Ryan_M

Anyone had any issues letting it run a long time or leaving the parts in for multiple runs? If drivetrain parts are extra gunky I've been rinsing after the first run and add fresh degreaser (citrus based stuff from HD) and go again. I only have a cheapie one so it's not powerfull. I haven't noticed any problems, yet at least. I'm wondering if wash/rince/repeat until I'm happy or if I'm just lucky there hasn't been a problem yet.

Barry2 

I’ve stripped the finish off a few parts leaving them too long.

Barry

Ghazmh

I’ve stripped the coating right off brand new parts using citrus degreaser even when diluted. I heard on a podcast to use Castile soap. It can be found at your local pharmacy or grocery store. It’s gentle, affordable and easy to find. Most importantly it works better than anything I’ve tried in my cleaner.

flanso 

My Harbor Freight ultrasonic cleaner never degraded any of the parts that it cleaned, however, the cleaner stopped working after approximately 90 minutes of cumulative run time and well after the warranty expired.

Jeff Neese

I had a cheap Harbor Freight one that didn't cause a problem, but I upgraded to one more powerful and it took the lettering off of a set of Suntour derailleurs.

3alarmer 

.
...I have mostly used either a 50/50 mix of the purple cleaner and water in my Harbor Freight ultrasonic. On occasion, I have just used water, with the smaller parts sealed in a container or sealed plastic bag along with that or mineral spirits.

I have never noticed any problems with multiple runs, but I am careful not to let the parts soak in the cleaning solution, and they go straight into a bucket of water when they come out. After rinsing, they air dry.

Most of the issues I've heard about with Simple Green (the regular green stuff), involve people who let the parts soak overnight in the stuff. But if you are willing to deal with all the extra hassles of handling and disposal of mineral spirits, I've not heard of many problems with that stuff as your cleaner. It will remove a painted on logo on occasion, though.

Harbor Freight ultrasonics are pretty shoddily constructed, but on sale, you can't beat the price. For sporadic and occasional use, they do the job. But be careful if that's what you are using. I set the much abused one over at the co-op on fire, accidentally, once. The electronics on them are not well sealed, and they need to be drained and dried between uses.

Moe Zhoost

I'll use mine for the max 4 minute run. If that doesn't do the job, I resort to manual cleaning. If the part is super gunky to begin with, I will start with a manual cleaning then the UltSon cleaner

Dan Burkhart 

Wondering if the Harbor Freight cleaners have heating elements. My Omegasonics does and the heat makes a huge difference.

easyupbug 

Same here, years ago at a used tool shop I found an industrial ultrasonic and the 100º F heat makes just about any aqueous cleaner I try as good as any other.

3alarmer 

...yes, they do. But the heating elements are about equal to the overall minimal quality of the rest of it. They work for occasional use, at an occasional use price point. (It's one of their common, special discount coupon items.)

veganbikes

Dr. Bronner's is great for just about everything. The only place so far I have not been a fan is as a toothpaste but for cleaning your body, dishes, floors, clothes...it works a treat and you can get large amounts of it that last quite a long while as you really don't need a ton of it.

soyabean

Whatever soaking overnite in a glass jar of gasoline doesn't loosen or soften up, ultrasonic does the rest.

I don't throw in caked up stuff into the ultrasonic.

And if I have to ultrasonic more than once, it's brushing in-between.