Ultrasonic cleaners - what can I use for a container

Topics include, Machine Tools & Tooling, Precision Measuring, Materials and their Properties, Electrical discussions related to machine tools, setups, fixtures and jigs and other general discussion related to amateur machining.

Moderators: GlennW, Harold_V

Post Reply
SteveM
Posts: 7763
Joined: Mon Jun 27, 2005 6:18 pm
Location: Wisconsin

Ultrasonic cleaners - what can I use for a container

Post by SteveM »

I generally use my ultrasonic by having jars of cleaners / solvents, putting my work in the jar, putting the jar in the ultrasonic and filling to the proper water level.

While, for certain acidic solvents, that helps to avoid damage to the stainless steel tank, but I'll have to admit that my primary reason is to not have to clean up the ultrasonic.

My new ultrasonic is big - 12" square and 6" deep. The old one would hold one mason jar.

I have some large parts to do (a vise) and I don't want to have them in an open tank (new shop does not yet have adequate ventilation), so I'd like to use a container.

I don't have any glass containers big enough.

I have some plastic containers (same kind of plastic as laundry detergent bottles), but I'm thinking that will dampen out the vibration.

What else would work?

Not sure I can find glass jars large enough.

Steve
RSG
Posts: 1541
Joined: Fri Feb 04, 2011 9:59 am
Location: Ontario, Canada

Re: Ultrasonic cleaners - what can I use for a container

Post by RSG »

use a stainless steel pot! I've done it and it works well.
Vision is not seeing things as they are, but as they will be.
SteveM
Posts: 7763
Joined: Mon Jun 27, 2005 6:18 pm
Location: Wisconsin

Re: Ultrasonic cleaners - what can I use for a container

Post by SteveM »

RSG wrote: Tue Dec 27, 2022 7:51 am use a stainless steel pot! I've done it and it works well.
Just don't tell my wife!

My mom used to joke that if people knew what had been cooked in our pots and in our oven, they wouldn't eat there.

Steve
User avatar
Bill Shields
Posts: 10460
Joined: Fri Dec 21, 2007 4:57 am
Location: 39.367, -75.765
Contact:

Re: Ultrasonic cleaners - what can I use for a container

Post by Bill Shields »

my wife finally caught on and gave me one of the pots I had been using to 'keep in the shop'...even though it was CLEANER than any that she had been using for cooking.... :mrgreen:
Too many things going on to bother listing them.
RSG
Posts: 1541
Joined: Fri Feb 04, 2011 9:59 am
Location: Ontario, Canada

Re: Ultrasonic cleaners - what can I use for a container

Post by RSG »

SteveM wrote: Tue Dec 27, 2022 9:44 am Just don't tell my wife!
Not to worry my friend, I carry the same secrets LOL!
Vision is not seeing things as they are, but as they will be.
User avatar
Bill Shields
Posts: 10460
Joined: Fri Dec 21, 2007 4:57 am
Location: 39.367, -75.765
Contact:

Re: Ultrasonic cleaners - what can I use for a container

Post by Bill Shields »

then there was the motorcycle transmission that I needed to heat to 400F.....

fortunately it was a BMW and separable from the crankcase....
Too many things going on to bother listing them.
Mr Ron
Posts: 2126
Joined: Tue Dec 22, 2009 12:36 pm
Location: Vancleave, Mississippi

Re: Ultrasonic cleaners - what can I use for a container

Post by Mr Ron »

Plastic works in microwave ovens. It should also work in an ultrasonic cleaner.
Mr.Ron from South Mississippi
SteveM
Posts: 7763
Joined: Mon Jun 27, 2005 6:18 pm
Location: Wisconsin

Re: Ultrasonic cleaners - what can I use for a container

Post by SteveM »

Mr Ron wrote: Fri Dec 30, 2022 12:09 pm Plastic works in microwave ovens. It should also work in an ultrasonic cleaner.
If the ultrasonic vibrations are absorbed by the container, it will dampen the cleaning ability.

A rigid plastic could do the job.

My old ultrasonic had hard plastic extension tanks that would let you clean larger objects.

Something like laundry bottle plastic will probably act like a sound deadening material.

Steve
User avatar
Rex
Posts: 723
Joined: Wed Apr 28, 2010 6:29 am
Location: DFW Texas

Re: Ultrasonic cleaners - what can I use for a container

Post by Rex »

I bought a set of 8 Pyrex lab beakers for $20. There some pretty big sizes listed.

Last year I bought a 22 liter ultrasonic cleaner. Bigger is better, right? Not really. So I took it to my remote shop, where it sits unused.
Then I bought a 4 liter unit. It's too small.
So now I'm thinking to brink back the big one and buy more beakers.

BTW, Vivo has great prices on ultrasonic tanks of all sizes, as well as other shop tools.
SteveM
Posts: 7763
Joined: Mon Jun 27, 2005 6:18 pm
Location: Wisconsin

Re: Ultrasonic cleaners - what can I use for a container

Post by SteveM »

Just found some 1/2 gallon wide mouth Ball mason jars at Farm and Fleet.
Not big enough for some of the stuff I need to do, but a lot bigger than the spaghetti sauce jars.

Steve
Post Reply