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Jerry Heavyweight Member
Joined: 20 Jan 2002 Posts: 2163 Location: Kennett Square, Pennsylvania
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Posted: Wed Aug 02, 2023 6:18 pm Post subject: Small Ultrasonic Cleaner Recommendations |
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I'm looking to buy an ultrasonic cleaner that's the right size, power, zip, brand, etc. to clean a valve piston or valve slide.
Anybody have any recommendations as to: Specific brand / model
Minumum capacity
Minimum power
Anything to avoid |
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Doug Elliott Heavyweight Member
Joined: 10 Oct 2006 Posts: 1172 Location: Silver Spring, MD
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Posted: Wed Aug 02, 2023 9:48 pm Post subject: |
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I use one in my business making low brass mouthpieces. It's useful for cleaning off buffing compound. Don't expect miracles... In fact I would suggest it's a complete waste of money for your purposes. Even the powerful ones used for instruments need mechanical help for cleaning, and mostly they just poke holes in red rot areas. |
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Ronnman Veteran Member
Joined: 09 Aug 2019 Posts: 409 Location: SE Louisiana
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huntman10 Heavyweight Member
Joined: 30 Aug 2017 Posts: 697 Location: Texas South Plains
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Posted: Thu Aug 03, 2023 8:51 am Post subject: |
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I have had one very similar to the one Ronnman shows for nearly 20 years. Mine has a heating function that will strip old style cellulose (which I like). I leave a solution of about 2/3's water with Dawn detergent (don't use any detergents with a chlorine disinfectant, as well t will ruin silverplate) and 1/3 Simple Green. I find that t will get the crud off of valves and slide tubes ready to polish and lube.
Be sure to take down the pistons, removing caps, finger buttons, spring, and guides. Especially any plastic, and finger buttons with pearl inserts can be damaged.
I find it a great way to prep a dirty horn. _________________ huntman10
Collector/Player of Fine (and not so fine) Brass Instruments including
Various Strads, Yammies, Al Hirt Courtois, Schilkes,
Selmer 25, Getzen Eternas, Kanstuls (920 Pic, CG)
Martin Custom Large Bore, Lots Olds!, Conns, etc. |
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Ronnman Veteran Member
Joined: 09 Aug 2019 Posts: 409 Location: SE Louisiana
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Posted: Thu Aug 03, 2023 10:22 am Post subject: |
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huntman10 - good info to make others aware of the things you shouldn’t place in the ultrasonic cleaner👍. I have been breaking down the valve assemblies as you describe and just placing the pistons in the cleaner. Another tip is to keep the components together for each valve. Otherwise you could cross the valve caps, stems, felts, and in effect mis-align the valves to the ports.
Ron _________________ Martin Committee #2 1954
Leblanc “Al Hirt” Model 1966
Olds Custom Crafted Ultra Sonic 1974
Edwards Gen II 2014 |
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kehaulani Heavyweight Member
Joined: 23 Mar 2003 Posts: 9033 Location: Hawai`i - Texas
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spitvalve Heavyweight Member
Joined: 11 Mar 2002 Posts: 2160 Location: Little Elm, TX
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Jerry Heavyweight Member
Joined: 20 Jan 2002 Posts: 2163 Location: Kennett Square, Pennsylvania
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Posted: Thu Aug 03, 2023 7:26 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for all of your responses.
Amazon is supposed to deliver tomorrow. I report back the cleaning results in a few days.
Again, input was much appreciated. |
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Ronnman Veteran Member
Joined: 09 Aug 2019 Posts: 409 Location: SE Louisiana
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Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2023 11:38 am Post subject: |
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Cleaned the valves on my Signet trumpet today. They were not too dirty to start with,
but checkout the pics before and then after the 280 second cleaning cycle.
Ron
_________________ Martin Committee #2 1954
Leblanc “Al Hirt” Model 1966
Olds Custom Crafted Ultra Sonic 1974
Edwards Gen II 2014 |
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1957Tim Veteran Member
Joined: 30 Oct 2004 Posts: 192 Location: Hannibal Missouri
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Posted: Tue Sep 26, 2023 11:15 am Post subject: |
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Hi Jerry,
I was curious what you thought of your ultrasonic cleaner. Did it do the job you anticipated, and if so, what did you use as the cleaning agent? I thank you in advance for sharing your experience.
1957Tim |
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Craig Swartz Heavyweight Member
Joined: 14 Jan 2005 Posts: 7770 Location: Des Moines, IA area
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Posted: Tue Sep 26, 2023 1:59 pm Post subject: |
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Harbor Freight sells a unit larger than tho one pictured for around $89. I use for cleaning brass for reloading, gun parts, mower parts, car parts, trumpet parts, and about anything that won't be ruined by such cleaning, whatever that might be. There are multiple solutions for different types of metal, jewelry, etc., or concoct your own from net recipes. |
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Jimbosan Regular Member
Joined: 15 Dec 2023 Posts: 47
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Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2024 2:49 pm Post subject: |
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I recently picked up a 2.5L Ultrasonic Cleaner from Harbor Freight. It's big enough to fit all of the slides and valves at one time. i would recommend putting the pieces and the cleaning solution into ziplock bags, and fill the tank with plain hot water. Use hot water to dilute the cleaning solution too. You will use much less cleaning solution and you will not have to clean out the tank on the ultrasonic cleaner if you use ziplock bags. The vibrations go right through the plastic bag. Do not use the heating element on the Ultrasonic cleaner unless you are trying to strip off lacquer. It's too easy to overheat the pieces. Using hot water in the tank and in the ziplock bags should be good enought. I start with 180 second cycles, and remove pieces that are clean enough before doing another 180 second cycle. (I hand clean my valves with Dawn, but they are never very dirty in the first place.) Here are the valve slides of a trumpet in a snack bag. The tuning slide fits with the valve slides in a sandwich bag.
_________________ Kanstul FBClassic bflat&C
'42 Buescher205
'45 Committee
'47 Holton48
'47 Conn22b
'48 Benge
'69 Olds Custom Crafted
'78 Getzen Eterna
'64 Bach Strad Cornet
'62 Olds Spl Cornet
'64 Conn 80a
'54 Conn 34a
Benge flugel
Olds,DEG Bugles |
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