I've seen a few posts about this subject & I've tried a few methods in the past.... Most suggest blasting from a distance with fine media.... I've done that, some suggest having them plated, well the original process was done before the buckets were formed & can't be duplicated.. So what ever you do the results aren't great....
Today I was cleaning up parts for my Coronet build & decided I wanted to try something.. I have a ultrasonic cleaning tank for doing carburetors.. I threw a headlight bucket in the tank, and a 50/50 mix of Simple Green & water.... Let the tank heat up & turned on the vibrations.... Here's a few photos... I'm pretty happy with the results.... I think I'll be using the ultrasonic tank for more tan just carbs...
Oh,BTW I'd already scrubbed the headlight buckets with soap & water & a brush..
Wow, that has excellent results....The cars around my area, those are usually rusty as well....would be nice to find an original set like yours.
These came off my 68 Coronet which spent it's first ten years being beaten relentlessly then it spent 22 years abandoned in a backyard....
Ultrasonic works very well on many parts ! :twothumbsup:
Looks nice Wild. :bravo: I've only used the the u.sonic for carbs and solenoid valve bodies.
Excellent results! Interested. Can you post a pic of the nameplate on your ultra sonic unit?
Quote from: 7E-Bodies on December 02, 2019, 07:24:26 AM
Excellent results! Interested. Can you post a pic of the nameplate on your ultra sonic unit?
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07HRDLTRW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Wow. 40 amps. It's got some ooompha!
Is it a proprietary plug or std 40A?
Actually the 40A is some kind of size code...
The technical specs show....
Technical Deatails
Ultrasonic Power : 240W
Heating Power 200W
Frequency: 40kHz
Voltage: AC110V60Hz
Tank Capacity: 10L
Time Setting: 1 - 30 minutes. DO NOT continuously heating it for over 30mins
Temperature Setting: 0-80 degrees Celsius
Tank Size:30*24*15cm (L x W x H)
Unit Size: 32.5*26.5*28.5 (L x W x H)
Tank Material:Stainless Steel SUS304
So 440 watts @ 120 volts is less than 4 amps... 40 amps this thing would melt parts... LOL. It's really not that powerful but it does a really good job, it's taken some pretty nasty carbs & cleaned them better than most carb dip tanks I've ever used.... It does really good on all those nooks & crannies that you can barely see never mind about scrub... It also sonically cleans passages that a carb soak tank only gets wet.... I've been pretty impressed...
Thanks for the link! Wow...way less expensive that I had thought. Have you had it long enough to really run it through its paces? I'll buy one in a heartbeat if they last.
I've only had it for about six months, but I've used it quite a bit & now that I've decided it's gonna do more than carbs it's gonna be busy....
Quote from: 1 Wild R/T on December 02, 2019, 11:21:49 AM
I've only had it for about six months, but I've used it quite a bit & now that I've decided it's gonna do more than carbs it's gonna be busy....
I've read about a bunch of guys who also use them for guns & parts and they all rave about them. It looks like a nice unit and it has a drain which was a sore point in the HF unit; that was, admittedly, half the price, but also looked it. I can see one in my future some time. :bigthumb:
I'm a gun collector as well, so good point. I can see this for jewelry, antiques, you name it.
I just put it in "my cart". It was $146 earlier, now it's $154! WTH? That was like 4 hours ago. I swear we get spied on.
The one thing I've heard on gun forums is it pulls all the oil out of mechanisms as well as the steel in general so it can cause rust..... I know there are areas on a few of my guns that can't be accessed without driving out pins & such... Not sure I want to chance it.... But then I clean my stuff regularly anyway so I don't see a need..
Thanks for sharing that. I have been considering a U/S cleaner for sometime. I think this has convinced me that I need one!
Quote from: 7E-Bodies on December 02, 2019, 07:13:04 PM
I just put it in "my cart". It was $146 earlier, now it's $154! WTH? That was like 4 hours ago. I swear we get spied on.
You do. Clear your cookies every time you walk away from the 'puter.
Quote from: 1 Wild R/T on December 02, 2019, 11:12:50 AM
Actually the 40A is some kind of size code...
Ah yes. I didn't dig into the specs, just saw the 40A and thought, wow, unplug your stove to plug in that bad boy. :haha:
Quote from: 7E-Bodies on December 02, 2019, 07:13:04 PM
I just put it in "my cart". It was $146 earlier, now it's $154! WTH? That was like 4 hours ago. I swear we get spied on.
Appears to be the same for $137?
https://www.amazon.com/Commercial-Ultrasonic-Carburetor-Capacity-Solution/dp/B07DWVG8RL/ref=sr_1_16_sspa?keywords=ultrasonic+cleaner&qid=1575382892&s=industrial&sr=1-16-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyVFc2U0k1STcyNUxIJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMTAzNjI0MVZKVDVOR1dCVEVQTiZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUExMDIwODQyMTBKWE1aVEhBMTRPQyZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX210ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=
I'm on my 3rd ultrasonic tank. Love them. I really like the dimensions of that one in the link, and the heater function is a big plus. I use them for cleaning gun parts, small engine parts, and rifle/pistol brass. I've tagged that one to my wishlist and maybe Santa will notice it. :andyangel:
Quote from: 7E-Bodies on December 02, 2019, 07:13:04 PM
I just put it in "my cart". It was $146 earlier, now it's $154! WTH? That was like 4 hours ago. I swear we get spied on.
Yup amazon does this. Try clearing your cookies and/or use a different device. I've had some luck with doing this. I shop in the private or incognito mode to try and avoid this. When you see a deal and know it's what you want, buy it then.
Another little trick, if you have smaller parts that you want to use something a little more aggressive on you can fill the unit with water & fill a jar with whatever chemical you want to use, solvent, lacquer thinner, gasoline, evaporust... What ever, then put the parts in the jar & put the jar in the ultrasonic cleaner... The ultrasonic action will pass through the jar & act on the solution & parts in the jar....
Quote from: gzig5 on December 03, 2019, 12:23:31 PM
I'm on my 3rd ultrasonic tank. Love them. I really like the dimensions of that one in the link, and the heater function is a big plus. I use them for cleaning gun parts, small engine parts, and rifle/pistol brass. I've tagged that one to my wishlist and maybe Santa will notice it. :andyangel:
Just curious. What gun parts do you put in there? :thinking:
The blurb I read mentioned black powder pistols used in cowboy shooting, but barrels or complete pistols of an acceptable size could also go in. Grungy mags, speed loaders- am I showing my age here- or brass as mentioned. For me it'd probably also include the mentioned carbs and small stuff you want cleaned. :cheers:
Quote from: 1 Wild R/T on December 03, 2019, 03:20:23 PM
Another little trick, if you have smaller parts that you want to use something a little more aggressive on you can fill the unit with water & fill a jar with whatever chemical you want to use, solvent, lacquer thinner, gasoline, evaporust... What ever, then put the parts in the jar & put the jar in the ultrasonic cleaner... The ultrasonic action will pass through the jar & act on the solution & parts in the jar....
That's a cleaver idea :twothumbsup:
Are headlight buckets galvanized coated?
Quote from: Cudakiller70 on December 03, 2019, 03:31:17 PM
For smaller parts...LOL
Wow! That's pretty slick! and cheap.
Quote from: dodj on December 03, 2019, 04:22:53 PM
Quote from: gzig5 on December 03, 2019, 12:23:31 PM
I'm on my 3rd ultrasonic tank. Love them. I really like the dimensions of that one in the link, and the heater function is a big plus. I use them for cleaning gun parts, small engine parts, and rifle/pistol brass. I've tagged that one to my wishlist and maybe Santa will notice it. :andyangel:
Just curious. What gun parts do you put in there? :thinking:
Anything that will fit. You have to be careful to not leave them in there too long or the cavitation action that does the cleaning will affect the surface finish, especially if polished. The larger ones will take an entire handgun, assembled and you can blow it out and oil it. The make some pretty big units now that you can put an entire engine in but they are $$$$.
I've also used my rotary tumbler with stainless steel pins with water and detergent to clean small parts. Gets carbon and hardened gunk off very well.
Thanks Wild, I thought somebody might could use this?