How To Clean Clock Parts In An Ultrasonc Cleaner

#ClockPartsExplained #ScottiesClockWorld
Welcome back to another Scotties Clock World clock repair tutorial.
This video was requested by a Subscriber.
It shows the complete process from disassembly of the clock movement till the parts are returned cleaned to the work bench.
There is more information in this video than I usually include in my regular videos.
0:00 intro
0:35 wiring up the parts
3:20 filling the mesh basket
5:47 remove mainspring from great wheel
8:20 basket into ultrasonic cleaner
8:51 remove basket of parts
9:25 first wash of parts
11:10 second wash
13:06 parts into naphtha dish
14:19 remove parts from naphtha
15:36 heat drying parts
17:12 back at the bench
** Summer video upload schedule: 9:00 AM Sunday Los Angeles Time every week. **
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[@keitha.9788]

I take all the parts and soak them in Mineral Spirits for about an hour. That will remove or at least soften all the dried oil. Then I put the parts in the ultrasonic cleaner for 10-15 minutes. (Water and some detergent in the ultrasonic cleaner.) Wash all the parts off in warm water and let them dry...

[@ScottiesClockWorld]

Yep, that'll work. Thanks for your comment.

[@tuurelinden4686]

A great video! I have never thought of those tea strainers for the smallest parts. And I usually use 20 minutes with my ultra sonic cleaner and + 40 degrees. The manual of my ultra sonic cleaner says that the parts should not touch each other to guarantee the best cleaning result. By tying the wheels together with a wire would interfere the cleaning process as well as putting too many parts in the cleaner at the same time. I use to clean the plates and other parts separately. But it saves a lot of time if 5 minutes is enough and the tying the wheels together doesn't do much of a difference. Maybe I should try that and compare the results....

[@ScottiesClockWorld]

20 minutes is too long, the UC chemicals will pitt the brass. Tying the wheels together makes no difference as the bubbles generated by the UC move the parts about a little bit while in the solution. Give my method a try and see if there is any difference in the final results you get.

[@markstone7142]

Thanks Scottie - your vids are great. I'm a bit of a noob with KZbin - what is the next step - do you polish these parts? They could actually be pristine after this, but I can't see it in the vid, perhaps reflections.

[@ScottiesClockWorld]

Only French clock movements are polished (as they were originally), American and other movements have a coating of lacquer on the plates to retain the shinyness. Polishing them will remove that coating and the plates will tarnish very quickly.

[@sandradoyle9200]

Very informative, thank you, The whispering was distracting though.

[@ScottiesClockWorld]

I wasn't aware of any whispering on the video, sorry for the distraction.

[@chriselliott726]

Thank God you heard it too .. I thought I had voices in the head!

[@markstone7142]

Yes - I heard it too... a bit ghostly 😁

[@shimaabdullah9222]

here me watching this at 2am and I thought I'm hearing voices 😂 thank goodness I'm not the only one 😅

[@elizado1428]

I’m using an ammoniated ultrasonic L&R set of watch cleaning and rinsing solution. How do I properly dispose of them after clean and is it possible to reuse the solution?

[@ScottiesClockWorld]

The solution can be used many times over. When it's time to change the solution, put the old solution outside in a container and let the Sun evaporate the water. The oil/tresidue left can be disposed of at the rubbish tip in their Oil container. Thanks for your comment.

[@quentinmackay5653]

Thanks for putting this video up. I used my ultrasonic cleaner for the first time today to clean clock parts so this is perfectly timed for me and very helpful. I think I expected the parts to come out sparkling but they didn't, is that the wrong expectation and the intended result is that they are clean and not necessarily sparkling? When you put your parts into the hot water bowl was there anything in the water because it looked cloudy and frothy....or is that just your hot water. I am in the UK where shellite doesn't exist, I have read it is the same as white spirit? Thank you again!

[@ScottiesClockWorld]

Hi Quentin, After going through the UC the parts will have oil/grease/dirt/grime etc removed but will not come out nice and shiny everytime. The cloudiness in the bowl of warm water was caused by air bubbles, the tap is an aerator tap. Shellite is just a trade name in Ozz for lighter fluid/white spirit/naphtha, they are all the same item.

[@quentinmackay5653]

@@ScottiesClockWorld Thanks for taking the time to reply Scottie....and for the videos, it helps us passionate amateurs progress 👍🏻

[@Qarawloos1989]

جميل

[@squidben5780]

Why is there whispering before you talk ??? Are those notes ?? Nice video

[@ScottiesClockWorld]

Memorising talking points.

[@HistoryBuff12345]

Great video. Do the levers ever get placed in the UltraSonic or are they cleaned separately?

[@ScottiesClockWorld]

@HistoryBuff12345, the levers are cleaned separately.

[@artoftinker3713]

Great video Scottie. Noob question for you. If the UC has cleaned the parts of oil, grease and dirt, why treat it again in Shellite? Does the UC concentrate leave residue on the parts? Is there such a thing as UC Rinse Aid where it will neutralize any cleaning agent on the first wash and evaporate without leaving and film or residue? Thanks so much.

[@ScottiesClockWorld]

The UC leaves concentrate leaves residue on the parts which as to be washed off with water. The Shellite (AKA lighter fluid) is used to remove the water from the parts after thay have been washed. I haven't heard of any UC Rinse Aid as such, the Shellite does that job.

[@lmt200ish]

Can you use rubbing alcohol instead of naphtha or is there a reason rubbing alcohol would be bad? If the movement is visible do you polish the brass or leave everything with the "patina" as it come out of the uc?

[@ScottiesClockWorld]

I think it should work ok.

[@williamleas7492]

So…would an ultra sonic cleaner still work for a fully assembled clock works that just needs a quick clean?

[@ScottiesClockWorld]

best to take the movement apart first. If you don't want to do that, you can clean the movement in lighter fluid.

[@johnhannon]

Thanks for this video. It answers many questions for me. It looks like your ultrasonic machine has a 3L capacity. Do you find this a good size for most clock movements? Thanks!

[@ScottiesClockWorld]

Yes it's 3L and fits most front/back plates from US, UK, French and German movements.The 4.5L version will allow slightly larger plates but is not worth the extra money I don't think. I also have a 1L for cleaning fountain pen and watch parts. I am going to do a video on using an ultrasonic with white vinegar/ bicarb. of soda to see how efficient it is at cleaning clock parts.

[@johnhannon]

@@ScottiesClockWorld Thanks Scottie! I have been slowly going through your videos. A proper mainspring winder is the next thing for me to look into. Too bad they are so expensive.

[@ScottiesClockWorld]

@@johnhannon prices have really increased since the Covid thing. A winder is much faster and safer that manual removal of mainsprings.

[@lindseybooker8711]

What cleaner are you using in the ultrasonic cleaner stock or homemade formula

[@ScottiesClockWorld]

Clock parts suppliers have UC solution. This is the brew that I use these days, you can make it yourself. Works just as well as the super expensive 'professional' ones. Acetone 2% Oleic Acid 2% Detergent 2% Water 90% The figures don't add up to 100% because the first three ingredients are combined then diluted 1:9 with the water.

[@chriselliott726]

@@ScottiesClockWorld is that not 3.3% of the first three ingredients and 90% water?

[@davidpar2]

Would an ultrasonic cleaner potentially damage/break down fiber gears in a synchronous clock movement?

[@ScottiesClockWorld]

I'd be a bit wary of doinmg that just in case.

[@davidpar2]

@@ScottiesClockWorldthat’s what I thought, thanks. Perhaps I can remove it from the clockwork and clean it by hand

[@ScottiesClockWorld]

@@davidpar2 , that's a better plan in my opinion.

[@hellothere312]

i do drugs, this movie freaked me out