Ultra Sonic Cleaner

[ike8120]

I just got an ultra sonic cleaner for cleaning reel parts. What is the preferred solution to use with it? Something that will be safe and cut the crud and grease. This is a inexpensive cleaner that is not explosion proof.

[J.W.]

Ok, I've never used it on reels or in an ultrasonic, so do your own homework, but for other small parts degreasing and cleaning, I love that "L.A.'s Totally Awesome" cleaner. It's a yellow liquid, usually sold as either spray bottles or gallon jugs.
Stupid name, but it is good at getting things really clean, especially oily or greasy parts. It's water-based, so no explosive/flammable fumes. I use it when making knives. For any blades that are going to get etched in ferric chloride, they have to be perfectly degreased and cleaned or the etch will get screwed up. I used to use Dawn, but this stuff works much better. And I can usually get a spray bottle of it for dirt cheap at the grocery store.

Only problem is parts will have to be rinsed with water or something to get the cleaner off afterwards, it doesn't evaporate off like brake cleaner or anything. 

[Oldfart9999]

Simple Green is used by many reel guys, it won't burn or explode, does an excellent job. Just be sure to rinse it well.
Rodney

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[bigjim5589]

Gary, you may want to direct this question to Mike Cork since he cleans a lot of reels. He probably would have some insight on what to use.

[ike8120]

Ok, I've never used it on reels or in an ultrasonic, so do your own homework, but for other small parts degreasing and cleaning, I love that "L.A.'s Totally Awesome" cleaner. It's a yellow liquid, usually sold as either spray bottles or gallon jugs.
Stupid name, but it is good at getting things really clean, especially oily or greasy parts. It's water-based, so no explosive/flammable fumes. I use it when making knives. For any blades that are going to get etched in ferric chloride, they have to be perfectly degreased and cleaned or the etch will get screwed up. I used to use Dawn, but this stuff works much better. And I can usually get a spray bottle of it for dirt cheap at the grocery store.

Only problem is parts will have to be rinsed with water or something to get the cleaner off afterwards, it doesn't evaporate off like brake cleaner or anything. 

I use Awesome all over my house inside and out.

[skidemn]

I mainly use my ultrasonic cleaner for gun parts, and occasionally small batches of brass for reloading, so I use the Lyman solutions.

https://www.lymanproducts.com/turbo-sonic-cleaning-solutions

It's important to make sure you use the right solution for what you clean because you can damage materials with the wrong chemicals. I keep the gun parts solution in mine and only change on the rare occasion I'm doing some brass. I even clean plastic call parts in it, but rinse them off well afterwards.


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[Mike Cork]

I use a 50-50 solution of Simple Green and water for really dirty or grimy reels. But for minor dirty I like a 25 simple green to 75 water.

I also clean bearings in an ultrasonic cleaner by filling it half way with water and then putting Ronsonol (yes it's lighter fluid and flammable) and the bearings in a thin walled shot glass and setting it in the water. The vibrations move through the water then the shot glass. Takes a couple rounds to get them perfect for me but very effective.

[J.W.]

I use a 50-50 solution of Simple Green and water for really dirty or grimy reels. But for minor dirty I like a 25 simple green to 75 water.

I also clean bearings in an ultrasonic cleaner by filling it half way with water and then putting Ronsonol (yes it's lighter fluid and flammable) and the bearings in a thin walled shot glass and setting it in the water. The vibrations move through the water then the shot glass. Takes a couple rounds to get them perfect for me but very effective.

Mike, if you want to save a little $$$, V. M. & P. Naphtha in the metal can is basically the same thing (even works in Zippos) and you can get a quart of it for the same price as a little bottle of Zippo fluid at the hardware store. The squirt cap from an empty Zippo/Ronsonol squirt bottle will even pop right onto the white plastic spout on the metal can, if you want to be able to dispense small amounts of it.You cannot view this attachment.

[Oldfart9999]

Camp fluid works well also. Put some in a small container, hang the bearing in it and touch the outside for about 4 or 5 seconds. The spinning cleans the bearing out the best of any method I tried. I got the idea from Kevin Rush from PRO REEL.
Rodney

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