238 replies to this topic

[Horsepower]

Rick- What size compressor are you using? I have a bead blaster also, but the small compressor I have doesn't last long enough to finish the job without waiting for it to recharge. It's one that you use for nailing and stapling. Also, the nozzle on the blaster seems a litlle large for this kind of work but I haven't found any type of replacement.

[Horsepower]

Duplicate post

[Horsepower]

Over the years. I have read both good and bad in that ultrasonic cleaning of arms may hurt them. I have never done it but others have. I don't know what liquid to use. When I worked making contact lenses. We had 2 large cleaners that used miniral oil.

PLEASE CHIME IN as to helping VS hurting

PHIL I.

Hi Phil! In my experience, don't use either alcohol or ammonia in these little machines. I used alcohol/water and the first time I did it I completely clouded the plastic top of the unit and I'm sure ammonia will do the same. I also used Fantastic until I cleaned some chrome plastic parts and it removed all the chrome. Now I just use a squirt of dish washing detergent and warm water and run it through twice. It's mild enough so it doesn't damage plastic and besides, the machine creates tiny explosive bubbles which do the cleaning. The soap just helps emulsify and suspend the dirt.

[Horsepower]

Duplicate post

[Bill from NH]

I fill my tank with water & add a touch of liquid dish detergent to break the surface tension. If an article is really dirty, & put it & some degreaser in a glass jar & then set the jar in my tank's water. The ultrasonic waves goes right through the glass & it does a beautiful cleaning job.

[dc-65x]

Rick- What size compressor are you using? I have a bead blaster also, but the small compressor I have doesn't last long enough to finish the job without waiting for it to recharg...

I have the same problem, Gary. I'm using a Sears pancake compressor with 4 gal capacity, 2.6 cfm at 90 psi. It works but a bigger tank would be better.

If an article is really dirty, and put it and some degreaser in a glass jar and then set the jar in my tank's water. The ultrasonic waves goes right through the glass and it does a beautiful cleaning job.

Bill, thanks for the tip. What kind degreaser do you use?

I used alcohol/water and the first time I did it I completely clouded the plastic top of the unit and I'm sure ammonia will do the same.

And, Gary, thanks for that tip, too! I'll keep the clear plastic lid off when using any kind of degreaser other than the factory recommended cleaner.

[Horsepower]

We both have the same compressor! 4 gallon pancake Sears model for nail guns and such.
Yeah, I should have said if you must use harsh chemicals, leave the lid off. For some reason, when the ultrasonic tank is activated with certain chemicals, said chemicals seem to change properties and become much more aggressive. Not sure why that happens.

[dc-65x]

New month, time for a new toy....well, two. I'll start with this one. It's a little chop saw with a 2" blade (abrasive or fine tooth steel) and a vise you can set at different angles:



It has an aluminum base and vise with a plastic housing for the motor. It's made in Japan and works very well. It is expensive compared to the Harbor Frieght (made in China) version which sell for under $40...or $75 if you buy the same unit at Sears . When I received an Internet special price of $99 I went for it. "You pays yer money and ya makes ya choice".

Micro Mark Mini Miter and Cut-Off Saw

Here it just made a cut in the 1/4" wide brass cross piece for a Bob Emott inspired chassis I'm building:



It worked great :



Me Likey

[BrandonR]

Few questions on the bead blaster...

Does it seal up tight enough for the fine aluminum oxide stuff? Will it spray the aluminum oxide stuff OK? What is the longest piece you could put in there? (Thinking drag chassis length up to 14-15 inches) I have one of THESE and it is 100.8% garbage. When I saw this little cabinet I figured this would be a great tool to prevent aluminum dust from covering EVERYTHING.

[Bill from NH]

Rick,

When I bought one of those cut-off saws, I think it probably added 10 years to the life of my Dremel and three or four to my Unimat. I use both a lot less now.

[dc-65x]

Hi Brandon,

14 to 15 inches should just fit side to side with more room diagonally. You might want to go with the next size bigger cabinet to be safe. I'm not familiar with the media you are using. I'm using glass beads that are so fine they are like dust. The only leakage I noticed is from the drain plug on the bottom. There is no dust problem. You can see the larger unit's pricing by searching the link I provided in my post. Here's a link to the manufacturer about the media you plan to use:

Cyclone Manufacturing

I hear ya, Bill !

[Old pink can guy]

Rick,

Where did you get that flat wire? Have not seen that since the late '60s. Wow, a trip down memory lane. LOL.

[BrandonR]

Thanks, Rick, that's what I needed to know. The longer 14-15 inch chassis will be pretty rare since we do not use them as much. The aluminum is like dust as well, very fine powder almost like powdered sugar.

[gascarnut]

The Micro Mark cut-off saws work great. I have had mine for two or three years now and it has done a LOT of work, with no trouble whatsoever.

I added a length stop to mine:



Rick, I'm sure you could make something that looks much nicer than this, but for those times when you have lots of things to make all the same, it helps a lot.

[dc-65x]

Here's a link to the flat wire, Ken:

Bob Emott's B-Motor Blaster

I'm afraid it's an eBay only item now. REH has some kind of crude stuff you can check out though. Maybe I got a bad batch?

Glad I could help, Brandon .

I love the stop, Dennis . I hope you don't mind if I shamelessly copy it !

[gascarnut]

You're welcome to - but as I said, I'm sure you will make a much better job of it than I did, so please post a picture when you're done!

I just LOVE this thread BTW - to me it's one of the coolest things about slot cars, all the tools.

"But I HAVE to have this tool, honey..."

[Old pink can guy]

Thanks, Rick. Another trip down memory lane for free. The price tag says it all.

[dc-65x]

An update on the Micro Blast cabinet:



I tried it on these 3/4" Pro Car type front wheels with molded on tires. YIKES!



The super fine media doesn't hurt the tires but cleans the metal and leaves a satin finish:



Mucho goodo!

[Phil Irvin]

Damm. ......You are the head of the "HE WHO DIES WITH THE MOST TOYS WINS" club....Taint no way I can catch ya..... ..KEEP GOING. .... AS LONG AS IT'S FUN. .......

OLPHRT
PHIL I

[Mr. Frank]

WOW!!! That makes a tumbler looks old-fashioned. Received my tumbler a year ago from Santa Claus. I know what Santa's going to get me this year... I hope.

Man, that looks like way to go. What, it took two min??? Versus two days in a tumbler. Cool toy!

Please, Santa, can I get one? ...

Mr. Frank

[dc-65x]

New month, new toy time . I just ordered two more. One I've seen used by Slotbloggers before, but not the other one .

I hope to report on them here next weekend...

[Phil Irvin]

Rick,

Where did you get the blast cabinet from and what $$$? I used to have a glass beader in my shop but it weren't cheep in the '70s..

Phil I.

[dc-65x]

Phil, go back to post #73.

[68Caddy]

Rick,

Do you need a roommate? I can just imagine what I could learn from you.

Nesta

[Phil Irvin]

Love it, Rick... Very affordable...

Thanks!

Phil I.