Ultrasonic cleaning - dirty parts from radio equipment.

[tatrovka]

Hi, does have someone practical experience with ultrasonic ceaning, especially components such as variable capacitors, ceramic parts, tubes sockets, rotary scale gears ...

[Funksammler]

I have tried ultrasonic cleaning on some small parts in the past, does not help with corroded or seized parts in my experience. What are you trying to clean?

regards,

Funksammler

[Val]

Regarding removing the rust i posted some time ago two questions under the repair section:

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...2&postcount=23

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...5&postcount=24

[tatrovka]

Primary I'm focused to clean variable capacitors constructed from ceramic parts + durable aluminium (alloy Al-Mg-Cu). Ferrous parts (rusted) is easy to clean with ordinary Cola. Cola contains phosphoric acid (H3PO4) which is good rust remover. But with aluminium...I'm not sure.

[Panzer-G-man]

How about using electrolisis? Very good for old motorcycle bits,when i was restoring them.Combat dealers did a nice job on some Panzerfausts using it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qi8qIxK4IlA

[Funksammler]

Generally if tuning capacitors are that corroded that they can no longer move I would consider them beyond restoration. Most tuning capacitors are made of composite materials, soft aluminium, sometimes the housing is made of aluminium/magneseum alloy; you have steel bearings and gears, brass, copper and sliver contacts, porcelain shafts and and host of screws and clips and other small parts to hold things together...

If they are not too bad, I would focus on getting the bearings moving, using thin oil, this will also flush out any dirt stuck between the capacitor plates. When it is cleaned up this way the oil can be rinsed out with some acetone and some new grease can be applied to the bearings.

regards,

Funksammler