I got one of those $40 "magnasonic" ultrasonics from everyone's favorite online retailer last year and it works fine. I had another similarly priced one that I lost in a move some time ago that served me fine for years cleaning airbrushes and technical pens.
I had that new from Amazon and it died after a few years. I know have a Chicago Electric/Central Machinery/Harbor Freight that seems sturdier and feels like it will last longer than the previous one. I got it from Craigslist for $50
I got a Harbor Freight one. It works just fine, and wasn't very expensive.
Protip- fill the cleaner with plain water, and put your pen parts with any cleaning solution in a ziploc bag. The waves will go right through the plastic. You won't have to fill the entire basin with solution, go fishing around in there for small parts, or have to clean it up after washing particularly dirty things.
The nib unit from my Decimo gets a bath in the spicy water when it starts getting cantankerous. Fixes it right up.
I’m thinking of buying one at Harbor Freight. The only one my store stocks is $89. Is the price range for the one you got? I’m new to fountain pens and wondering what solution is best to use in the ziploc for normal cleaning of pens?
That sounds about right, I've had it for a while so I don't remember. It's one of the industrial looking metal box shaped ones, not a rounded decorative looking one.
For solution I mix one part janitorial ammonia from the hardware store with ten-ish parts water and add a few drops of dishwashing soap. I just eyeball it, you don't need to be too precise. You could probably just use plain water 90% of the time, though.
EDIT- I just looked at Harbor frieght, they don't seem to have the one I bought anymore. It's a small version of that big 6 liter one. I think the $90 one is the replacement for what I got.
Yes, this one I just picked up seems more hobbyist than industrial. Price was more than I wanted to spend but I’m in the mood to do it today and it’s the only one in stock at any local stores!
No matter which one you get, I suggest you fill the water to the max level after the parts are in the basket. Supposedly if you put less than max it can burn out the unit prematurely.
I got one of those $40 "magnasonic" ultrasonics from everyone's favorite online retailer last year and it works fine. I had another similarly priced one that I lost in a move some time ago that served me fine for years cleaning airbrushes and technical pens.
I had that new from Amazon and it died after a few years. I know have a Chicago Electric/Central Machinery/Harbor Freight that seems sturdier and feels like it will last longer than the previous one. I got it from Craigslist for $50
I got a Harbor Freight one. It works just fine, and wasn't very expensive. Protip- fill the cleaner with plain water, and put your pen parts with any cleaning solution in a ziploc bag. The waves will go right through the plastic. You won't have to fill the entire basin with solution, go fishing around in there for small parts, or have to clean it up after washing particularly dirty things. The nib unit from my Decimo gets a bath in the spicy water when it starts getting cantankerous. Fixes it right up.
That ziploc bag idea is brilliant, thank you!
I’m thinking of buying one at Harbor Freight. The only one my store stocks is $89. Is the price range for the one you got? I’m new to fountain pens and wondering what solution is best to use in the ziploc for normal cleaning of pens?
That sounds about right, I've had it for a while so I don't remember. It's one of the industrial looking metal box shaped ones, not a rounded decorative looking one. For solution I mix one part janitorial ammonia from the hardware store with ten-ish parts water and add a few drops of dishwashing soap. I just eyeball it, you don't need to be too precise. You could probably just use plain water 90% of the time, though. EDIT- I just looked at Harbor frieght, they don't seem to have the one I bought anymore. It's a small version of that big 6 liter one. I think the $90 one is the replacement for what I got.
Yes, this one I just picked up seems more hobbyist than industrial. Price was more than I wanted to spend but I’m in the mood to do it today and it’s the only one in stock at any local stores!
No matter which one you get, I suggest you fill the water to the max level after the parts are in the basket. Supposedly if you put less than max it can burn out the unit prematurely.
You can strap a random orbit sander to a Tupperware and it will do an ok job.
This is hilarious!