Ultrasonic Cleaners - They do Work...

[4-2-7]

Has anyone tried using enzyme dish soaps with water through the ultrasonic cleaner?

My tank holds 18 liters. So, it needs alot of alcohol to achieve even a 10% ratio and that $$$ adds up. The fumes during cleaning are left to be desired also. I have a SpinClean machine that is now used for rinse cycles after an ultrasonic cleaning..

Ive seen where a few have tried a dish powder/water solution instead of alcohol/dish liquid combo...

Any thoughts?

anyone have a good link for some 4" round cover plates? most of the ones I find online use weatherproof stripping. Would prefer to find some with a rubber gasket..

here's the best I''ve found, but it does use a weatherproof stripping. I'll get some rubber gaskets on ebay as a replacement.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Carlon-N...CH=RV-_-rv_search_plp_rr-_-NA-_-100205413-_-N

I want to be able to submerge the records deeper into the tank and need to have covers for the labels.

In a 10L tank I don't use 10% alcohol I never even used that much with a RCM.

3-4oz alcohol to 2 gallons of distill water, 3-4 drops of dish soap, a drop or two of the photo-flow. Heat and agitation will do the rest.

As far as submerging the label Why? you only need to go as deep as the inner grooves. With a very slow rotation the label will not get wet.

The other thing I do though is after a bit of time and or maybe 60 records I add more alcohol. You have to remember that this solvent evaporates fast. But in no way would I use 10% as this much alcohol I would think can start dissolving the vinyl.

 

[Vinylmasters]

How often do you guys drain and clean the tank itself?

Do you filter the cleaner before re-using it (kinda like a restaurant does with a a fryer to get the crap out of it)? If so, what do you use to filter it?

 

[4-2-7]

How often do you guys drain and clean the tank itself?

Do you filter the cleaner before re-using it (kinda like a restaurant does with a a fryer to get the crap out of it)? If so, what do you use to filter it?

I filter, I have a fish tank BS, but don't use it. I use a big pot,steel strainer, with paper towels and just pour the tank into it. I tend to do this prior to using it so I heat the water on the stove before putting it back into the tank, it saves the tank heater from working hard. About every fifty records I filter, and add alcohol. Around 200-300 records I start a fresh mix and I have cleaned around 3000+ records this way.

 

[cmhuff]

I use a similar method only I go smaller with a mesh coffee filter and funnel back into the distilled water gallon jugs to save for later. With kids and a busy schedule I'm not able to clean very many at a time and don't like to leave the solution in the tank for extended periods.

I'm going to try reducing the alcohol % on my next cleaning session and see how things go. It just stinks too bad and everyone in the house complains when I'm cleaning. :nono:

 

[4-2-7]

I use a similar method only I go smaller with a mesh coffee filter and funnel back into the distilled water gallon jugs to save for later. With kids and a busy schedule I'm not able to clean very many at a time and don't like to leave the solution in the tank for extended periods.

I'm going to try reducing the alcohol % on my next cleaning session and see how things go. It just stinks too bad and everyone in the house complains when I'm cleaning. :nono:

Yeah you all really should not be smelling it, if you are it's too much. I only smell it briefly when I first put it in and run a cycle with out record so it mixes and flashes off.

 

[GPJeff]

With kids and a busy schedule I'm not able to clean very many at a time and don't like to leave the solution in the tank for extended periods.

I'm going to try reducing the alcohol % on my next cleaning session and see how things go. It just stinks too bad and everyone in the house complains when I'm cleaning. :nono:

Same here - no kids - but little time to clean. I don't filter, I'm lucky to have enough time to get the solution dirty. I usually dump mine after a cleaning session.

The alcohol odor drives my wife crazy so I usually clean when she's out of the house. Like in my previous post, I cut the alcohol % in half, but it still leaves an odor.

 

[MannyE]

What's this about still needing a ride through the Spin Clean?

Perhaps a vacuum attachment can be finagled? Would that eliminate the need to rinse maybe? I'm about to start this project but this observation has kinda thrown me. I was hoping to finally have a more efficient solution but the spin clean news kind of negates the convenience factor. Sigh. I would still do it but... Sigh.


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[BMW rider]

What's this about still needing a ride through the Spin Clean?

Perhaps a vacuum attachment can be finagled? Would that eliminate the need to rinse maybe? I'm about to start this project but this observation has kinda thrown me. I was hoping to finally have a more efficient solution but the spin clean news kind of negates the convenience factor. Sigh. I would still do it but... Sigh.


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I bought a used Nitty Gritty from a local record store before I ended up building my ultrasonic cleaner. Now I use them in series. When the records come out of the ultrasonic cleaner, I vacuum them dry on the Nitty Gritty.


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[4-2-7]

What's this about still needing a ride through the Spin Clean?

Perhaps a vacuum attachment can be finagled? Would that eliminate the need to rinse maybe? I'm about to start this project but this observation has kinda thrown me. I was hoping to finally have a more efficient solution but the spin clean news kind of negates the convenience factor. Sigh. I would still do it but... Sigh.


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Manny you know how people do things around here and nobody does anything the same. Just because some people are saying what they are doing doesn't make it right, needed or the best way.

I don't use much soap, alcohol or any other things that can leave residue and really all you need is the distlied water and heat.

I then run 8 records though and just let them air dry. All static gets removed in the cleaning process so just a light wipe with an old record lint rag and in a new sleeve they go.

I have an Oki Noki but I don't vac the records after an Ultrasonic Cleaning as it starts to add Static back into the record. Not to mention it's more handling and steps that can take time and or damage can occur.

If a record looks to have some gunk when I'm wiping them down to put in a new sleeve, I will run it on an RCM, however, this is not very often needed.

When I grab a record from my library now that has not been played since cleaning, I don't even need to dust it prior to the needle drop.

 

[oldvinyldude]

Manny you know how people do things around here and nobody does anything the same. Just because some people are saying what they are doing doesn't make it right, needed or the best way.

I don't use much soap, alcohol or any other things that can leave residue and really all you need is the distlied water and heat.

I then run 8 records though and just let them air dry. All static gets removed in the cleaning process so just a light wipe with an old record lint rag and in a new sleeve they go.

I have an Oki Noki but I don't vac the records after an Ultrasonic Cleaning as it starts to add Static back into the record. Not to mention it's more handling and steps that can take time and or damage can occur.

If a record looks to have some gunk when I'm wiping them down to put in a new sleeve, I will run it on an RCM, however, this is not very often needed.

When I grab a record from my library now that has not been played since cleaning, I don't even need to dust it prior to the needle drop.

+1 on this approach

I also read this article which I found very interesting:

http://bluewaveinc.com/ultrasonic-cleaning-101/

Two items that were of particular interest to me:

1. The higher the frequency, the less energy for the tiny explosions that are needed to loosen contaminants. I had thought the opposite would have been true.

2. The solution suggested for plastics was "moderately alkaline or neutral synthetic", which sounds like Dawn dishwashing liquid to me.

If I go the ultrasonic route, I intend to start with distilled water and a couple of drops of Dawn. I recall from Chemistry class, that soaps are mildly alkaline, and help cleaning by their molecules bonding to the polar molecules of substances, including water itself. This makes things slippery so that molecules will move into solution and stay there-better.

 

[Vinylmasters]

This sounds too good for what we ware looking for....

http://gokimco.com/esd-static-contr.../acl-staticide-5001-clean-room-staticide.html

Thoughts anyone?

+1 on this approach

I also read this article which I found very interesting:

http://bluewaveinc.com/ultrasonic-cleaning-101/

Two items that were of particular interest to me:

1. The higher the frequency, the less energy for the tiny explosions that are needed to loosen contaminants. I had thought the opposite would have been true.

2. The solution suggested for plastics was "moderately alkaline or neutral synthetic", which sounds like Dawn dishwashing liquid to me.

If I go the ultrasonic route, I intend to start with distilled water and a couple of drops of Dawn. I recall from Chemistry class, that soaps are mildly alkaline, and help cleaning by their molecules bonding to the polar molecules of substances, including water itself. This makes things slippery so that molecules will move into solution and stay there-better.

 

[MannyE]

Well that's a relief. It wasn't so much the extra step (well yeah it was but...) but also the back to "one at a time." The more I read the more I think that it's a belt and suspenders thing.

Can't wait to get my cleaner set up. I've got several stepper motors and various metal odds and ends that should get me close to a slow spin 6 to 8 record rig.

Trouble is now I have to decide wether to get that or an Edison cylinder player to hear the tons of cylinders that just fell in my lap. Sigh.


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[Vinylmasters]

OK! I have the typical 'overseas' 10L Ultrasonic Cleaner filled and ready to go. How long does it take to heat this baby up to 50-53c anyway? I'm using the Sonic Spin with it... Any 'tricks' I need to know before I blow the joint up?

EDIT: How does this work for 78's?

 

[drtool]

:beer:

 

[phatster]

I'm in the process of putting one together....someone far more experienced stated they heated up water on the stove to make things easier on the unit for the long haul.This seems like good advice to me!

 

[4-2-7]

I'm in the process of putting one together....someone far more experienced stated they heated up water on the stove to make things easier on the unit for the long haul.This seems like good advice to me!

Yes that's what I do it's faster and then the tank heater just holds it there.:thmbsp:

 

[Vinylmasters]

I'm in the process of putting one together....someone far more experienced stated they heated up water on the stove to make things easier on the unit for the long haul.This seems like good advice to me!

That isn't much of an option for me, as the cleaner is a floor below and the opposite side of the house from the kitchen!

 

[4-2-7]

That isn't much of an option for me, as the cleaner is a floor below and the opposite side of the house from the kitchen!

If you have a lid to the tank use it, it will heat faster but don't over do it your not trying to boil it.

 

[phatster]

Need quick word about the cleaning solution mixture.There seems some differing accounts of ingredients. Oh...is a speed of 2.5 rpm fast enough? Thanks folks.

 

[oilmanmojo]

I heat a portion in the microwave then put into bath. My ultrasonic does not have a heater. Once going, the ultrasonic will heat up liquid also, though very slowly. I find about 110 to 115 is plenty warm to get good action but not too much vapor fm alcohol