Hello everyone, I have been watching YouTube videos of Ultrasonic Jewelry Cleaners being used to clean parts for z scale Locos etc. I have even seen where the electric motor is emerged in a liquid and the dirt can actually be seen streaming off.

Has anyone had experience with the use of these? If okay, what precautions should be taken with these units? What is a useful feature to look for with these cleaners? Is it really okay to add an electric motor in a liquid and what kind of liquid should be used?

I am really interested and may purchase one. It takes hours of brushing and rubbing to get parts clean, if I can use one of these safely, and save time, I am all for it. Let me know what you think especially if you are currently using them.

Thanks.

Dave I had had to repair a video camera which was immersed in salt water to a depth of 2 metres for an hour and not given to me until 5 weeks after the event. I learned a lot to get it working reliably but the process was to immerse the whole thing back into distilled water and brush every thing clean followed by the same process into alcohol then drying. Most of the damage was caused because the unit still had battery power connected which caused aggressive electrolysis until the battery finally went flat. Components which were affected by this had to be replaced. So in effect using water on electronic components is fine as long as you dry them thoroughly before corrosion has a chance to begin. I have not used ultrasonics but would assume that they penetrate deeper and so must be dried more thoroughly. Just don't take the drying temperature above the most heat susceptible component on the printed circuit board. I have also had experience with my wifes watch and vehicle remote control after water immersion - don't ask!!


Regards.........Chook.