Making a ultrasonic atomizer cleaner on the cheap really cheap!

[YoMike]

Most people might have one of these fish aquarium air pumps stashed some place in the house. All you need is a aquarium air pump the $5 ones you can pick up at Walmarts. You know the one the make an annoying noise as it's vibrates. These units vibrate like crazy it's just the way they work.
All you need to do is get a small Tupperware container and use some double stick tape or Velcro to attach this small container to the top of the pump. Fill container will just enough 151 rum (or what ever else you'd like to use as a cleaning solution) to completely cover the atomizers. Place a lid on the container just in case it comes unattached. Turn on pump and watch the rippling of the fluid at a rapped rate. 15 min seems to be long enough to get the job done. The attys will be clean as a whistle basically acting as if they were new again. Rinse with water than dry. Make sure to re prime with a least 4 drops.
I discovered this method of cleaning years ago using it as a solution to clean ball bearings packed with thick lithium grease but that takes days and a strong mineral sprints solution.

JUST attach a container on top of this pump!

 

[caesar]

Whoa, excellent idea!
Thanks for sharing

Pet stores, here I come...

 

[Charged]

Great idea. Or you could tape one of these on for cordless cleaning

 

[caesar]

Not ultrasonic, but works!

See how atty's turn in PG...

YouTube - Atty cleaning station


After 20min the first sign of deposits shows up:

 

[bogiediver]

Or why not use an actual ultrasonic cleaner for jewelry - if your lady doesn't already have one, they can be had for about $20.

Specifications from a typical unit:
tank size: 1 pint capacity (16 fluid oz, 600 ml)
42,000 cycle energy wave
3 minute auto shut off
Power Supply: 100-120 V, 60 Hz, 35 W

Use alcohol and away you go. I like the auto shut off...

JMHO

-bogie

 

[caesar]

First - I can't have one for 20, more close to 100$.
Second - ultrasonic cleaners don't work with PG (too thick) but only alcohol (dissolves the glue in atties) or water and it doesn't do much good either.
Third - it's really cheap this way, PG is atty friendly and dissolves the gunk quick when used with this kind of contraption. Takes about one week when only soaked in PG, without the vibrations.
Fourth - take atty out, use a paper towel to absorb the extra PG and it is good to vape unlike alcohol or water where you need to dry it.


I didn't clean my atties anymore until I saw this and thought to give it a try. After a 30min run it really seems to clean the atty metal mesh and wick/nichrome deposits, there is a visible change on the coils.

 

[cmonkey]

"Second - ultrasonic cleaners don't work with PG (too thick) but only alcohol (dissolves the glue in atties) or water and it doesn't do much good either."

^^^^

There are a wide variety of solutions available for use in ultrasonic cleaning machines. I plan on getting one, as they are useful for more than just cleaning attys, and will try to find a cleaning solution that works well.

PG doesnt seem at all useful as a cleaning solution, as PG residues, I would think, would be one of the substances that you are attempting to remove from the atty.

The statement that "ultrasonic cleaning machines only use alcohol" ... is simply flat out wrong. Google around, as various industries use various solutions to clean various items, ultrasonically, and not all the items cleaned are compatible with alcohol, as attys apparently arent, hence the existence of non-alcohol ultrasonic solutions.

cmonkey

 

[Nekoshi]

I know this is an old post, but has anyone discovered what works best in one of these cleaners (ultrasonic or fishy) without leaving harmful residues behind?

 

[bombastinator]

Or one designed for dentures for only 10$. Even less at the thrift store because the owners don't usually live that long (they're old you know..)

One thing I did notice doing a bit of research on ultrasonics is that putting flammable material in one is a REALLY BAD idea. the things clean by causing little submicroscopic steam explosions. this can be very bad in liquid with flammable vapors like gas or alcohol.

I stopped looking at ultrasonics because unless you remove the wick there's too much vibration absorbant material in an atomizer to really work well. Ultrasonic cleaning only works on uncompressible rigid things, like metal or plastic.

What is really needed is an ultrasonic device with a variable frequency for a reasonable price.

 

[andypacer]

Thanks for the idea