Another Ultrasonic Question.....

[GRW]

OK.... please forgive me if this is a daft question.
I use Kerosene for many cleaning jobs. Bike chains, grubby parts & suchlike.
I also (against the makers advice) use Kero in my parts washer.

So...
1. how would Kero perform in an Ultrasonic Bath Cleaner?
2. what are the likely outcomes for the item & the bath unit itself?
3. (Assumes its not an insane notion) - Would it be better to use a small amount in a separate glass jar, surrounded by plain water, rather than plonk Kero directly into the unit body?

TIA, G.

 

[James1979]

@BikerBill sells them. Hope he sees this.

 

[Chippie]

From own experience, I have an us cleaner with a stainless tank….
I’ve used kero without issue to either tank or contents..,

 

[AVI_8]

I saw a good tip on a you tube video not long ago, if you put whatever you want cleaned in a sealed container alongside the cleaning chemical of your choice then put the container in the ultrasonic cleaner filled with water.
Your parts will get cleaned but all of the mess coming from them stays in the container leaving your ultrasonic cleaner, clean.

 

[mike os]

Don't see why it should be an issue

I usually use isopropyl alcohol

 

[GRW]

I have found hot surfex HD (60-70C) works better than cold kero, and easier to clean off

I'm afraid I don't know what "Surfex HD" is - I've never heard of it.
Cold Kero? OK, I know Kero is more volatile than Diesel, but couldn't warm or hot Kero be used?

Edit - just googled, & Kero has a flash point of 38 - 52 deg.C.
So you'd not want your Kero to be too hot then

 

[Migmac]

One of the youtubers I watch uses petrol in his US to clean parts. Like James has said, he fills a jar with petrol and the bits he wants cleaned then put this in what ever fluid he has in the US tank

 

[GRW]

I have found hot surfex HD (60-70C) works better than cold kero, and easier to clean off

Just looked up Surfex HD - it's a Bilt Hamber product that gets extremely positive reviews!
I just ordered some

 

[indy4x]

reCAPTCHA Verification

 

[GRW]

reCAPTCHA Verification

Thanks - I'd just ordered some direct from BH

 

[Brad93]

Use a pyrex dish with kero inside your ultrasonic

 

[Ali]

Don't see why it should be an issue

I usually use isopropyl alcohol

Do you take any precautions, or is it a special unit with the flash point being 11/12deg? I looked at some specialist units a while ago but they were pricey

 

[mike os]

Tightly closed and control of ignition sources, well ventilated...

 

[Ross365]

Way back in the 1980's, I saw some results of tests carried out at the Atomic Energy Authority at Harwell. They were looking at alternative methods of cleaning steel but without changing the surface features, i.e. any kind of etching. After trying a long list of solvents and cleaners they concluded that the best results were obtained by ultrasonic cleaning in water using an additive Decon 90 additive. I cannot recall all the solvents they used, but acetone was certainly one of them.

Subsequently, the company I worked for adopted Decon and we were extremely please with it. It is expensive and I seem to recall it was hard to get in less than 5L containers. However, what it proved(?) to me was that water with a good additive could do a better job than any solvent and I think there maybe cheaper products than Decon that may still work well.

 

[Ali]

Tightly closed and control of ignition sources, well ventilated...

Doesn’t the stuff get hot though, even without a heater? Genuinely curious, the ones I’ve seen for flammable solutions use glass beakers suspended in water I think. The ones I use for cleaning 3D prints just have a magnetic stirrer, not ultrasonic.

 

[Alan Reynolds]

I would think the main risk would be that of fire?

Petrol would likely work better, but who would be that daft? Any spark could set that off! And especially if you run it hot, like I do!

That is exactly what someone did in our workshop. Had the heater on too. He flicked a switch above the cleaner and the fumes caught light and ignited the ultrasonic cleaner.
Another plonker put petrol in the parts washer and when he turned it on the switch flash ignited the entire parts washer.plus they had bypassed the safety hinge that melts when there’s a fire.

 

[conor1n]

I've not used Kerosene.. didn't think of it TBH.

Petrol is tempting but dangerous - if I did use it i'd put right up to the big roller door of my unit with a massive fan blowing it away from cleaner.

I have tried a variety of degreasers but found them kind of expensive and not worth it. Now what I've been using is hands down, in my opinion.. the most effective.. Dish soap and water.. I fill up the cleaner with water and add about 200ml of dish soap. I have found it very effective on all manner of things. The latest being some bits from my Merc which have been soaked in hydraulic fluid from leaking ABC suspension system.

Here is a before and after.. I encourage you to try it out.

EDIT: Oh and.. I keep about 25 litres of vinegar in 5 litre containers.. and following this wash, I may run these through the vinegar too.. making the parts ready for paint.

 

[Migmac]

I see Americans using pinesol on carbs and stuff. I think that our equivalent here is detol

 

[GRW]

I've not used Kerosene.. didn't think of it TBH.

Petrol is tempting but dangerous - if I did use it i'd put right up to the big roller door of my unit with a massive fan blowing it away from cleaner.

I have tried a variety of degreasers but found them kind of expensive and not worth it. Now what I've been using is hands down, in my opinion.. the most effective.. Dish soap and water.. I fill up the cleaner with water and add about 200ml of dish soap. I have found it very effective on all manner of things. The latest being some bits from my Merc which have been soaked in hydraulic fluid from leaking ABC suspension system.

Here is a before and after.. I encourage you to try it out.

EDIT: Oh and.. I keep about 25 litres of vinegar in 5 litre containers.. and following this wash, I may run these through the vinegar too.. making the parts ready for paint.

View attachment 394020View attachment 394021

Looks like it works well!
"Dish Soap" as in say Fairy Liquid?
I seem to recall hearing that washing-up liquid has a high salt content?

 

[Luggsey]

I have heard using a dish washer works well on dirty parts?
Bloke that told me disappeared shortly after telling me so be careful!