Ultrasonic Cleaners

December 17, 2019

In essence, a powerful ultrasonic cleaner carries certain threats - deformation of celluloid, craquelure (a network of minor cracks), detachment of coatings, erosion from cavitation, shrinkage of some polymers, chipping paint from some imprints and engravings.

December 18, 2019

With the exception of deformation/shrinkage (caused by exposure to water, not the ultrasonic cleaner itself), all of the issues are not caused by ultrasonic cleaners, but rather are existing problems exacerbated by the ultrasonic cleaner. A toothbrush and detergent will cause all of the same damages. Cavitation is a surface effect - it doesn't dig out the surface itself, unless that surface is already detaching from the main body. I'd suspect that craquelure, as you call it, is also caused by the water (and subsequent drying), much like frost heave.

I've even seen a basic UC peel up chrome plating - when the chrome plating was already coming up due to pest. (lead oxidation in low grade pot metal)

December 18, 2019

Well, seeing is believing.

I just want to warn users that powerful cavitation (more than 100-150W cleaner) is potentially destructive for non-metallic parts.

Forewarned is forearmed, regardless of the nature of phenomena mentioned.

January 12, 2020

In case anyone reads this post for help, thought I would add a note about the purchase I made. I got a Branson Model B200. Simple but reliable machine that will last years. Heard that many laboratories use Branson ultrasonic cleaners as well, so that gave me some confidence.

Another endorsement for the Branson B200. I have had mine for about 7 years and is pretty indestructible. I got a “great deal” on a ST Dupont Olympio XL a few year’s back on auction but the nib was so gummed up with dried ink it couldn’t write. I ended up using this machine with water and dish soap and ran the nib about 10 cleaning cycles in total. The nib is like brand new now... great flow and buttery smooth.

January 13, 2020

Just a minor update myself. I ended up with a stack of Wearevers that basically _required_ an ultrasonic cleaner. (Plus some Sheaffer cartridge pens. One looked like they left a full cartridge in it, it dried out through the nib, so they added ANOTHER one because it wouldn't write. Big lumps of dried crud all over it - it turned over a quart of water into a scrying pool - twice. )

Two of them were gold painted. I won't say gold plated, because they clearly said "STAINLESS" under the colouring, with no marking for GOLD anything on it. One peeled, one did not. The one that peeled - I think it was the soap and water that did it in. I was able to use my finger (not even a nail) to rub it off The other one showed no effect whatsoever. I have to wonder what the material was that they used to give it the gold color. Some sort of plating, but I truly doubt it was gold. If it had been gold, there would have been marking on the nibs.

Now I have to decide if I repair some Wearever sections, or just dedicate those as parts pens.

January 13, 2020

Wearever made some nibs that are gold colored, and were marked "special alloy." Sometimes the "gold plated" is way down on the nib so that it is effectively hidden by the section.

...and as for repairing Wearever sections, I wouldn't bother. They crack easily even without a repaired crack that will open up again. I had a Wearever section crack as I put the nib and feed back into place. I went to Rich Lott's table at the Ohio Show shortly after to see if he had an to replace the broken one. I bought 5 of them, all of which looked OK on a quick glance, figuring that I would get at least one good one, and have some spares. Three of the five proved to have cracks when I got to look at them under the magnifying lamp back in the shop.