Swapped my solvent tank for ultrasonic, wish I did it sooner

I used to hand-clean shutters with a brush and naphtha for 20 years. Last month I finally bought a used 2-liter ultrasonic cleaner for $180 off Craigslist. The difference in how fast the old sticky blades come clean is insane. I do a 5 minute cycle with a mild parts cleaner, then a rinse cycle. My hands also don't stink like solvent all day, that's a hidden bonus. Now I'm wondering if anyone else made the jump and what solution you run for brass gears. I'm testing a citrus-based one now but open to other ideas.

2 comments

2 Comments

michael6691mo ago

...so you're telling me you waited 20 years to stop scrubbing gunk off parts by hand like some kind of medieval watchmaker. I made the switch after my third thumb nearly got sliced open on a sharp pivot, and honestly the ultrasonic pays for itself in bandaids alone. I run plain degreaser with a dash of ammonia for brass, sounds weird but it gets the old oil out without eating the metal. Citrus stuff always leaves that fake orange smell that makes me feel like I'm cleaning a kitchen counter, not a clock. Anyway, welcome to the club, your brush is probably already rusting in a drawer somewhere.

tarabell1mo agoMost Upvoted

...and honestly the ammonia trick is a game changer, I tried it once on a rusted pocket watch movement and it came out looking better than when it left the factory. Though the first time I did it I forgot to open the windows and my wife thought I was brewing meth in the garage, so there's that. The citrus thing though, totally agree, I switched to a plain degreaser with a few drops of lavender oil just so my bench doesn't smell like a candle shop. Still got the old brush though, it's in a mug with some other random tools I keep meaning to organize, but it's mostly just for show now.