Toadtorrent Posted September 21, 2009 Report Share Posted September 21, 2009 I saw this on the Bay Canada (item # 390087639748): as a battery powered ultrasonic cleaner for $1.49 + $6 shipping from Hong Kong. Described as follows: Product Description Brand new ultrasonic cleaner! ON / OFF switch, easy to use With suction base to avoid slipping when vibrating Great for both professional cleaning and personal use Suitable for cleaning: Electronics component, mechanical part, pen-head, printer-head, watch part, coin, badge, machine nozzle, small silverware; Glasses, sunglasses, contact lens accessories, optical lenses; Jewelry, waterproof watch, ring, necklace, earrings, diamond, bracelet and gemstone; Denture, comb, toothbrush, electric shaver head, razor, and dining appliance; Tattoo guns and tubes, and piercing tool; CD, nipple, fruit, anything you can image to clean!!! Power: 2 X AA battery Vibrates up to 6500 times / minute Product size: 7.5 cm in height, 9 cm in width Container size: 4 cm in height, 8 cm in width Is this actually usable for watches? For <$10...that's cheap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lanikai Posted September 21, 2009 Report Share Posted September 21, 2009 We used to sell ultra sound cleaners in jewelry stores .. they weren't expensive but had a little more voltage than this one.. the solution is the key... but for the price it may be worth a look see... but don't expect it to last long or the batteries either for that matter.. AC Lani Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest OrenG Posted September 21, 2009 Report Share Posted September 21, 2009 (edited) I saw this on the Bay Canada (item # 390087639748): as a battery powered ultrasonic cleaner for $1.49 + $6 shipping from Hong Kong. Described as follows: Product Description Brand new ultrasonic cleaner! ON / OFF switch, easy to use With suction base to avoid slipping when vibrating Great for both professional cleaning and personal use Suitable for cleaning: Electronics component, mechanical part, pen-head, printer-head, watch part, coin, badge, machine nozzle, small silverware; Glasses, sunglasses, contact lens accessories, optical lenses; Jewelry, waterproof watch, ring, necklace, earrings, diamond, bracelet and gemstone; Denture, comb, toothbrush, electric shaver head, razor, and dining appliance; Tattoo guns and tubes, and piercing tool; CD, nipple, fruit, anything you can image to clean!!! Power: 2 X AA battery Vibrates up to 6500 times / minute Product size: 7.5 cm in height, 9 cm in width Container size: 4 cm in height, 8 cm in width Is this actually usable for watches? For <$10...that's cheap. I've been doing a little research on these myself and that specific kind of ultrasonic cleaner is for dental fixtures. However if it's big enough you should be able to clean a watch, although unless someone has tested this before I'd recommend just cleaning the band and hand cleaning the watch itself in case ultra-sonic waves somehow damage movements. So if you have a really cheap movement that works but you wouldn't care if it broke, I'd give it a go. http://www.metacafe.com/fplayer/1113877/how_to_use_an_ultrasonic_cleaner.swf Edited September 21, 2009 by OrenG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toadtorrent Posted September 21, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 21, 2009 With rechargeables being possible, it's almost worth the gamble. The ones I was looking at through the watch part/tool wholesalers were listed in the $400-700 CDN range, so this seemed "too good to be true"...but not knowing what's involved in a cleaner, I'm not sure if this is actually adequate for watch work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toadtorrent Posted September 21, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 21, 2009 However if it's big enough you should be able to clean a watch, although unless someone has tested this before I'd recommend just cleaning the band and hand cleaning the watch itself in case ultra-sonic waves somehow damage movements. So if you have a really cheap movement that works but you wouldn't care if it broke, I'd give it a go. If it can hold dental appliances it can hold watch parts. The cleaning is for gears and parts (not the cases or bands themselves...I'm not concerned about those) and would be contained in tiny cages that look like loose leaf "tea balls". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest OrenG Posted September 21, 2009 Report Share Posted September 21, 2009 If it can hold dental appliances it can hold watch parts. The cleaning is for gears and parts (not the cases or bands themselves...I'm not concerned about those) and would be contained in tiny cages that look like loose leaf "tea balls". Well in that case for the money you really have nothing to lose. However if I was going to buy one I'd consider modifying it to accept a dc jack and have it run off of AC via a transformer so I'm not changing batteries everyday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lanikai Posted September 21, 2009 Report Share Posted September 21, 2009 With rechargeables being possible, it's almost worth the gamble. The ones I was looking at through the watch part/tool wholesalers were listed in the $400-700 CDN range, so this seemed "too good to be true"...but not knowing what's involved in a cleaner, I'm not sure if this is actually adequate for watch work. your talking about 'professional' cleaners .. the local jewelry stores should carry 'home' units also.. or some of the the jewelry online dealers ... but if your cleaning watch parts.. a certain solution is necessary .. other than the ammonia cleaneer that jewelers use.. L Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddy333 Posted September 21, 2009 Report Share Posted September 21, 2009 From the description, I doubt this unit has sufficient power to thoroughly clean disassembled watch parts or assembled bracelets (never place an assembled watch into an ultrasonic), which is the primary reason to use an ultrasonic (my $40 Haier vibrates at 10k/sec - good for bracelets & small cleaning jobs) & my Watchmaster vibrates at 32k/sec). However, for the price, it is certainly worth a few dollars to find out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FxrAndy Posted September 21, 2009 Report Share Posted September 21, 2009 Got mine from Tchibo for about Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vlaletom Posted September 22, 2009 Report Share Posted September 22, 2009 If this is to clean jewelery, you can have a try. If this is for watchmaking, forget about it. I once baught a cheap ultrasonic from ebay in HK. Well first it atracted custom attention (first and only time it ever happened to me), and i had to pay taxe. That cheaper unit was solid stell and certainly more powerfull than the one you picture. But i didn't found it good enough. I actually ended up, giving it for free to some menber on rwg1 ... Now i have an elmasonic, and it's like night and day, of course the price is not in the same range. Here in france L&R arent on the market, theire solution neither, Elmasonic is the professional brand, and we use Rubisol and F80 as cleaning solution... So you may have a shot on this one, but beware of large postage coming from HK ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toadtorrent Posted September 22, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 22, 2009 Thanks for all the replies folks. I realize the pro units are full commercial units. I wasn't sure what the proper frequency was for cleaning watch parts and Freddy answered that. RoninQ also suggested attaching an adjustable DC power supply and ramping up the vibrations a bit (shortening the motor life...but at <$10 worth trying). The issue for me is I wouldn't really know if things were properly cleaned or not. As RoninQ says, I'm no The Zigmeister or Freddy333. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nanuq Posted September 22, 2009 Report Share Posted September 22, 2009 Pfffffffft. A buck and a half? I can go cheaper than that! 1) Prepare your grungy watch parts in a cleaning solution on a convenient table. 2) Buy a sparkly new gen Rolex. Make it real flashy. 3) Bring it home and stand next to the table, and call your wife. 4) Say "Look, Honey! I bought a new Rolex!" and show her the watch. 5) Cover your ears. Presto! Ultrasonic cleaner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lanikai Posted September 22, 2009 Report Share Posted September 22, 2009 Pfffffffft. A buck and a half? I can go cheaper than that! 1) Prepare your grungy watch parts in a cleaning solution on a convenient table. 2) Buy a sparkly new gen Rolex. Make it real flashy. 3) Bring it home and stand next to the table, and call your wife. 4) Say "Look, Honey! I bought a new Rolex!" and show her the watch. 5) Cover your ears. Presto! Ultrasonic cleaner. . . why am I laughing .. it would be true .. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmb Posted September 22, 2009 Report Share Posted September 22, 2009 (edited) I doubt that it will do much other than soak the parts, but at that price you ain't got much to loose! The part that seems strange is it needing suction cup feet so it won't "slip". Ultrasonic cleaners vibrate at a, well, ultrasonic rate. I know mine emits a sort of high pitched squealing sound and produces absolutely no vibrations. I have a heavy-duty Harbor Freight unit that heats the solution and is all stainless steel. Seems I remember it being about $130 or so. Never tried it on a watch but it did a good job on a couple of motorcycle carburettors! Edited September 22, 2009 by jmb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
offshore Posted September 22, 2009 Report Share Posted September 22, 2009 Maybe the word "vibrator" may be better used than "ultrasonic". This is 6.5k, whereas the "bigger" AC units are 20k and 32k. Seems like that tells a story. O/S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toadtorrent Posted September 22, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 22, 2009 There seem to be a lot in the $40 range including shipping that sit around the 40khz range...so those appear to be better. I wasn't sure what the frequency was for cleaning...at 40khz...it might be that of the New Rolex Scream. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lanikai Posted September 22, 2009 Report Share Posted September 22, 2009 There seem to be a lot in the $40 range including shipping that sit around the 40khz range...so those appear to be better. I wasn't sure what the frequency was for cleaning...at 40khz...it might be that of the New Rolex Scream. you could probably shake a cleaning jar and get more out of it than the battery operated thingamagig... L Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toadtorrent Posted September 22, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 22, 2009 Don't underestimate me Lani...I can shake a jar pretty !@#%#@ hard!! I didnt' realize the frequency delta was that large...didn't find any info initially on cleaning frequencies...and with the knowledge and talent here, I knew I'd get the 411 on it from the fine folks here...and some bonus info from Bob of course. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nanuq Posted September 22, 2009 Report Share Posted September 22, 2009 Mwahahahahaaaaaaa! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lanikai Posted September 22, 2009 Report Share Posted September 22, 2009 this is a long thread for a dolla fo ty nine.... L Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toadtorrent Posted September 22, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 22, 2009 Don't for get shipping R...I'm all about High Value. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trailboss Posted September 22, 2009 Report Share Posted September 22, 2009 Yeah, something in the 40 dollar range should do the job. Mine was aprox US30 and it's just enough for bands and maybe MVT parts. It won't do a print head perfectly for example and would have no hope on a fuel injector. The real good stuff starts at around 100USD. Somthing around that price will do any watch job you could come up with. Col. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Birdman Posted September 22, 2009 Report Share Posted September 22, 2009 That is a sonic cleaner, not an ultrasonic. Just like calling an open escapement watch a Tourby. I can sell you an ultrasonic for $40 including shipping in the US Birdman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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