As an old fart, my mind may be gone, but I seem to recall that in a post addressing cleaning rail and freight car trucks someone mentioned a specific piezio electric crystal that could be attached to a container and create an ultrasonic cleaner. Has my mind wandered off into lala land? Or does someone else remember this as well? I am seeking specific information because I would like to try constructing a cleaner larger than the one I now use.
I have been unsuccessful in finding the initial post that got all this started. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
I guess you could construct your own cleaner. Radio Shack had one available years ago… I don’t know if they still do though. The first link will give you some basic insight into piezo electricity. The second is Edmund Scientific, a very large, long established scientific supplier. The other three may be able to provide you with useful information.
Someone used to advertise an ultrasonic cleaner which they showed with an HO loco dunked in it with wires attached. I was told that the solution for it was now illegal, immoral or fattening.
Ultrasonic cleaners are made for cleaning drafting pens and I used to have one for cleaning plotter pens back in the early days of CAD.I haven’t a clue where mine went to. They still make these (dataprint.com has one for about $125.)
The KohINoor RapidoEze Pen Cleaner used in these is non-toxic and will clean dried ink without harming plastic so it should be safe for your use. (Testing is always advisable.)
Micro-Mark has a couple listed in their catalog with the special cleaning solutions. Their picture shows a tank big enough to dip a loco, though I don’t think I would ever dip an assembled model in it.
I was considering one of the Harbor Freight units for wheel cleaning. Anyone have any experience with one?
I have two the big Branson that Micromark sells, a wonderful machine and the cheap Harbor Freight one. The HF one works, but has an auto shut off after three minutes that gets annoying, also the tank is pretty small. I’ve been going to tear into it to see if I could defeat it but haven’t got around to it. I’d save the 29.95 and get the Branson from Micromark.
Tom