Ultrasonic cleaning device recommendation
Moderator: robbosmans
I want to start waxing my chain with Molten Speed Wax to get a more efficient drivetrain. Also I want to get the chain clean from the wax with an ultrasonic cleaner.
Any recommendations what to look for in a cleaner? The prices differ wildly. Do you need the heating function? If it is possible I want a relatively cheap device if it gets the job done. Do cheap ultrasonic cleaning devices clean worse than the more expensive ones? I need it to be big enough to submerge a cassette and a chain. Thanks in advance.
Any recommendations what to look for in a cleaner? The prices differ wildly. Do you need the heating function? If it is possible I want a relatively cheap device if it gets the job done. Do cheap ultrasonic cleaning devices clean worse than the more expensive ones? I need it to be big enough to submerge a cassette and a chain. Thanks in advance.
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They don't work well with heavy grease and crap that gets on/in a chain. I'm selling both my ultrasonic cleaners.
Suggest gasoline overnight. Then degreaser, then alcohol. The alcohol needs to be changed once or twice. So lets say 4 steps.
1. gasoline few hours, preferably overnight
2. degreaser (minutes)
3. alcohol 1h maybe
The trick to working with gasoline is to find a small container with a lid so you can shake the stuff without any of it spilling. Then there's just a bit of smell for the short period when you open the lid. That's all.
Gasoline is a better solvent than kerosene and diesel. So unfortunately it's kind of worth the risk. Work with closed containers and you'll be fine.
Suggest gasoline overnight. Then degreaser, then alcohol. The alcohol needs to be changed once or twice. So lets say 4 steps.
1. gasoline few hours, preferably overnight
2. degreaser (minutes)
3. alcohol 1h maybe
The trick to working with gasoline is to find a small container with a lid so you can shake the stuff without any of it spilling. Then there's just a bit of smell for the short period when you open the lid. That's all.
Gasoline is a better solvent than kerosene and diesel. So unfortunately it's kind of worth the risk. Work with closed containers and you'll be fine.
With new chains I prefer to clean them like Alcatraz mentioned. From then on with a USC. If you want to clean cassettes you need a unit with at least 3l capacity.
Heating is nice but you can also use a kettle to preheat water/cleaning solution. But never forget when using a kettle: happy wife happy life
Heating is nice but you can also use a kettle to preheat water/cleaning solution. But never forget when using a kettle: happy wife happy life
New chains come with a very thick grease on them. Even if the ultrasonic gets them clean on the outside, it's still greasy on the inside. Any oil based coating will repell the wax and thus you'll never get the wax to stick. It means you need to apply wax often. If you do it right you get long intervals between rewaxing and quiet chains as well as long mileage.
If you contaminate your wax pot you quickly need to replace that. If you have a good cleaning routine that wax stays clean and you get less work.
A properly waxed chain doesn't get very dirty. Rinse in hot water and you can rewax it.
If you contaminate your wax pot you quickly need to replace that. If you have a good cleaning routine that wax stays clean and you get less work.
A properly waxed chain doesn't get very dirty. Rinse in hot water and you can rewax it.
Last edited by alcatraz on Mon Jul 06, 2020 5:52 pm, edited 1 time in total.
They are all about the same. Get one with a Stainless tub thats big enough for your cassette (2L? size). I'd skip the heated ones and the watts don't really matter (the watts / capacity does, but more watts over doing the job doesn't get you anything). Buy the one that's easy to clean and cheap.
Thank you all for the reply’s. I’m now leaning to not using a US cleaner after all after reading this article:
https://zerofrictioncycling.com.au/wp-c ... ide-v2.pdf
Just might not need it after all for proper waxing...
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https://zerofrictioncycling.com.au/wp-c ... ide-v2.pdf
Just might not need it after all for proper waxing...
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Got a small one from Kogan - like $60-80 Aud, plastic sandwich bags with chain. Degreaser. On a few times, for a few minutes each. Change degreaser. Then cleaner/water.
Works a treat.
Works a treat.
It's all about the adventure .
Depends where you live. In Denmark we have public places for chemical handover.
I use mineral spirit. I let the jar stand after use for stuff to settle at the bottom (2 days) and then filter it through coffee filters. Do so with good ventilation. The filteret spirit is as clean as new and i reuse it. The little that is left in the filter i reject (rejection bottle will be disposed off to the local station)
Same goes for alcohol bath at the end. Filter through coffee filter back into a dedicated bottle.
The process is A LOT faster if you let contaminations settle at the bottom of the container first before filtering, as the fine coffee filter gets clogged up very fast.
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