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Ultra Sonic cleaners

2/8/21       
Jim Knowles

I have been reading about how well ultra sonic machines clean spray guns. I want to clean a kremlin excite gun very well!

I need some help and advice.

Never used one. Not sure where to purchase one. Or if there are some that are better for that job? Also, if some are to be avoided?

Thanks

2/9/21       #2: Ultra Sonic cleaners ...
Chris Member

Been really happy with my Crest cleaner with heat. Not cheap but been reliable.

2/9/21       #3: Ultra Sonic cleaners ...
Jim Clark

I use a small cheap one from Harbor Freight.
It does a great job for small parts like my air
cap and fluid tip.
I fill the sonic cleaner with water after sitting
a glass of lacquer thinner in it and add parts
to the glass. it's amazing how much stuff
comes off even when you think it's clean.
My wife uses it for her jewelry, so get it
for your wife then borrow it.

2/9/21       #4: Ultra Sonic cleaners ...
duster

I bought mine from Amazon, I think it was about $50 - $60. Well worth the money.

2/10/21       #6: Ultra Sonic cleaners ...
Jim Knowles

Thanks for all your responses!
Jim

2/10/21       #7: Ultra Sonic cleaners ...
Zach Froble  Member

Website: http://www.lyndandesigns.com

Do you use a solvent in the ultra sonic cleaner? Some one told me to use the non corrosive simple green. Any recommendations on what works best.

2/10/21       #8: Ultra Sonic cleaners ...
Chris

You have to be very careful with solvents that are flammable as most ultrasonic cleaners are not rated to be explosion proof unless you are spending $$$. I tend to use water based solvents just to be safe. You can also put your parts if they are small enough into a glass jar with your solvent of choice and then fill your cleaner with just water and put the jar in the water. The ultrasonic waves will go through the glass and still clean the parts almost as efficiently as if they are directly in the cleaner directly. I do this for some of my parts where I need a specific solvent or they are really dirty and I dont want to grime up the cleaner. Good luck!

2/10/21       #9: Ultra Sonic cleaners ...
duster

I use Acra Strip in my ultrasonic cleaner. Non flammable, doesn't evaporate, safe to use in a heated cleaner. Works great for spray gun tips, air caps, ect.

2/11/21       #10: Ultra Sonic cleaners ...
CraigM

I tried a bunch of different cleaners/solutions in my ultrasonic. Heated acrastrip works best by far, it's a game changer. I usually give my parts a quick rinse in gunwash after they come out of the ultrasonic and they're good as new.

2/11/21       #11: Ultra Sonic cleaners ...
Scott

I live in western Canada, I tried to buy some accustrip, I can’t find a distributor or a dealer, everyone I ask looks at me like I have a third eye.

2/11/21       #12: Ultra Sonic cleaners ...
CraigM

Scott, I'm in BC. I got my Acrastrip from Composites Canada in Mississauga, they were the only Canadian distributor that I could find. I think I paid around $300 for a 5 gal, but it lasts forever.

2/11/21       #13: Ultra Sonic cleaners ...
duster

I ordered my AcraStrip directly from the manufacturer. They shipped me a gallon, I think it cost around $50 with shipping.

2/11/21       #14: Ultra Sonic cleaners ...
Jim Knowles

Thanks everyone!! This forums is the best!!

2/11/21       #15: Ultra Sonic cleaners ...
Daniel Berlin Member

Depending on the exact acrastrip series you are talking about, a lot of it is pretty easy to make for cheaper if you can't get it (or are cheap).

For example, the acrastrip 600 series is. mostly DGME + surfactants

You can get DGME from lots of places (it has a lot of names), and triton-X from Amazon, and have something that works just as well.

2/15/21       #16: Ultra Sonic cleaners ...
Robert M  Member

With all respect to Daniel,

Triton X-100 Surfactant goes around 25$us for 500ml (+/- 16.9oz), nothing to compare to +/- 230$US (300$can) for a 20L (5gal) ( 20L = 40 x 500ml!!!) ....make the equation !!!

Ya, only 25$ vs +/- 230$US.....BUT....make the count!!
NOY even WORTH consideration if ever you intend to clean your finishing tools.....more then ONCE a YR.....@_@ !!

my 2ct, with respect and regards !!

Oh,,,,PS, I've use a few times SIMPLE GREEN to clean my CAT AAA gun a few times, works....say just "ok" but, damaged ALOT to gun red finishing coating !!!!
PSS....I use ONLY waterbase finishing

Cheers to all.....;0)

2/15/21       #17: Ultra Sonic cleaners ...
DannyB Member

Triton-X is usually added at 1% ratio to the mix.

So that 500ml makes at least 50 liters.

Additionally, you can actually get it for about 35 bucks a gallon, which makes at least 100 gallons :)

Here's a source for 35 bucks a gallon:
https://www.chemistrystore.com/Chemicals_S-Z-Triton_X-100.html

2/16/21       #18: Ultra Sonic cleaners ...
Jim

So it's probably obvious to others.....but it sounds like 1% triton-X....and how much surfactants....what ever that is?? And mix in ? Water??

For thoes of us chemicaly challenged.....please make a complete formula that the "challenged" are able to
make...

Greatly appreciated!!

just jim

2/16/21       #19: Ultra Sonic cleaners ...
Daniel Berlin Member

The simplest mix that will work well:

triton-x - 1% (surfactant)
DGME - 20-30% (Solvent)
Water - 70-80% (Filler)

So for 5 gallons, you'd use 6.4 fluid ounces of triton-x, 1 gallon of DGME, and 4 gallons of water.

The above is basically acrastrip.

You can also substitute NMP (or a bunch of other things) for DGME and get good results.

2/16/21       #20: Ultra Sonic cleaners ...
Robert M  Member

Well, humbly, my apologies to all in this thread, not knowing nor aware of the concentration level of this Triton X !!

Have to be honest, it's way more worth to get this Triton X, specialy, knowing we're able to dose quantety as per estimated need, present and future, vs, buying a 5G pale !!

PS...DANNYB ; "For thoes of us chemicaly challenged".....
BTW, DGME = Diethylene glycol monoethyl ether ;0))

Cheers and all the best

2/16/21       #21: Ultra Sonic cleaners ...
Daniel Berlin Member

Sorry - Let me try to give it to y'all in a chemically challenged way :)

On the stuff side:

DGME has a *lot* of chemical names which you can search for and find and buy.

Here's a quick list:
https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Diethylene-glycol-monoethyl-ether#sectio
n=Depositor-Supplied-Synonyms

DGME is cheap and easy to find most of the time, but if you can't, happy to give you other stuff that will work.

On the Triton-X side, you really only need a surfactant. This just happens to be a good and cheap one.

Adding it in the right amount (you can go up to 3%) can reduce coating stripping times by 50%, depending on the type of coating being cleaned.

The TL;DR is that it reduces surface tension - this enables the solvent to work much more effectively and also get into small pores/holes/etc

2/18/21       #22: Ultra Sonic cleaners ...
Jim

Thanks to all of you for your patience and kindness!!

just jim

3/6/21       #23: Ultra Sonic cleaners ...
Daniel Shafner Member

One gallon of Acrastrip from Grapek-Bates is $50 including shipping, unless shipping costs have risen with the gas prices in recent months.

Grapek-Bates Acrastrip - one gallon


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