How to Choose a REAL Ultrasonic Cleaner

So you have decided to enter the wonderful world of ultrasonic cleaning, but are unsure of where to begin when looking for an ultrasonic bath. Fortunately, or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it, there are plenty of choices out there when selecting the unit that’s right for you. There are however some common pitfalls to avoid as well.

When selecting an ultrasonic unit, you must first make sure that it is indeed an ultrasonic cleaner that you’re looking at. Some units are actually "sonic cleaners", and are not truly ultrasonic cleaners at all! The distinguishing characteristic is the presence, or lack thereof, of cavitation. For a cleaner to be an ultrasonic cleaner, it must produce ultrasonic cavitation.

You may be saying to yourself "Well that’s all fine and dandy, but how on earth can I tell if the thing I am holding will "cavitate" or not?". The answer is actually fairly simple, and here are some things you should look for:

1. Does the cleaner have a metal tank? – Any real ultrasonic bath will have a metal cleaning tank. The transducer (think of it as an ultrasonic cleaner’s engine) is attached to the bottom of the tank, and needs a very hard, rigid material to propagate the ultrasound transmission.

Plastic, while seemingly hard, is actually not very rigid and would absorb much of the ultrasonic power. In short, if it’s a plastic tank, it’s not a real ultrasonic cleaner.

2. Does the packaging say ULTRAsonic? As stated above, a real ultrasonic cleaner has to produce cavitation, but there are many knock-off "sonic cleaners" out there that are not more than a plastic tub that vibrates. What these pretenders all have in common however is their packaging NEVER says "ultrasonic", as that would be a total lie.

Sadly, finding a true ultrasonic cleaner in a retail store can be difficult, as it is still considered a specialty item.

Here’s some of the "weasel words" they use to mislead you.

• Sonic cleaner• electrosonic cleaner• vibrosonic cleaner

3. Is it a name brand? There are a ton of manufacturers – but most of them are fronts that just get their machines built in China. All they do is slap a label on them and ship them over here. So how can you be sure?

• Do they have a service center here in the USA?• Is the price too good to be true? (even for small jewelry cleaners, anything under $100.00 is suspect)• Can you call them and ask about their products? No phone number, or a generic answering machine is a red flag.• Do they have a website, and authorized distributors? If the only place you see them is Ebay and Amazon, watch out.These are real ultrasonic cleaners, from Branson Ultrasonics Corporation: Now you must be thinking, "Those look pretty fancy, and I bet they are expensive." Well, yeas and no. A quality machine will cost more up front, but you will get what you pay for:
• A 2 year warranty• multiple service centers here in the USA, staffed by experienced professionals• Pre and post-sales support: An authorized distributor will make sure that you get the correct unit for your cleaning application, and spend no more than necessary.
• Application assistance from the factory and your distributor.

As my Dad used to say, "Buy it right and buy it once, but the cheapest thing you can find, and you’ll be buying it again soon enough.

If you found this article helpful, you can visit our website for comprehensive information in ultrasonic technology and cleaners. We are authorized distributors for Branson Ultrasonics, Crest Ultrasonics, and other major manufacturers.

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