Got a Sonic Wave US and I'm underwhelmed.

[sirbenson]

About a month ago I bought the Sonic Wave 2800 ultrasonic from Amazon. Shipped it to my folks who are in Florida and another famly member brought it up to Toronto for me. I just got it yesterday and used it today. I put my e-ring in twice, using just water, and gunk around the prongs was still there after two 3 minutes sessions I don't have a complicated setting (its the Grace by BGD) and I was surpised to still see the dirt there. I watched the second cycle and it seemed as if "waves" of dirt were coming off of it. But it seems like I can do a better job with a toothbrush and dishsoap/Mr. Clean.

Did I do something wrong? Is this to be expected?

 

[kenny]

Maybe your gunk requires more than water to get all the gunk off.
Another possibility is the US is cleaning all the gunk off, but some is allowed to dry back onto the ring.

When gunk is cleaned off the ring it is suspended in the cleaning solution.
Even after drying with anything, some residual contaminated solution may remain on the ring in the nooks and cranies especially ON the diamond near the prongs.
When the contaminated solution is allowed to evaporates the gunk suspended in the solution remains on the diamond.

Even if you used several steps with clean water each time if your water is hard mineral deposits will remain after the H20 evaporates.

Try rinsing the ring with distilled water after removing ring from US.
Or, used compressed air to blow off the contaminated solution.
OR both.

 

[JewelFreak]

Last Christmas DH gave me a steam cleaner w/ultrasonic feature if you want to use it. I love it. Really makes my stuff sparkle, though even after steaming, things need to be rinsed off before drying them. I have an estate rose-gold hand-braided bracelet, about 1 1/2" wide (no stones) that gets fairly nasty -- after cleaning in my new gadget it just glowed! Only negative is I wish the steam were a little hotter. It was, I think, $129 from Frontgate. Pretty good price.

--- Laurie

 

[waterlilly]

Maybe your gunk requires more than water to get all the gunk off.
Another possibility is the US is cleaning all the gunk off, but some is allowed to dry back onto the ring.

When gunk is cleaned off the ring it is suspended in the cleaning solution.
Even after drying with anything, some residual contaminated solution may remain on the ring in the nooks and cranies especially ON the diamond near the prongs.
When the contaminated solution is allowed to evaporates the gunk suspended in the solution remains on the diamond.

Even if you used several steps with clean water each time if your water is hard mineral deposits will remain after the H20 evaporates.

Try rinsing the ring with distilled water after removing ring from US.
Or, used compressed air to blow off the contaminated solution.
OR both.

Agreed - you definitely need to use more than just water. You can still put just water in the unit itself, but you can use a smaller container with cleaning solution to put your ring inside of and then place that in the bath of water. I work in a lab, so use our benchtop sonicator that is filled with water, I just take a 50ml conical and fill it with soap solution, drop my rings in and plop that in the sonicator for ~10 minutes. Have cleaned some coworker's filthy rings like that too and it works great.

eta - I just checked the product on amazon and the first reviewer said:

"And most importantly:
***DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME USING THIS THING WITHOUT A FEW DROPS OF SOME KIND OF GENTLE DETERGENT OR PRODUCT MADE FOR CLEANING JEWELRY***"

 

[sirbenson]

Thanks for the advice.

Since I don't have distilled water nor compressed air on hand I will try it with soap. The manual that came with it doesn't say much about what solutions are safe for use in the tank. Actually, the manual says hardly anything at all. Other than adding a few drops of dish detergent, what cleaning solution can I add to the water?

 

[Dee*Jay]

I find amonia to be the best clearer. If you are freaked out by straight amonia you can use Mr. Clean with diluted amonia, but personally I do about half water and half amonia and I'm good to go!

 

[manderz]

I don't think you have to use distilled water to rinse, but that or bottled water can't hurt, especially if you have well water or gross city water. I use tap water to rinse, and then dry immediately with a soft cloth and have great results. I've also found that hot cleaning solution and a COLD rinse seems to make everything a little more sparkly.

 

[kenny]

When I worked in a lab they put water in it but put the object to be cleaned in a glass of isopropyl alcohol and put that in the tank water.

Buy a can of compressed air at any office supply store.
Buy distilled water at any food store.