Should we buy this cheap ultrasonic parts washer?
Free Ride says YES to ultra-sonic parts cleaning! Hurah! I ordered the thing today (8-30)! $53.90, with shipping.
| Morgan |
Yes
|
| Stuart |
Sure, why not give it a shot, it's cheap, but I doubt it's going to clean much other than bearings |
| shaun |
let's try it |
| jessica |
I hate to complicate matters..but I think we should go all the way with this and get a more expensive model that can do it all. Although if people really aren't into it I support the purchase of at least the small one. |
| will |
I'm neutral on this. My thoughts:
1) Sounds neat, but is simple green and a brush really so bad?
2) I have reservations about bringing anything cheap into the shop because it will get torn up. The Pedros floor pumps are a good example.
3) Something with a tank big enough to fit a chain or mountain derailleur in would be downright cool, but probably $$$. The cheap one's tank of 5-3/4" x 3-1/2" x 1-1/2" wouldn't be big enough to do very much with.
Update (re: Jake & Morgan's good points): $45 is cheap, so why not. If it works good but breaks or isn't big enough, we can always get a bigger/sturdier one later.
|
| jake |
yes. stuart said what i was thinking AND! if it seems to work, we might all find it easier to agree on buying the $350 cleaner sometime in the future... |
| diane |
oooh....ultrasonic! i say yes
|
| Matt |
I say OK lets give it a try. |
(jessica) Here's a document specifically addressing the use of ultrasonic cleaners for bikes. Admittedly published by someone who appears to work for a manufacturer, but it sounds like they know some things about bikes too. From some other research it *appears* that soapy water is an adequate liquid cleaning medium.
http://www.bikecleaners.com/process.pdf
Here's a model for ~$450 that seems to be large enough to fit a crank, and has a heater. We could also go with a $350 model that would fit a chain, freewheel, or a derailleur, but not a crank (those aren't so hard to clean anyway).
https://hermesgr.securesites.com/cleanosonic/secureshop.cgi?cart_id=&product=Ultrasonic_Cleaner_Model_2510
(Morgan says) I think that a chain would fit in 5.75" x 3.5" x 1.5". Bearings, cones, dust caps, headset races, clipless pedal bits, bottom bracket cups and spindels and probably front and maybe rear hub bodies should fit, too. And the Pedro's pumps aren't cheap; you can break any tool if you don't know how to use it. My logic in proposing this lil' cheap guy is to test the tech for our purposes.
Comments (0)
You don't have permission to comment on this page.