Ultrasonic cleaner help please

[Dells]

Hi all
Can anyone please help me, every time I use the ultrasonic cleaning tank although the parts come out clean they always have a copper ting to them, I have mixed the cleaning solution as instructions 1 part cleaner to 7 parts water, am I using to much ammoniated cleaner or to little, or is there another reason.?
Thanks Dell

 

[woodlawndon]

Are you using a heater? How long are you cleaning in the US? Maybe try with no heat and less time in the tank.
Don

 

[D.th.munroe]

Hi Dells, what kind of water are you using?
I had this problem with some cleaners if I use my tap water, it's non treated water though so it's not chlorinated but it's very hard.
I mix and rinse with distilled water usually, but sometimes just bottled drinking water now and it hasn't happened since.
Dan

 

[Dells]

Yes heating to 30 deg and 5 minutes and yes I have been using tap water will try with rain water as I have two water tanks in garden.
I will try any suggestions as it’s very annoying cleaning after using tank.
Dell

 

[MARK A. BUTTERWORTH]

I suggest avoiding ammonia. Bad for the movement and the lungs in my opinion. It can strip lacquer and also draw out the copper from the brass giving you the results seen.

 

[RJSoftware]

dish soap + water + heat.

 

[Kevin W.]

Deox 007 made by Polychem, no ammonia, i use it all the time. Better than ammonia and friendly to the environment.

 

[MARK A. BUTTERWORTH]

Zenith Z-88 is also ammonia free

 

[Simon Holt]

Deox 007 made by Polychem

Zenith Z-88

Unfortunately, not available in the UK. If anyone knows of equivalent products this side of the pond, please let us know!

Simon

 

[JTD]

Unfortunately, not available in the UK. If anyone knows of equivalent products this side of the pond, please let us know!

Simon

'Horogrene' from Meadows & Passmore is non-ammoniated. So is the clock cleaning solution from Priory Polishes in Clitheroe (you can get that on Ebay).

JTD

 

[Simon Holt]

'Horogrene' from Meadows & Passmore is non-ammoniated. So is the clock cleaning solution from Priory Polishes in Clitheroe (you can get that on Ebay).

JTD

Thanks, JTD. That's very useful. I've been using Horolene from Cousins which is very smelly, being ammonia-based, and leaves a matt finish on the brass that I have to polish out with 0000 steel wool – which kind of defeats the object of using an ammonia-based cleaner in the first place!

It's ironic that you should tell me about Priory Polishes. I didn't know they existed, and they are about 10 miles from the town I was born in and grew up in, which is where I would have been this Christmas if the rules hadn't changed...

Simon

 

[JTD]

Yes, Horogrene is the 'green' version of Horolene.

Priory Polishes are a nice firm and they sell all sorts of things useful to clock people and at reasonable prices.

Hope you have a good Christmas despite the new rules.

JTD

 

[Kevin W.]

I saw it on UK Amazon.

 

[Dells]

My ammonia cleaner is from Priory polishes didn’t know they did non ammonia cleaner but will check them out.
Thanks Dell

 

[JTD]

My ammonia cleaner is from Priory polishes didn’t know they did non ammonia cleaner but will check them out.
Thanks Dell

Yes, they do both. No. 1 is ammoniated and No. 2 is non-ammoniated.

JTD

 

[Grant Perry]

I use L&R #677 and it works fine, however if I heat the cleaner too much it can lead to discoloration.

 

[Dells]

All I can find is No 1 ammonia can’t find No 2 at priory polishes.

 

[JTD]

All I can find is No 1 ammonia can’t find No 2 at priory polishes.

Well, that's strange. They are selling it on Ebay - search for No. 2 Non-Ammoniated Clock cleaner and you will find it, in three sizes.

JTD

 

[steamer471]

I made a basket with old Zinc coated screen and it did this to a couple movements. Also aluminum does not play well. I now make sure I use only stainless containers in my machine.

 

[bikerclockguy]

I’ve had the best luck with Ultra Dawn, available worldwide. Depending on where you live, rainwater may not be the best choice either(if you live near and industrial plant, for example, you could get chemicals from the fallout in your rain). Distilled water is a buck a gallon, and you will have zero problems from that, guaranteed. I’m going to go completely off the reservation now, and say that I think ultrasonic cleaning is largely a waste of time. I put my parts in a plastic mixing bowl with Ultra Dawn and scalding hot water, and soak them for about half an hour. I then wash them like washing the dishes, and scrub the lanterns with a soft bristle brush. As a rule of thumb, this gets everything cleaned up and shining like a dime in a goat’s butt. I run them through the US for a couple of cycles and dry them with a hair dryer after that, but I have to say I do it mostly out of a combination of superstition and the conventional wisdom espoused here by those who have been building clocks much longer than I have. In all honesty, though, I have yet to see an appreciable difference from the US after my initial scrubbing.

 

[Dells]

Hi JTD
Yes that is strange search eBay it comes up search P/P zero, perhaps they are selling it off on eBay because they have stopped making it
Merry Xmas Dell

 

[JTD]

Hi JTD
Yes that is strange search eBay it comes up search P/P zero, perhaps they are selling it off on eBay because they have stopped making it
Merry Xmas Dell

Well, that's even stranger, because when I look at it on Ebay it clearly says postage £3.00 (if that's what you meant by P/P).

Happy Christmas

JTD

 

[Dells]

The P/P was short for Priory Polishes, I meant that a copy and paste of the exact product to there website came up zero, but I will order some through eBay and give it a go.
Thanks Dell

 

[JTD]

Oh I see, Le

The P/P was short for Priory Polishes, I meant that a copy and paste of the exact product to there website came up zero, but I will order some through eBay and give it a go.
Thanks Dell

Oh, I see. Hope it goes well.

JTD

 

[shutterbug]

As with all things, if you invest in a good ultra sonic machine you'll like using it. Cheap ones are usually too small, too weak, or too much hassle to get ready.

 

[Kevin W.]

I am pleased still with the one i bought from Amazon. CO-Z.