FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[Peter Megaw]

One should be very careful about putting your fingers in a strong US cleaner...the US action can burst the capillaries in your fingers!

[GneissWare]

I usually only do this with very delicate things and for short periods of time. I haven't burst anything yet, but I'm a pretty calloused person. ;=)

[bugrock]

Hello all,

Really appreciate the recommendations and comments.

Regarding the Sonicor model do you know the rating in watts?

Hope others can also comment on their experience with US cleaners.


Also looking for recommendations on fabric guns. A recent Min Rec article
notes that there are useful versions available for about $75 but specifics are
not given. I assume users of this device also load only water in the gun.

Thanks for the soap/detergent recommendation. I've heard just soaking in
water can be very advantageous for all cleaning, mechanical, using dental tools,
freeze/thaw etc. Makes sense.

[GneissWare]

SC-200 is a 200 watt model. It has more than enough power. I also have a small single transducer unit, but I don't have it out right now. I use it for small really delicate minerals.

I think someone recommended going through John Attard for the Chinese fabric guns. Someone used to sell the Italian ones but they are not internally grounded--or at least not properly--and I would be shocked when using it. The German ones (Krebs?) are good but expensive--about $300US. They all seem to last about the same amount of time so I would still recommend the ones John sells.

[bugrock]

As I recall 200 watts+ units are costly.
Would a 75-100 watt unit satisfy?
Sounds like the 200 watt does the job quite quickly....
so would I be OK with say 75 watts and allowing more time?

Another source (not this forum) just mentioned using
detergent and lemon juice to clean up a Baryte specimen
in a US cleaner. Any other experience out there regarding
weak acids in a US device?

Of course I will not expose calcite xl's to acid treatment.

I have been told that for some locations almost all calcites
have been acid washed; for instance the tri-state calcites
of OK/MO/KS area.

Hmmm.... if you don't mind a digression, how can one examine a
calcite specimen and know it has been "acid dipped"?

[Les Presmyk]

The high pressure sprayer from either John Attard or Rock Currier will work fine for you. Regarding ultrasonic cleaners, two additional bits of information. Yes, you can go with the lower powered unit and just take more time but after a month or two of that, you will kick yourself for not buying the more powerful unit. When dealing with specific chemical solutions you do not need to fill the entire tank with the chemical. Fill the tank mostly full with water. Place the specimen in a second, smaller container, with the acid or other chemical and suspend the second container in the water bath of the ultrasonic. The sound waves will pass through the walls of the container and provide the same cleaning action.