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Ultrasonic Chip Cleaning (29 Viewers)
- Thread starter ski_ex5
- Start date
Shaggy
Full House
(y) :thumbsup:
I have had a set of ASM customs for almost 5 years now, they are finally starting to get a little gross. I was all set to buy an ultrasonic cleaner, as I have no desire to hand clean a thousand chips, but then after carefully going through this thread I've deciphered that the cleaning agent people most recommend, the Lundmark stuff, is a no go with ASM chips. Has anyone used a different cleaning product with ASM or CPC chips and had good results with an ultrasonic device, or am I doomed to clean all of my chips by hand with a toothbrush and dawn?
Phobos223
Pair
Santa just brought me this bad boy... wont get to try it for a few weeks but am looking forward to cleaning up my collection!
You guys think I could skip the spinner and just throw chips in the basket and stir with a wooden spoon or something?
You guys think I could skip the spinner and just throw chips in the basket and stir with a wooden spoon or something?
If you are not going to use it for w while I would get the spinner in. I think the agitation works better and stirring with a spoon could possibly put flea bites on the chips.Why change a proven method.
Congrats on the "Santa" gift and Merry Christmas.
david
I have the smaller version of that unit and it is great! Mine is not big enough for a salad spinner so I just gently stir them with an old toothbrush. Worked fine for me. I just cleaned over 1,100 Cleveland Horseshoe chips and am very happy. I'll never scrub chips again.
AWenger
Full House
Yes. I can vouch for this. I ended up doing this with good results for a large set of used Cleveland Horseshoe chips, and used a plastic or silicone spatula (not wood) for stirring the chips around.
Background: I had fully intended to use a salad spinner, but the cheap one I had (from Ikea, I think) didn't have a top that closed/snapped shut, so it wouldn't hold in the chips. I then resorted to using a flimsy metal wire basket insert that came with my ultrasonic cleaner, while just shaking the chips around, but ultimately just skipped the wire basket altogether, and put 20, 40, or 60+ chips in the ultrasonic, and stirred them a few times with the spatula during the cleaning cycle. I didn't (always) stir continuously, but to 4-5 times, just to make sure the chips didn't stick together, and all the faces of the chips got exposed. Dirtier chips had to be done 20 or so at a time. Since I didn't use a wire basket, I used a slotted plastic serving spoon to remove chips, so I wasn't dipping my hands in the TSP solution.
The plastic basket in your cleaner above looks more suited to handle stirring chips around.
I'm with moojersey, the ultrasonic is the way to go, especially for large used sets.
Phobos223
Pair
Thanks guys, I'll give it a go when I get back from my travels and report back on the results! Happy new year!
Hi everybody,
Thanks for all of the advice in this thread. I picked up my first real set of chips in the Cleveland HS sale, and definitely didn’t want to clean over 500 filthy chips by hand. I thought I’d provide a review on Harbor Freight’s ultrasonic cleaner, since I haven’t see that one reviewed on PCF yet.
The Harbor Freight ultrasonic cleaner is $80 (although the 20% off coupons bring it to $64 before tax), and is listed as a 160W machine. That said, it’s my understanding that only 60W is due to the single transducer in the machine, and the other 100W is due to the heater. This means that the ultrasonic portion of the cleaner is much less powerful than most of the other units discussed in this thread. I knew this going in, but given that I’m really not planning on buying many more chips beyond this one, I was loath to spend any more money on a nicer unit.
So how did it do? Overall, it worked pretty well. The first couple of batches of 1s took a fairly long time to clean until I got the proper method down. I was pretty sure that the salad spinner listed in the original post wasn’t going to fit in this unit, and so I opted to put about 30 chips in the cleaner (using the plastic basket which comes with the unit) and agitate them with a spoon. This produced mixed results. Some of the chips came out really white, but others still had some gunk on them. By reducing the batch to 10 chips, and running the cleaner for about 2.5 minutes, I was able to get pretty good results. A couple of them looked a little grey compared to the really white ones, but another 90-second run got them looking much better. Apologies for the bad camera work--I was in the middle of cleaning stuff and didn't want to spend a ton of time on taking pictures. The clean chips in the lower-left is an example of a chip which came out a little grey at first.
The 5s, 25s, and 100s went much easier. 10 chips per batch at 60 seconds were enough to leave them looking nice and clean, with no gunk in any part of the mold.
Overall, I’d say that if you’re just looking to purchase this unit for a one-off set of chips, this cleaner is a viable choice. If you think you’re going to be doing multiple sets over time, though, one of the multiple-transducer options is probably a better bet for you. I’m happy with the results I got, but the small batches took a lot of time.
Thanks for all of the advice in this thread. I picked up my first real set of chips in the Cleveland HS sale, and definitely didn’t want to clean over 500 filthy chips by hand. I thought I’d provide a review on Harbor Freight’s ultrasonic cleaner, since I haven’t see that one reviewed on PCF yet.
The Harbor Freight ultrasonic cleaner is $80 (although the 20% off coupons bring it to $64 before tax), and is listed as a 160W machine. That said, it’s my understanding that only 60W is due to the single transducer in the machine, and the other 100W is due to the heater. This means that the ultrasonic portion of the cleaner is much less powerful than most of the other units discussed in this thread. I knew this going in, but given that I’m really not planning on buying many more chips beyond this one, I was loath to spend any more money on a nicer unit.
So how did it do? Overall, it worked pretty well. The first couple of batches of 1s took a fairly long time to clean until I got the proper method down. I was pretty sure that the salad spinner listed in the original post wasn’t going to fit in this unit, and so I opted to put about 30 chips in the cleaner (using the plastic basket which comes with the unit) and agitate them with a spoon. This produced mixed results. Some of the chips came out really white, but others still had some gunk on them. By reducing the batch to 10 chips, and running the cleaner for about 2.5 minutes, I was able to get pretty good results. A couple of them looked a little grey compared to the really white ones, but another 90-second run got them looking much better. Apologies for the bad camera work--I was in the middle of cleaning stuff and didn't want to spend a ton of time on taking pictures. The clean chips in the lower-left is an example of a chip which came out a little grey at first.
The 5s, 25s, and 100s went much easier. 10 chips per batch at 60 seconds were enough to leave them looking nice and clean, with no gunk in any part of the mold.
Overall, I’d say that if you’re just looking to purchase this unit for a one-off set of chips, this cleaner is a viable choice. If you think you’re going to be doing multiple sets over time, though, one of the multiple-transducer options is probably a better bet for you. I’m happy with the results I got, but the small batches took a lot of time.
Just completed my first batch of chips - 600 Horseshoe Clevelands. Have another 500 to go.
As everyone know, ultrasonic cleaning is the best. Can't believe I have scrubbed too many chips by hand before this. Makes buying less than mint chips not so painful.
As everyone know, ultrasonic cleaning is the best. Can't believe I have scrubbed too many chips by hand before this. Makes buying less than mint chips not so painful.
Phobos223
Pair
Guys I'm gonna fire up my ultrasonic this weekend - Quick question, probably answered in this thread but I could not find - Is REAL TSP ok or should I shoot for the "fake" TSP mentioned in OP? Just curious what is preferred if both are available. Thanks!
Personally I don't think it matters too much -- in my experience, both perform about the same. I'm not sure, but I think the reason the "fake" stuff (sodium metasilicate) is available is just to avoid putting phosphates into the environment/water system.
I'm currently using the stuff that comes in a gallon jug as concentrated solution, and it apparently contains both trisodium phosphate and sodium metasilicate
I'm currently using the stuff that comes in a gallon jug as concentrated solution, and it apparently contains both trisodium phosphate and sodium metasilicate
Phobos223
Pair
View attachment 76133
I can't believe this many of us have bought these together on Amazon to make it a recommended buy together.
I know right?? LoL FBI might think that it components for some sort of MacGyver style IED!
We have to be the only group buying those together!
Phobos223
Pair
Well at long last its finally time to try out my Christmas present... goal is to clean 800 chips, 6 pistols and a watch! Will see how much i get through today!
How did six pistols get grubby enough to need ultrasonic cleaning? You're using solvent in your ultrasonic?
Phobos223
Pair
Ultrasonics like mine were made for firearms, they just so happen to also clean chips
The ultrasonic with carbon solvent can clean an entire pistol in minutes, or an AR15 bolt much cleaner than you can get by hand. I do a lot of shooting, so being able to clean a gun in 2-5 min is way better than scrubbing carbon for 15-30 min!Anyway, I decided to hold off on the firearms and focus on the chips today! You guys were right, ultrasonic all the way! I did 1s, 2s, and 5s, and went ahead and did some snappers as well. They were pretty clean but had a little grim on them. All of them turned out great! I'd say it took me about 3 hours to set everything up (garage was a bit of a mess), clean all the chips, then clean up and put everything away. Not bad!
Anyway, here some of the results - Thanks for all the info guys!
Ultrasonics like mine were made for firearms, they just so happen to also clean chips
I meant that you must have been pounding out some brass to get six weapons grubby at once. Are you doing the full cleaner/rinse/dry/lube cycle, with commercial ultrasonic solvents and lube like Hornady, or a homebrew cleaner with manual oiling?
Phobos223
Pair
Ahh gotcha! Ya was holiday shoot with my father, threw down about 1k rounds in the snow after christmas
Hornandy cleaner then compressed air and wd40 to displace the water and finish with wilson ultra lube
View attachment 76133
I can't believe this many of us have bought these together on Amazon to make it a recommended buy together.
Phobos223
Pair
Are you kidding me!!! That is crazy!
That's how it was when I bought my stuff on Amazon over 6 months ago. So many chippers...we should have done a group buy(s)!!
Props to everyone who's provided input to this thread, I picked up an ultrasonic a few weeks ago to clean a bunch of Cleveland/Cincy Horseshoe chips. Finally got around to it this weekend and the results were awesome. My 2¢ worth to add:
- Ultrasonic cleaner I used was this one
- I used the basket that came with the cleaner (salad spinner was out of stock at the walmartz)
- I had a bunch of "real" TSP leftover from hand cleaning chips, I used this instead of the "fake" TSP noted throughout this thread. Seems like it worked fine, no fading of spot colors (all chips cleaned were white $1s)
- I used the recipe/step in the OP, minus the salad spinner (just stirred the chip around a bit with a plastic spoon instead)
- For initial batches of 40 chips, I ran the unit for about 2 minutes and found that it didn't get them 100% clean, I needed to lightly wipe about half of the chips with a magic eraser. I made 2 tweaks - increasing the temp slightly (water just didn't seem hot enough, increased to 48^C / 118^F) and pre-soaking the chips for about 3-5 minutes in the warm TSP bath. So I added the 2 barrels to the basket, placed it in the unit with the warm TSP solution and let it sit for 3-5 minutes. Then started the ultrasonic for 2 minutes, occasionally stirring with a spoon. Quick rinse in a clean water bath afterwards, then dry. That got them 100% clean. Once I go the first batch going, I would soak the next batch while laying out the previous batch, assembly line style.
- my 2¢, YMMV
Just gave some new arrivals a good bath. I love nice clean casino Paulsons!
codeman00
Flush
Hey Everyone...I have read through this thread and I'm more confused than anything. Can someone help cut through the trial and error and help me out on what I need?
I'm looking for a budget cleaner that can do the job I need. I have all Paulson chips (180) Garden City, (200) Orleans, and probably (300) or so Grand Victoria that I will need to clean. This is all I plan to do now, but there is a possibility I'll clean a few more in the future.
I'm looking for a budget cleaner that can do the job I need. I have all Paulson chips (180) Garden City, (200) Orleans, and probably (300) or so Grand Victoria that I will need to clean. This is all I plan to do now, but there is a possibility I'll clean a few more in the future.
- What size cleaner do you think I will need? 2L, 3L, 6L?
- What model (budget) would you recommend and from where?
- What chemical to clean them? TSP?
- How long and at what temperature?
- Presoak or no presoak?
- Rinse with water afterward and let them out to dry?
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