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riffi1 Veteran Member
Joined: 28 Sep 2004 Posts: 171 Location: Brisbane AUSTRALIA
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Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 4:59 am Post subject: Ultrasonic cleaning? |
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I saw an ultrasonic cleaning unit in my local electonics store recently. It is used for jewellery etc but is big enough for valves, mouthpieces, slides etc. Has anyone used one for this purpose? Any ideas on how it might affect lacquer finishes?
Thanks
Rod
PS Apologies for cross posting! _________________ So many horns...so little time
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Ed Lee Heavyweight Member
Joined: 14 Aug 2009 Posts: 2156 Location: Jackson NC 27845
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Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 6:09 am Post subject: |
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I've a Branson ultrasounic unit here somewhere ... we've only unpacked about 1/3 of our boxes since moving here in July 2009. My Branson is big enough to clean mouthpieces but I don't think big enough for valves.
I never used it to even clean mouthpieces, only to clean dry India ink from tech pens (K&E LeRoy, Koh-i-noor Rapidograph, Mars-Staedler etc.) and the fluid used was just a drop of dish soap in a cup of water. For this it was ideal.
An engineering tech I know got one, and put his wife's antique pearl necklace in it and when he went to get it out all he found was a knotted string and the platinum clasp ... it dissolved the pearls.
The manufacturer(s) advise testing power level and fluid type to determine usefullness and accept no liability otherwise.
I don't know but suspect even present brass musical instrument manufacturers use different formulas in their lacquer ... thus beware. |
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mrsemman Heavyweight Member
Joined: 11 Apr 2010 Posts: 808 Location: West Brookfield, MA
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Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 6:18 am Post subject: |
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Ed,
As I told riffi1 jfor the same question in the cornet/flugel forum, that I recently bought a 39 gallon unit. I was told that a solution of one half gallon of phosphoric acid and two tablespoons of liquid dish detergent (Dawn) to 39 gallons works real well. Although he does not use the heating component, unless he is trying to delacquer a horn, this solution works remarkably well.
The only other person I know that has one is Trent Austin, at his shop. Maybe he will render his opinion.
Here is the unit model I bought in action. http://youtu.be/oM7lFPPfsCE _________________ Flip Oakes Wild Thing
Flip Oakes C Trumpet
Zeus Guarnerius Trumpet
Zeus Guarnerius Flugelhorn
Kanstul G Bugle
Jin Boa Bass Trumpet |
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Bob Stevenson Heavyweight Member
Joined: 04 May 2005 Posts: 1139 Location: Essex, England
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Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 6:47 am Post subject: |
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Ultrasonic works by vibration (obviously!)...what is not immediately so obvious is that there is interaction between the bowl of the cleaner and whatever is being cleaned,...so, very soon after starting to use the unit the bowttom of the bowl looses it's shine due to the objects moving about during cleaning and marking the finish.
For this reason, it seem highly likely that laqueur would definately be damaged unless the instrument parts are put into a carrier which is also allowed to vibrate during the cleaning process. This is my course of action with all items and parts that i clean in my own small unit. |
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hefferson Veteran Member
Joined: 23 Aug 2008 Posts: 164
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Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 8:37 am Post subject: |
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I have my trumpets ultrasonically cleaned once a year. The repair man that I use is Merlin Grady (Cedar Falls, IA). He has a 90 gallon unit that you can have your entire horn cleaned in (Trumpet, Trombone and Tuba fully submerged). Any horn always comes back better than it ever was new. Since I am in his area I send all of my school instruments to him too and they always come back in incredible shape!
I have never had any negative experience with this process. _________________ Bach 72*/43 Bb
Yamaha 6445 C |
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veery715 Heavyweight Member
Joined: 13 Aug 2007 Posts: 4313 Location: Ithaca NY
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Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 8:48 am Post subject: |
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I have a 1/2 gal. Branson unit and have cleaned valve psitons and parts, slide and mouthpieces. I have not had lacquer come off.
However, the hot bath I have used before or after will remove some old lacquers. _________________ veery715
Hear me sing!: https://youtu.be/vtJ14MV64WY
Playing trumpet - the healthy way to blow your brains out. |
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plankowner110 Heavyweight Member
Joined: 12 Jun 2003 Posts: 3625
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Posted: Sat May 28, 2011 8:20 pm Post subject: |
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Central Instrument Company in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio has an ultrasonic cleaning unit that can handle entire trumpets, trombones, and euphoniums. Instruments come out clean, inside and out, and I mean clean!
I take my school-owned band instruments there for periodic cleaning plus I have had my personal trumpets done. |
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Lboretrumpets Veteran Member
Joined: 02 Feb 2010 Posts: 288
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Posted: Sat May 28, 2011 8:32 pm Post subject: |
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Our 110 gallon unit (Omegasonics) hasn't messed anything up yet. We've used a mild mix of phosphoric acid (way more diluted than the phosphoric we used to use sans ultrasonic), and citric acid, which works great, isn't dangerous, and doesn't affect the environment. HOWEVER... you need to pay attention to power settings on horns with suspected red rot, it can 'finish the job' with those horns, especially on full power. FWIW. I think Jim Becker chimed in on a similar thread a few days back. _________________ Bb- Stomvi Mambo
Bb- Custom Strad
Flugelhorn- Hunter NY |
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