Cleaner solution???

[malberts911]

Hi everybody,

Is this a good idea to use a car degreaser in order to clean-up a movement? If it's not, is there a simple solution available in any store?

Thanks for your input

[Ken Knox]

When I get a really dirty one I will clean it with orange cleaner first and then my L&R clock cleaning solution . I buy the concentrated orange cleaner in a gallon size.

Kenny

[clockdaddy]

There are so many different ways used to clean clock movements that it's virtually impossible to name them all.

A lot of the type of solutions that you use would depend on what type of clock you are cleaning. Some of the solutions (particularly with a lot of ammonia) damage the brass and, if used enough, can destroy a movement. Other non-ammoniated solutions are available that are vastly less damaging to the movement.
Some individuals make up their own solutions and still others will use everything from carburetor cleaner to soap and water.
Bottom line is that no one can really tell you that one way is perfect for all cases. The different cleaners offered by suppliers have proven themselves over the years to meet the vast majority of everyone's clock cleaning needs.
It's up to you to determine if you are happy with the results of you cleaner or if you feel the movement will come cleaner using another cleaner.
Discuss with your supplier the type of clocks you work with. The may suggest a couple of different cleaners depending on whether you're cleaning a fine French clock or a cheap cuckoo clock.
I've found over the years that our suppliers are not trying to suck our bucks away...they're really concerned with helping us. After all, most of them also repair clocks!!

Harold Markey NAWCC #0124626

[FabRat28]

Malberts,

Quite a few folks use a degreaser or cleaner (such as brake cleaner) on the movement if it is very oily or cruddy followed by a cleaning solution. A lot (including me) use an ammonia-based solution.

My personal method is to use kerosene if the movement is really cruddy, followed by a home-made ammonia based solution. I got the recipe from a member here (Sooth). It's a 2-1 water to ammonia solution with a healthy squirt of dishwashing detergent (I use Dawn, but any will do). Works well hot or room temperature.

After I have let the parts sit for 15 minutes or so, I get them out and rinse thoroughly in warm water first, then IPA (isopropyl alcohol).

I always completely disassemble the movement and clean the parts in batches, so I can minimze the time they have to sit in ammonia. As Clockdaddy mentioned, ammonia is an acid and will eat some of the brass. Makes it shiny, but you need to make sure it's all cleaned back off.

Like CD said, everyone has their methods and most seem to work pretty well. I don't really work on rare or very fine movements, so the ammonia based works for me. I may get an ultrasonic cleaner eventually, but this is working well for me at the present.

[Thyme]

Hi everybody,

Is this a good idea to use a car degreaser in order to clean-up a movement? If it's not, is there a simple solution available in any store?

Thanks for your input

As I mentioned recently, I did that successfully with a cuckoo clock movement that was hopelessly gummy - I ran it in an ultrasonic bath in Gunk degreaser. It did the trick. I'd imagine you would also get good results just with a brush and flush application.

Currently, I use waterless, orange hand cleaner and scrub it on with a toothbrush, followed by a hot water scrub. It effectively removes all the old oil and grime.

I think the important point here is that often a degreaser is essential before putting a movement in an ammoniated cleaning solution, so as to prevent contaminating that solution. However, I am finding that the degreaser may not make the movement shine, but it will clean it thoroughly (which, to me, is the more important application).

[Seth Thomas Fan]

I've cleaned a half-dozen or so movements since I took my first one apart last year. After disassembling the movement, I'll give it a quick wash in hot water and dish detergent to remove excess grime (I'll put very small parts in a tea strainer basket). Then I'll soak it about 20 minutes in a home-made concoction made from 4 oz Murphy's Oil Soap (oleic acid substitute), 8 oz. acetone, half-gallon ordinary household ammonia (low concentration, available from Wal-mart, grocery stores), plus enough water to make up the total to 1 gallon.

After soaking, I'll rinse the parts in 3 or 4 changes of fresh cold water. Shake off excess water, dry the parts tub with a towel (to reduce the water carried over to the next step), then put the parts back in and soak for 1 minute in denatured alcohol. Then remove and blow-dry with a hair dryer.

This method works for me, and results in noticeably brighter brass! Follow up with pegging the pivot holes with round toothpicks.

I'll clean relaxed mainsprings with kerosene and 0000 steel wool. Then I'll wash them with hot water and detergent to get rid of bits of steel wool and crud, and follow with the cleaning procedure already described.

[Mike Phelan]

[...] As Clockdaddy mentioned, ammonia is an acid [...]

Absolutely the opposite, FabRat. Ammonia is a very strong alkali :o

[FabRat28]

My bad!

I knew that (I work around it), but wasn't thinking when I wrote that. :$

[Grandpa]

Currently I am using a mixture of Surgical soap and ammonia. After allowing it to soak I will scrub with a brush followed with a rinse in fresh water. Then I scrub again in warm water with Dawn soap to get the remainder of the grit off.
After I shake the water off I will put it in a tub of paint thinner to disperse any remaining water. Then I dry the parts, clean and burnish the pivot holes, polish the pivots and re assemble.

I like the Murphy's soap idea and plan to try it.

A few weeks back I posted a similar question and received many good ideas.

[clockdaddy]

Reply
"There are so many different ways used to clean clock movements that it's virtually impossible to name them all."

malberts911,

Well, now you're beginning to see what I meant earlier!! It's up to you to try some of these recipes and see which is best for you and your situation.

Harold Markey NAWCC #0124626

[Thyme]

However, none of the other solutions mentioned are really a degreaser.

Which is why I'm sticking with the orange hand cleaner scrub...o:)

[malberts911]

Thanks all, for sharing your best tricks in order to clean a movement!

[clocknut]

If you are going to just clean acouple of clocks and you don't want to mix your own and you want something that will degrease and clean and Britten the plates try the ZEP form home depot it is a orange cleaner/degreaser( orange in color) and it works great for the cost.$ 8.95 a gallon
I use it alot to pre clean clocks and I like it If you put some thing in it that ruins it you are not out the $ 30.00 bucks for the L&R .
Because it is a water base you will need to rinse in water and then alcohol and then dry it real good with a hair dryer ( your wife won't miss it for a few minutes).
Harold Z.