What a great investment I've been using it for a day and it's a great time/money saver, thanks for all the input and posts.
Steeping Times and an Ultrasonic Cleaner Part III
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I clean my syringes in the UC with no issue. It does a nice job of cleaning my bottles prior to labeling as well.
Okay, walking around goodwill this week looking for a gag give for our Christmas part white elephant and stumbled across a UC unit. I don't know the brand, but it looks like the picture in the link on page 170 post 1696 this thread. It seems to hold just over 1 liter of water filled to the max like (could be 1.4) and has a 30 minute timer. I did try it out this morning on some juice that I've had steeping for about 12 days already that just didn't seem quite ready yet....desert flavors. I put in for two 30 minute cycles, water measured (using candy thermometer) to about 130 - 140 degrees. Notice slight color change. Used plastic bottles nipples and caps on, foil tape around lid for good seal and pretty thick small plastic zip lock with foil tape over the top to ensure no leaking, no leaking occurred, dry inside bag. The reason that I did this was because there isn't enough clearance to stand the bottles up. I do have some glass bottles and lids although only one that is lid, other are glass dropper lids.
So two fold question, does it matter if the lid is on the unit? Can I just stand up the bottle with the glass droppers in place, leave the lid off and get the same result?
So two fold question, does it matter if the lid is on the unit? Can I just stand up the bottle with the glass droppers in place, leave the lid off and get the same result?
I would leave the bottles caped. If you are saying that the lid won't fit back on when the bottles are stood up then don't use the lid. You will get the same result. The water temp may be a little lower so if that is the case just give the steep an extra cycle.
A good steeping guide is:
fruits 1 hour
deserts and creams 3 - 4 hours
tobaccos 3 - 5 hours.
My Blog on steeping will tell you everything you need to know.
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...you-wanted-know-about-steeping-then-some.html
A good steeping guide is:
fruits 1 hour
deserts and creams 3 - 4 hours
tobaccos 3 - 5 hours.
My Blog on steeping will tell you everything you need to know.
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...you-wanted-know-about-steeping-then-some.html
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Thanks Danny, yes I did mean leaving the lid of the UC, not the caps on the bottles. So is it okay that I use the dropper caps rather then regular caps?
Yes I've used dropper caps without issues. I've even pulled the glass dropper out of the rubber plunger cap and not had an issue. You can also remove the rubber plunger and invert it so the plunger faces into the bottle and not have an issue. Doing that may allow you to put the UC cover on.
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Thanks Danny, I'll try that with the caps, that may make enough room for the lid, but if not that's okay, I'd rather leave the lid off monitor the temp and run a bit longer then use the plastic bottles. Thanks for the blog too. I had read it before, some time ago, and although I wanted to try the UC method, couldn't commit to buying one....then I stumbled upon my $6.00 goodwill find yesterday. Glad you posted a link to your blog, great info. I know steeping is a hot topic some pro and some against, but I tell you, just a hot water bath makes a difference, but UC IMO is the way to go, the best of both worlds and anyone who doesn't think it works, isn't doing it right. LOL
That's where I bought 2 of my 3... I also found a brand new food dehydrator for $6. that works well for steeping.
The cheap and easiest way to test your UC unit is with a piece of aluminum foil. just insert a single piece of normal "kitchen" foil into water when the unit is on. In short order it should begin to get "pits". Google this for more details...
I do love those thrift stores!
Does anyone have experience with this UC?
Solid Tech 1 3 Liter 60W Digital Ultrasonic Cleaner Jewelry Heater Tools Parts | eBay
I impulsively ordered it when I saw the 60watts, 42kHz, and price, but now I notice it doesn't say how long the timer is (shows 180 in the pics). Does anyone know if it's longer than 3 minutes? Also, it looks cheaply made as far as I can tell from just pictures. Oh well, maybe I'll just return it before I even open it.
Solid Tech 1 3 Liter 60W Digital Ultrasonic Cleaner Jewelry Heater Tools Parts | eBay
I impulsively ordered it when I saw the 60watts, 42kHz, and price, but now I notice it doesn't say how long the timer is (shows 180 in the pics). Does anyone know if it's longer than 3 minutes? Also, it looks cheaply made as far as I can tell from just pictures. Oh well, maybe I'll just return it before I even open it.
Another post in this thread says it goes to 90 minutes
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...rasonic-cleaner-part-iii-87.html#post11621815
According to his follow-up, it only goes to 8 minutes, but I can live with that.
I didn't want to get one that was too large since I'm just starting out and I'll probably just make 50ml at a time. I don't even care that it has heat (after reading this thread), I ordered that one based mainly on watts, khz, and unit size (price wasn't bad either, $55).
From what I understand so far a precision temperature controlled slow cooker with a 1-3 hour timer would be really ideal as it apparently is just as good as a UC steeping. I just haven't found a good and cheap one yet though! Something like a small digital baby food warmer that you can set precisely to 150°F (65°C) for 2 hours would be ideal. I'd fill it up with sand or something so my bottles don't even get wet (nice because of label).
Anyone knows a slow cooker like this? Ideally also available in Europe
From what I understand so far a precision temperature controlled slow cooker with a 1-3 hour timer would be really ideal as it apparently is just as good as a UC steeping. I just haven't found a good and cheap one yet though! Something like a small digital baby food warmer that you can set precisely to 150°F (65°C) for 2 hours would be ideal. I'd fill it up with sand or something so my bottles don't even get wet (nice because of label).
Anyone knows a slow cooker like this? Ideally also available in Europe
A UC, Crock pot, Warmer, slow cooker etc... All work equally as well. I've been seeing may people lately go to there local salvation army store and picking up these items for next to nothing. So if there are orginazions like that in your neck of the woods then that may be an option for you. I would check it out.
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I may have gotten ripped off. There is no way to change the Temp. Where the switch should be, there is just a placeholder. I didn't even care about the heat function, but if they mislead me about that, then how can I trust the rest of it to be up to spec...or maybe I just got a counterfeit.
It seems to be working...I see some ripple in the middle, and it poked some holes in foil. However, after a few 8 min cycles, the water is still just as cold as when it came out of the tap. How long is it supposed to take to naturally heat up?
Zombo, I'm not familiar with the model you have so I can't speak to the temp control issue, I have this one --> http://www.harborfreight.com/25-liter-ultrasonic-cleaner-95563.html Mine has an ON/OFF button for the heater, the thermostat is preset to 149° F. Did yours come with a user manual and have an specs? You may be able to find the manual online.
As to how long it takes to heat up the water without using the heater, if you start with cold water it will take forever. I run the faucet until I get max hot water from the tap and use that to start with, after about 20 min without using the heater it will come up from 110° F to about 135° F and that is without any basket in the unit. Plastic absorbs the sonic waves and will slow the sonic waves and increase the heat up time. Save the plastic basket for cleaning delicate things like jewelry, dentures and eyeglasses. Buy or make a basket made of stainless steel mesh, it doesn't have to be pretty. Sometimes I'll run small parts like a torn down dripper or fogger and clean it without using any basket, just set the parts in the floor of the cleaner. They clean much faster that way, I know they warn not to do that and yes some day I "might" wear a hole in the pan but I doubt I'll ever wear one out in my lifetime. How is it any different then setting a stainless basket in the pan? A few pages back someone (MikeP?) brought up that issue with plastic baskets and posted a great link that explained why you should only use stainless baskets.
The water will also clean much better after it has been long enough to degas the water, you'll find a ton of info on degassing in UC if you google it. Run your cleaner under a light so you can see the reflections on the surface and into the water, look at it with and without the basket and note the difference. Then with the basket out, drop just one drop of good liquid dish soap (Dawn is best) in the center of the UC and watch how in an instant the waves go crazy! Try the aluminum foil without the basket and after it has run long enough to degas and see compare it to your first test.
We have hard water in my village which leaves traces of white slimy deposits in the bottom of the tank. It took me a while to figure out what that was coming from, I used distilled water once and didn't get those deposits, that's when the light bulb lit up.
I found that post on plastic vs stainless steel baskets and it was MikeP who posted a link to good read on the subject, the post is here --> http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...asonic-cleaner-part-iii-115.html#post13044965
It came with a manual. It shows where the heat control switch should be, but on my unit there is no switch...just a placeholder indentation where they would have cut out and placed a switch in. I'm just going to return it. Like I said, I don't even care about the heat, I just don't trust the unit now.
Zombo -
I agree with returning the unit you currently have. The Harbor Freight one - http://www.harborfreight.com/25-liter-ultrasonic-cleaner-95563.html - is far superior.
Looking at this link, there is a 25% off coupon. (Hmmm $85 minus 25% = $64.00) That is not a bad deal, especially if you live near a Harbot Freight store. Looks to me like there are five (5) in your area - http://www.harborfreight.com/storelocator/location/map
I found mine on sale, last summer, and after using the 25% off coupon (always available) I think I got mine for about $47.00. You might want to wait for a sale...
Good luck!!
I agree with returning the unit you currently have. The Harbor Freight one - http://www.harborfreight.com/25-liter-ultrasonic-cleaner-95563.html - is far superior.
Looking at this link, there is a 25% off coupon. (Hmmm $85 minus 25% = $64.00) That is not a bad deal, especially if you live near a Harbot Freight store. Looks to me like there are five (5) in your area - http://www.harborfreight.com/storelocator/location/map
I found mine on sale, last summer, and after using the 25% off coupon (always available) I think I got mine for about $47.00. You might want to wait for a sale...
Good luck!!
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That's disappointing and you are absolutly right to return it. And with an 8 minute timer it's more of a hastle to use it then anything else. Spend a little more and get yourself something decent.
This is what I've used for a year now and it is very sturdy and works very well. It has a 30 minute timer and heat. It maintains 150F (Heater will automatically shut off at 150F) which is the perfect temperature for steeping. It's got a large tank, I can fit 15 - 20 1oz bottles at once if need be but has a small foot print so it can fit almost any where. I've ran up to 4 cycles one after the other without allowing a cool down period and never had an issue. This thing is built like an armored tank.
Amazon.com: Joy4Less Professional Grade Ultrasonic Cleaner 4810, 30-min Timer, Plastic Basket: Electronics
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