of water, so the tank water stays clean. I pour it out into jugs to reuse.

Amazon.com

 

[5030]

This is the one I have.
All the points 5030 said are valid, sounds like his machine is the same as mine. All I've ever used is simple Green and it seems to work fine. For small parts, I use either a small kitchen strainer that'll stay up right with the small parts inside or a tea infuser ball.

Amazon.ca

The one I have is a tad bigger than that and mine is all digital, not analog.

 

[rangerfredbob]

I looked harder to get an analog version on Amazon, I think I got the 10L size, no regrets... Depending on what you're doing size matters some, the 6L size like Harbor Freight just started carrying last year is a decent starting point but like said the bigger the better... I like the 10L size I got which is the Rovsun apparently...

For solution I just use a squirt of Dawn in the water, works decent and is cheap... it's just water so I don't get crazy about trying to keep the water clean but replace it every couple projects. I did some reading and asking when I got it and get it warmed up to around 140F with something to berak the surface tension and that's about all you need.

For reference I got the 10L size because I figured it would be big enough for a 4 barrel carb and I was right...

 

[murphy1244]

SHZOND Ultrasonic Cleaner 5.8Gal / 22L Sonic Cleaner Stainless Steel Heated Ultr | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for SHZOND Ultrasonic Cleaner 5.8Gal / 22L Sonic Cleaner Stainless Steel Heated Ultr at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

I bought this one about a year ago. Works great. All stainless, has a drain and does a good job.

Go as large as possible and make sure it has a heated tank.

That is a monster tank! I use a 6L for cleaning records and use distilled water for best results.

 

[5030]

Depends on what I'm dunking, what solution I use. I dunk my handguns (minus the grips and optics all the time) in the Simple Green industrial cleaner and I use Berryman's B12 Chen tool for cleaning carbs and such. I even use it to clean my reloading die sets and I use a lye and water solution to clean the swarf from chainsaw loops prior to grinding then. Probably should have gotten an analog unit as well but the digital one I have works for my use.

Don't believe I'd buy the HF unit as it's pretty small and I tend to agree, bigger is always better with ultrasonic cleaners.

 

[Code54]

It is a decent size for sure. I have a smaller one which is good for carbs or pistol frames. The larger one will work for AR frames, and larger tractor parts. Both can easily clean the wife's jewelry and little household things. I mostly use Dawn and water for firearms and jewelry, simple green and water works for dirty tractor parts

 

[5030]

All basically the same actually and most are made in China. Only difference in them is tank size, number of transducers and if they are heated or not.

The transducers impart the high frequency vibrations to the tank. Nothing fancy about any of them actually.

Price is predicated in tank capacity.

 

[Gem99ultra]

Those of you who have them, what do you recommend? Size? Power? Brand/model?

Anything to look for / watch out for?

I've used them a lot for work, but never owned myself, but any use tips or tricks are welcome as well.

Thanks for any tips!

All the best,

Peter

I have the smaller version from Harbor Freight. The timer is limited to 4 minutes, which is useless. The size is far too small for anything larger than a ring, etc.. I do not recommend that unit.
As others will mention, go big, with a decent timer, small item basket, etc.. Cheap just doesn't cut it.

 

[ponytug]

If you’re looking for a good ultrasonic cleaner, I’d recommend Kaijo Shibuya. They have a solid reputation for making reliable, high-quality cleaners that work for all tasks.
What I like most is how efficient they are. You don’t need to soak or scrub forever—they do the job quickly. Plus, they have different sizes and power levels depending on your needs. Their customer service is also pretty good, which is a huge plus if you’re new to ultrasonic cleaners or have specific questions.
I’ve used mine for cleaning metal parts, and the results were always spotless. It’s an investment but worth it in the long run. Check them out at Ultrasonic Cleaning Tanks for Industrial Cleaning Applications.

How much did you pay for yours?

 

[geteh]

Those of you who have them, what do you recommend? Size? Power? Brand/model?

Anything to look for / watch out for?

I've used them a lot for work, but never owned myself, but any use tips or tricks are welcome as well.

Thanks for any tips!

All the best,

Peter Brawl stars

For power tools, I recommend going with Milwaukee, Makita, or DeWalt for reliability and performance. For size, an 18V or 20V cordless model is versatile enough for most tasks, offering a good balance of power and portability. If you need something more compact for tight spaces, 12V models are great.

Look for a tool with good ergonomics, especially if you'll be using it for extended periods. Battery life is crucial, so having an extra battery is always helpful.

Watch out for cheaper models, as they may not last as long or perform as well over time.

 

[ponytug]

For power tools, I recommend going with Milwaukee, Makita, or DeWalt for reliability and performance. For size, an 18V or 20V cordless model is versatile enough for most tasks, offering a good balance of power and portability. If you need something more compact for tight spaces, 12V models are great.

Look for a tool with good ergonomics, especially if you'll be using it for extended periods. Battery life is crucial, so having an extra battery is always helpful.

Watch out for cheaper models, as they may not last as long or perform as well over time.

Wrong thread? They don't make ultrasonic cleaners...

 

[RobertN]

Late to the party, but I got a Vevor 6l heated unit. Have been using it to clean wrenches, sockets and ratchets I've picked up at flea markets. Run them at 45C with Simple Green mix. Works great.

For delicate stuff like jewelry, run without the heater with water and a dash of Dawn dish shop. And, limit run to 5 minutes or less.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

Those of you who have them, what do you recommend? Size? Power? Brand/model?

Anything to look for / watch out for?

I've used them a lot for work, but never owned myself, but any use tips or tricks are welcome as well.

Thanks for any tips!

All the best,

Peter

You want a small one for carbs and a larger one for bigger stuff. Never put rusty stuff in the small one. I have a 5L and a 30L and you want to make certain they are filled up 3/4 full or they can burn themselves out. Yesterday I just had my 30L up to 170°F derustifying and cleaning up a Datson fuel sending unit from an injected 280Z and a replacement is unatainium, so I'm going to fabricate a new one with some parts from the old one.

Also, I use Simple Green Pro HD mixed with water to clean everything.

 

[JimRB]

I have a Crest 175HTA. Heated smaller unit.