Howdy All, I've seen mentioned that ultrasonic paint removal is a quicker, more thorough method of stripping vs. the "soak and scrub" method. I've done a little internet searching and don't seem to be coming up with any info on these things. Anyone know where I can find one that would be suitable for N-scale equipment, and an approximate cost on these things? Not sure if the price is within reach of the "common man" or not. Thanks! Mike C.
I cannot comment on the suitability of these for paint stripping, but it would give you an idea of prices. http://www.coleparmer.com/catalog/product_index.asp?cls=56760 I would also be curious to hear how well it works. Tom L Wellington CO
Not sure if you have a Harbor Freight near by, but they are a little cheaper http://search.harborfreight.com/cpisearch/web/search.do?keyword=Ultrasonic+Cleaner
I have two medical grade ultrasonic machines.One will hold 3 full sets of 4 jap bike carbs,the other is a two gallon size.I routinely use the two gallon that I have at my house to strip everything from trains to RC car and helicopter parts.I use Purple Power and water 50/50 in it.With the heat on,anything that Purple Power WILL strip comes off,from Floquil to automotive Lacquer.It doesn't work on Atlas or other modern trains though,unless you switch it to alcohol.I've tried denatured alcohol in ultrasound cleaners like the ones Harbor Freight sells years ago,seemed to work pretty well.I'd probably use 91% in it now..
Go google "ultrasonic jewelry" and you'll get plenty of hits. They'd work for N scale. Or Z. But HO and up probably wouldn't fit. My wife's got one somewhere, but I didn't even dare ask to use it to strip paint. Imagine the grief if I left any residue in it!
I have one of the jewelry machines. I am thinking of using it with Chameleon stripper and see what happens. It works great on acrylic paint and Windex when cleaning my Badger tips and nozzles if my flow is heavier than normal.
I have the one from Harbor Freight. It works great for cleaning, I haven't tried stripping paint. I've had it for several years so I don't remember the price but it was reasonable and HO will fit in it. At least the smaller stuff I have. For stripping paint would you use the solution made for them or alcohol?
I had one of the jewelry cleaners, they really don't work very well. After using a real ultrasonic cleaner, the difference is like night and day!
RRJim, Define "real" ultrasonic cleaner? What differs in what you used vs. the other ones mentioned?.. and did you use yours for paint stripping or some other purpose? Mike
Most of the inexpensive cleaners are not real ultrasonic cleaners. If you search the internet there are several web sites that describes the differences. I purchased a cheap one and it just didn't work very well, even using the cleaning solution it just didn't get parts clean. I then purchased a Branson 1510, like I said the difference is like day and night. With just a few drops of dish soap and 5-10 minutes eveything is very clean. Aluminum parts even come out shiny.
