Ultrasonic cleaning of rusty bolts

[househead]

I have a small ultrasonic cleaner unit, I've used it in the past to clean vaping hardware and jewellery.

Has anyone ever used one to clean rusty and greasy bolts? Any idea what detergent to use?

Have read that it is possible to damage threads but I'm willing to take that risk on a few easily replaceable candidates.

Any pointers and opinions welcome.

[Ardent]

Never knew such a thing was "a thing"

Caveat alert.
I know nothing about ultrasonic cleaning. But I am aware of what a simple bronze wire brush in a tool can do to clean up a bolt.

Before

After

[househead]

That's too much hard work 

In all seriousness I have tried the wire brush method. It seems to work ok if the bolt is just rusty but dry.

When you add grease and rust it gets a bit less effective.

Ultrasonic cleaning is just vibrating of liquid essentially. It's a lazy way to clean stuff but it can also get into the places you can't with your brush (although obviously for bolts this isn't quite as valid).

I must say you've down a great job on those. Shiny shiny!

[Ardent]

I would love to take the credit, but, that belongs to @Steve@D1Customs a long missed MR2 guru.

I really miss him and wish him well.

The pics are just a reminder of the level of detail he went to. Those were from when he replaced my sub frame.
Each bolt got he same level of detail.

I really miss having him around.

[househead]

That's an impressive level of attention to detail. Fair play to the man, an inspiration!

[Joesson]

I would love to take the credit, but, that belongs to @Steve@D1Customs a long missed MR2 guru.

I really miss him and wish him well.

The pics are just a reminder of the level of detail he went to. Those were from when he replaced my sub frame.
Each bolt got he same level of detail.

I really miss having him around.

I do like that (and take it as approval of my OC D in that respect). That is one thing that irritates me when I see the like of Wheeler Dealer's reusing tatty, unclean fixings.

[Joesson]

That's too much hard work 

In all seriousness I have tried the wire brush method. It seems to work ok if the bolt is just rusty but dry.

When you add grease and rust it gets a bit less effective.

Ultrasonic cleaning is just vibrating of liquid essentially. It's a lazy way to clean stuff but it can also get into the places you can't with your brush (although obviously for bolts this isn't quite as valid).

I must say you've down a great job on those. Shiny shiny!

I use a solvent, paraffin or thinners to get the oil/ grease off and then de rust with a wire brush, also a soak in a de rust solution, I sometimes use vinegar if nothing else available,  and repeat as necessary, but it can be a messy business.

[Carolyn]

I would love to take the credit, but, that belongs to @Steve@D1Customs a long missed MR2 guru.

I really miss him and wish him well.

The pics are just a reminder of the level of detail he went to. Those were from when he replaced my sub frame.
Each bolt got he same level of detail.

I really miss having him around.

I do like that (and take it as approval of my OC D in that respect). That is one thing that irritates me when I see the like of Wheeler Dealer's reusing tatty, unclean fixings.

David and I used to call him Edd 'Rusty Bolt' China.

[Call the midlife!]

I had some long handled pliers that I ground a groove into the jaws, parallel to the handles specifically for holding screws and bolts while I put them to the wire wheel.
Only lost a couple 😂

[Joesson]

Unnecessary I'm sure but with this talk of wire brushing a reminder that we should all be using eye protection when doing such stuff.

[househead]

Unnecessary I'm sure but with this talk of wire brushing a reminder that we should all be using eye protection when doing such stuff.

Yep, worth saying! Gloves too, and also a face mask if it's a large area and/or you're close to it. Don't want to be breathing that stuff into your lungs!

Of course if I find a good way to do it in the ultrasonic, this all becomes moot...

- Put rusty bits in cleaner
- Fill with secret, special solution formulation
- Switch unit on
- Drink tea and wait
- Rejoice at the new shiny things

I have a bottle of jenolite. Might try that in a 5%ish dilution with water (after reading any safety notices of course!). The US bath itself is made of stainless steel so *should* be fine.

[Call the midlife!]

Following on from the eye protection, wear something fairly impermeable too, especially if using Dremmel type heads for fine work. The wire elements fly out and embed themselves in cloth and then migrate in the washer. I've spent ages trying to find the 4mm lengths of wire sticking through my jumpers etc...

[Carolyn]

Unnecessary I'm sure but with this talk of wire brushing a reminder that we should all be using eye protection when doing such stuff.

Yep, worth saying! Gloves too, and also a face mask if it's a large area and/or you're close to it. Don't want to be breathing that stuff into your lungs!

Of course if I find a good way to do it in the ultrasonic, this all becomes moot...

- Put rusty bits in cleaner
- Fill with secret, special solution formulation
- Switch unit on
- Drink tea and wait
- Rejoice at the new shiny things

I have a bottle of jenolite. Might try that in a 5%ish dilution with water (after reading any safety notices of course!). The US bath itself is made of stainless steel so *should* be fine.

Kerosene is excellent for the job.  Just soak for a couple of days.  I've got some JP1 in one of my Jerry-cans.  I'll try it in the ultrasound, see if it speeds it up.

[Mikeymead]

I've a heated ultrasonic cleaner at work for cleaning the carburettors out, I use a drill and wire wheel for the bolts, I personally don't think the ultrasonic will clean up the rust but it's worth a shot.

[Call the midlife!]

I've been on a few courses to learn how to use abrasives but I feel I've only scratched the surface...

[Gaz mr-s]

I haven't personally, but I've read of people praising De-Ox.

[Joesson]

Unnecessary I'm sure but with this talk of wire brushing a reminder that we should all be using eye protection when doing such stuff.

Yep, worth saying! Gloves too, and also a face mask if it's a large area and/or you're close to it. Don't want to be breathing that stuff into your lungs!

Of course if I find a good way to do it in the ultrasonic, this all becomes moot...

- Put rusty bits in cleaner
- Fill with secret, special solution formulation
- Switch unit on
- Drink tea and wait
- Rejoice at the new shiny things

I have a bottle of jenolite. Might try that in a 5%ish dilution with water (after reading any safety notices of course!). The US bath itself is made of stainless steel so *should* be fine.

Kerosene is excellent for the job.  Just soak for a couple of days.  I've got some JP1 in one of my Jerry-cans.  I'll try it in the ultrasound, see if it speeds it up.

Not all of us have the odd can of rocket fuel laying around in the garage!😉

[Joesson]

I've been on a few courses to learn how to use abrasives but I feel I've only scratched the surface...

You just keep grinding those one liners out @Call the midlife!

[Rushy67]

I work in a dental lab and pumice powder mixed into a slurry with water and used on a polishing lather with bristle brushes is quite good for removing rust.
Also benefit from using the work pencil and general sand blasters!

[Dev]

I had an ultrasonic cleaner for my guns parts. It did a great job when used with the cleaners that are made for it but I sold it once it came to my attention that it can do more harm by creating cavitation erosion that can actually widen tolerances which is not good. 
 For any car parts I would imagine it is less critical but if its parts that are frequently cleaned its probably not a good idea.
 An agitated heated parts cleaner and time is probably the best thing for this kind of application.
 

[Jay]

Just a quick tip for anyone worried about how different solutions might damage the bath surface.

The sound waves are not stopped by glass or plastic so you can effectively drop a jar of something into the bath and it will still work.  Means you can stick to filling it with water which makes it a lot easier to keep clean.


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[househead]

Nice, that is good to know @Jay as they can get quite dirty after a good job!