Thread: Ultrasonic Bath?

Hey I just wanted to hear some of your opinions. I don't really use DE razors, I rather my straight; but I fell across a fatboy at a garage sale for a lot less than it's worth so I had to buy it. I tried cleaning it with a toothbrush but I can't seem to get in all the little holes. My dad's a jeweler and has access to an ultrasonic bath. Has anyone ever used one to clear their razors? if yes, would it remove the paint in the numbers?

While I'm at it, has anyone ever used one one their straight razors? does it polish them up, or just clean them really well?

I have had experience using an ultrasonic cleaner for both art equipment (technical pens and brushes) as well as some small machine parts. Sorry, no experience using it for straight razors.

The big advantage of an ultrasonic cleaner is that the sonic cleaning 'waves' get down into even the absolutely tiniest crevices of the object being clean. When it is working properly, the dirt will literally 'boil' out from the part being cleaned in little clouds within the cleaning fluid. Of course, it sometimes takes rather a long soak to get things clean, especially if the dirt (or whatever) is old, dried out, thick, etc.

The action of an ultrasonic is fairly gentle and I, personally, have never encountered any damage to fine parts when using it. Just make sure you pick the right cleaning fluid for whatever you put into it. I assume your father will help you on that point.

We often use an ultrasonic to clean DE's and straights as well as any jewelry that may need a little cleaning up. I just use Hot water and a couple of drops of dish detergent. You do need to be careful with horn scales or celluloid as it can soften or leach the color out of them but they are very handy for cleaning the hard to get areas. Another trick for the DE's is to spray them down with scrubbing bubbles and let them sit for about 1/2 hour and them use the toothbrush to clean them up. Some people drop them in a pot of boiling water for about 10 min also. If you are going to use an ultrasonic of straights be very careful that the cleaning agent does not contain ammonia, it will literally eat away the scales.

Glad to hear it's an option commonly used! : )
My only fear it that it might remove the paint in the adjustment knob.

Originally Posted by narrez

Glad to hear it's an option commonly used! : )
My only fear it that it might remove the paint in the adjustment knob.

Hasn't happened to us yet