by Jeff Andrews, Northern Tails Sharpening
Ultrasonic Cleaners (UC) have been used within the grooming trade for years. I used to combine chemical compounds in beakers after I was an R&D chemist for GP years in the past, and it did very properly. The UC works like a microwave oven utilizing ultrahigh frequency tones to maneuver molecules of water or liquid in a container.
The most effective use of the UC for blade care is cleansing blade plaque between the blade enamel. The plaque is breeding grounds for viruses and micro organism, and you can’t fully kill them with over-the-counter disinfectants alone.
Blade plaque consists of media from pet dander, hair and natural cleaning soap movie. It’s a good media for culturing micro organism and viruses. The UC does an exquisite job to this finish.
SET UP
I desire plain water within the UC bathtub. Why? There are two causes. First, I like doing a number of cleansing operations at one time. I take advantage of a number of totally different cleaners positioned in mason jars. You can not try this in case your bathtub holds just one cleaner. I take advantage of one cleaner for rust, one other one with WD-40 and a 3rd one utilizing a degreasing cleaner. I get the latter at Lowes for $12.00 a gallon. Second, after I take away the jars from the bathtub, drips are plain water and chemical compounds.
CLEANING
My means is fairly distinctive in comparison with others, however I based mostly my methodology on years of expertise discovering one of the best ways. When utilizing mason jars the cleansing waves of the UC go proper by glass. Cautious, don’t use plastic jars. The waves act in a different way. Organize blades within the mason jars any means you need. I counsel you get as many as you possibly can inside.
Fill the jar with cleansing resolution to a stage greater than the blades. The water stage of the bathtub should be on the identical stage because the liquid within the jar or greater.
Run the UC for 10 minutes until in any other case instructed. Don’t warmth the bathtub as a result of the UC will warmth the liquid contained in the jar. Don’t seal the jars tight. Depart just a little crack permitting the liquid inside to broaden just a little as wanted.
POST CLEANING CYCLE
After the cleansing cycle attain within the bathtub and pull out your jar(s). Some UC items can match three mason jars. The jars are prone to drip from the bathtub however you shouldn’t have to fret. It ought to simply be nonhazardous water. Had you handled the bathtub with an answer like WD-40, you would need to put on gloves once you take away the blades one by one, and associated dangers to respiration fumes. There isn’t any motive to threat your security.
Take your jar(s) of unpolluted blades to a desk, or take away them from the jar(s) proper at your UC location. I counsel utilizing a magnet to take away blades after which laying them on a towel. You may put a stick in your magnet for this objective. Additionally it is a useful strategy to put blades into jars as properly with out making splashes. You should buy magnet extension arms at Harbor Freight, Dwelling Depot, Lowes or comparable shops.
Get the majority of the moisture off the blades by hand drying on the towel.
Subsequent, use your air hose, power dryer, or hair dryer and blow the remaining liquid off the blade. Remember to fully dry between the enamel in addition to underneath the spring with a view to stop any rust.
SECONDS
In case you discover remaining blade plaque repeat your entire process. Blade plaque could also be tough to take away the primary time and haven’t frequently cleaned your blades. In case you start common cleansing along with your UC a couple of instances per week you need to efficiently keep away from blade plaque buildup.
COMPLETE KIT
Right here is the entire package I take advantage of to wash blades. I’ve one jar with straight WD-40. It breaks away chunks of blade plaque from between the enamel when a cleaning soap resolution alone is inadequate. I’ve one other jar with WD-40 Rust Dissolver. We use it when blades have rusty spots not eliminated by our radial wheel cleansing. I hold three jars with a cleaning soap resolution. I combine 1 half cleaning soap (Krud-Kutter, Easy Inexperienced, and many others) to three components water. The extra water within the combine the higher for cleansing.
Your cleansing resolution will look soiled even after the primary use, however I’ve discovered the used resolution works properly for a number of remedies. Filth falls to the underside of the jar. When the grime builds as much as ¼ inch deep change the answer.
FINISHED PRODUCT
Within the image you see cleaned blades from one jar. We eliminated them from the jar utilizing magnet proven. The cleansing jar resolution seems to be soiled however it may be used a couple of extra instances. You may resolve if you wish to reuse or not. As soon as hand-wiped and blown fully dry, apply oil to the cleaned blades.
