Tips for Purchasing an Ultrasonic Cleaner?

[cflutist]

I bought mine any years ago, after going down the route of multiple $40ish units dying, etc. It works wonders.

I can also vouch for a cleaning solution. Dawn works in a pinch, but a cleaning solution made specifically for jewelry leaves a finish that lasts longer/stays cleaner looking than Dawn IMHO.

Mine also has a heater, which I think helps as well.

That's the one I bought when all the other PS ladies were buying Sharper Image ones. I called several local jewelers and asked what brands they used. I figured that if they were running them 8 - 10 hours a day, then good enough for me.

I use the same logic when buying power tools for hubby.

 

[Dancing Fire]

So I'm trying to buy an ultrasonic very badly but I am confused which one to get! Magnaonic for $40, LR quantex or gem oro though not sure which one? What do yall think?

I think LR is still made in the USA. How much?

 

[Dancing Fire]

The cheapest one of the 3.

Waste of $$$...

 

[bling_dream19]

I think LR is still made in the USA. How much?

Hi @Dancing Fire the link @cflutist posted looks to be $300 for the LR unit. And @PintoBean I really dont want to spend $300 on an US bc theater should go for bling! I just want a unit I can trust that won't hurt my jewelry. Ahh still researching and deciding.

 

[PintoBean]

Hi @Dancing Fire the link @cflutist posted looks to be $300 for the LR unit. And @PintoBean I really dont want to spend $300 on an US bc theater should go for bling! I just want a unit I can trust that won't hurt my jewelry. Ahh still researching and deciding.

I still like my magnasonic!

 

[MollyMalone]

Hi @Dancing Fire the link @cflutist posted looks to be $300 for the LR unit. And @PintoBean I really dont want to spend $300 on an US bc theater should go for bling! I just want a unit I can trust that won't hurt my jewelry. Ahh still researching and deciding.

There is a pre-owned Quantrex 090H (same model as the one cflutist has: 2 qts with timer, no heater) on eBay for $99.99 (plus shipping):
https://www.ebay.com/itm/L-R-Quantrex-Q90H-Ultrasonic-Jewelry-Cleaner-with-Timer-Pre-owned/223667861298

 

[bling_dream19]

There is a pre-owned Quantrex 090H (same model as the one cflutist has: 2 qts with timer, no heater) on eBay for $99.99 (plus shipping):
https://www.ebay.com/itm/L-R-Quantrex-Q90H-Ultrasonic-Jewelry-Cleaner-with-Timer-Pre-owned/223667861298

Thanks @MollyMalone I've never ordered anything from Ebay. I wonder if its worth it to go used or just buy new. Not sure what happens if it's a lemon buying used? Will have to read Ebay return policies. Thanks for helping!

 

[bling_dream19]

I still like my magnasonic!

I hear ya girl and I still might be getting it!

 

[HDer]

If you're worried about your ultrasonic failing prematurely, I'd get this: https://www.amazon.com/GemOro-Stainless-Ultrasonic-Jewelry-Cleaner/dp/B0176PTKT8

Gemoro is a good brand, and yes, it's made in China, but to be honest the whole made in China = bad quality thing is not that valid any more. Certain items made in China are bad quality, but that's because the designer cut corners to save costs. Sony makes 2 thousand dollar camera lenses in China: https://kenrockwell.com/sony/lenses/135mm-f18.htm and they are very reliable (iPhones are also made in China, which I'm sure you know). GemOro has a 2.5 year warranty on this unit (10 years on the transducer) and they'd lose a lot of money if the units all started failing prematurely.

 

[MollyMalone]

Thanks @MollyMalone I've never ordered anything from Ebay. I wonder if its worth it to go used or just buy new. Not sure what happens if it's a lemon buying used? Will have to read Ebay return policies. Thanks for helping!

I'm personally fine with buying used appliances in good shape; I recently purchased a 40-year-old Hobart-KitchenAid stand mixer because I wanted one entirely made in the USA with quality parts. But I just took another look at that ultrasonic listing and now realize that it's an Auction listing, not a Buy It Now listing. Also, I'm concerned that the seller doesn't affirmatively declare that it's fully operational. eBay's policies provide that the condition of a used item that isn't fully operational should be listed as "For Pats/Not Working" rather than "Used." But in my experience, sellers of items listed as "Used" do assure you that the item is working as you would expect & add "as is" to flag cosmetic blemishes, etc. that don't affect functionality.

So given the less than wholly reassuring listing -- plus the fact that the seller doesn't accept returns -- I'll now say you should give it a pass. The ultrasonic would be covered under eBay's own Money-Back Guarantee
https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/...licy/ebay-money-back-guarantee-policy?id=4210
but that could be a hassle.

ETA: The warranty for the GemOro that @HDer just suggested is a meaningful one imo; agree that it suggests that will be more durable (albeit pricier than, e.g., the Magnasonic) & there are no negative reviews for that GemOro, which Amazon has been selling for at least 5 years.

 

[Dancing Fire]

There is a pre-owned Quantrex 090H (same model as the one cflutist has: 2 qts with timer, no heater) on eBay for $99.99 (plus shipping):
https://www.ebay.com/itm/L-R-Quantrex-Q90H-Ultrasonic-Jewelry-Cleaner-with-Timer-Pre-owned/223667861298

I would bid on this unit if I needed an US.

 

[The Critic]

Just ordered this one:
http://septools.com/product/gemoro-1-5pt-ultrasonic/

 

[sarahb]

I clean my wife's watch with the US...

@Dancing Fire , many years ago with my first Rolex, I decided one day to cleaned it in my US. I must of have had other things in the US at the same time & ran the heater.

I retuned to get my goodies, pulled the watch out, and lo & behold, the cyclops was missing! As in completely gone from the watch.

Looked all over in the soup of the cleaning solution, & couldn't find it at all. Went to my AD, & he said it melted off. He ordered a new factory cyclops & off I went. Perhaps I just missed it in the solution.

So I would say, be careful about using that heater on her watch, its warm enough to melt away a cyclops on a Rolex!

 

[bling_dream19]

Should I get one with heat?

 

[HDer]

Should I get one with heat?

I don't think heat is required on the smallest models (1.5pt ~= 850ml; mine was 800ml). They get reasonably hot after a couple of cycles on their own, and if you really want you can pour in some water from the kettle.

However, I'd seriously consider getting a bigger one. I had to take all of the attachments out of the bowl to fit my wife's glasses. Then later I read something that said we shouldn't put stuff directly on the bottom of the bowl because it can damage the bowl itself, so now I need to figure out if I can jerry-rig a contraption for the glasses next time. And also now that I have it I keep on coming across things that I would like to ultrasonic, but won't fit.

 

[bling_dream19]

Yes I agree I definitely want to clean eyeglasses. Is the gem pro you referenced earlier too small for you? Thank you for the point to consider! And thanks about the heat @HDer I can always use a kettle to boil water. So what size and model do you recommend? Thanks so much for everyone's help.

 

[HDer]

Yes I agree I definitely want to clean eyeglasses. Is the gem pro you referenced earlier too small for you? Thank you for the point to consider! And thanks about the heat @HDer I can always use a kettle to boil water. So what size and model do you recommend? Thanks so much for everyone's help.

Depends on how big your glasses are I guess. Here are the dimensions of the tank of the 1.5PTH Gemoro: 15cm x 8.5cm x 6.5cm. I'd subtract at least a cm from each dimension to account for the basket.

 

[HDer]

Looks like there are two models of the Gemoro 1.5 pint:

The one on Amazon doesn't have heat apparently: https://www.amazon.com/GemOro-Stainless-Ultrasonic-Jewelry-Cleaner/dp/B0176PTKT8
But a very similar one for a very similar price does have heat:
https://www.sykessler.com/product/1-5pt-next-gen-ultrasonic/
https://www.ebay.com/itm/GemOro-1-5...y-Cleaning-Device-1731-1730-NEW-/302937100301
https://www.jewelrysupply.com/Comme...lry-Cleaner-with-Heater-15-Pint-_p_25848.html

For a few extra bucks (or a few fewer if you're willing to buy on eBay) there's nothing wrong with getting the one with the heater I guess.

 

[Dancing Fire]

@Dancing Fire
So I would say, be careful about using that heater on her watch, its warm enough to melt away a cyclops on a Rolex!

I don't think the cyclops was melted away you melted the glue off the cyclops. Anyway, I don't often use the heater on my US, b/c it takes too long to heat up the solutions.

 

[Dancing Fire]

Should I get one with heat?

IMO, I don't think you'll need it for jewelry besides that it takes too long to heat up the solutions.

 

[Dancing Fire]

Yes I agree I definitely want to clean eyeglasses. Is the gem pro you referenced earlier too small for you? Thank you for the point to consider! And thanks about the heat @HDer I can always use a kettle to boil water. So what size and model do you recommend? Thanks so much for everyone's help.

Then I'd think you'll need a 2QT.

 

[Demon]

Looks like there are two models of the Gemoro 1.5 pint:

The one on Amazon doesn't have heat apparently: https://www.amazon.com/GemOro-Stainless-Ultrasonic-Jewelry-Cleaner/dp/B0176PTKT8
But a very similar one for a very similar price does have heat:
https://www.sykessler.com/product/1-5pt-next-gen-ultrasonic/
https://www.ebay.com/itm/GemOro-1-5...y-Cleaning-Device-1731-1730-NEW-/302937100301
https://www.jewelrysupply.com/Comme...lry-Cleaner-with-Heater-15-Pint-_p_25848.html

For a few extra bucks (or a few fewer if you're willing to buy on eBay) there's nothing wrong with getting the one with the heater I guess.

Thank you for that! I bought the one from ebay.

 

[bling_dream19]

And is UV sanitizer necessary? Leaning towards the 2 at gem oro. Thanks everyone I'm ready to make this decision and start cleaning!

 

[HDer]

And is UV sanitizer necessary? Leaning towards the 2 at gem oro. Thanks everyone I'm ready to make this decision and start cleaning!

Depends on how germophobic you are. The way I see it, only my wife and I are touching her rings and glasses, and gold and silver are naturally antibiotic.

 

[CheeSauce]

When do we see the ring @RunningwithScissors

 

[Diamond_Hawk]

So many great suggestions. So many ways to make that bling shine!

 

[bling_dream19]

Depends on how germophobic you are. The way I see it, only my wife and I are touching her rings and glasses, and gold and silver are naturally antibiotic.

Good point . Well....I do have that mouth guard I'm supposed to be wearing so i dont grind my teeth and that thing could use some UV

 

[PintoBean]

I just ordered a second magnasonic for the brothel. I missed using the one in home A. The travel size ultrasonic I've been using temporarily just isnt the same...

 

[Demon]

Ok, I haven't gotten the GemOro yet, but I was looking at a manual and there are all kinds of things not to use in it! Has anyone used Dawn Ultra?

 

[Demon]

I just used the GemOro I bought from ebay, linked by @HDer. I used the GemOro concentrated cleaner. Set it on 45 minutes because some said their ultrasonics took a long time to heat up. This one heated up right away, and I am beyond impressed at how clean everything is! The warranty is what made me decide to buy this one, even though it's made in China. (I had a little plastic GemOro several years ago, and it didn't last long at all - the power button stopped working.)

My normal cleaning was Dawn, a little ammonia, a regular toothbrush, and I scrubbed the heck out of the rings. But they never got as clean as this! I highly recommend this ultrasonic.