Are ultrasonic cleaners safe for mechanical watches? I assume that they are, but I have not read reviews or heard confirmation of this theory. Can someone confirm please? Specifically I have a Sinn 556, but many watches use the ETA 2824-2 movement.
Isis M
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Ultrasonic cleaners ARE NOT safe for ANY watch with a movement still in the case...it will force cleaning solution past the seals! If you want to clean the bracelet remove it from the watch head. If you have to clean the case the movement must be removed.
Whilst I would never use an ultrasonic cleaner on a vintage mechanical watch purely because of the lack of water resistance in general on vintage items, I have cleaned a few automatics without issues at all, in fact opened them up afterwards with no visible water. Maybe I was lucky but it seems strange 3 inches of water agitated would flood a watch.
That I woud never do.
The vibration itself can severely damage the movement.
An Ultrasonic machine works like this: The vibrations cause cavitation, where tiny bubbles form and disappear very quickly. It is this movement of the liquid that helps remove and dissolve the dirt.
In my line of work, we clean everything first manually (large dirt), then in an Ultrasonic (small-microscopic dirt) then it goes into the Autoclave.
The only thing we never clean in the ultrasonic are the machines (high and low speed).
Wrecks the ballbearings and rotors.
The vibration itself can severely damage the movement.
An Ultrasonic machine works like this: The vibrations cause cavitation, where tiny bubbles form and disappear very quickly. It is this movement of the liquid that helps remove and dissolve the dirt.
In my line of work, we clean everything first manually (large dirt), then in an Ultrasonic (small-microscopic dirt) then it goes into the Autoclave.
The only thing we never clean in the ultrasonic are the machines (high and low speed).
Wrecks the ballbearings and rotors.
Cavitation, Bo, cavitation!
The same phenomen happens around propellers in water. OK for a surface ship, not so Ok for a submarine.
This cavitation will screw up the seals.
And I just do not want to know what happens to all the delicate contact areas in the movement, or the jewels.
The lubricating oils?
What about them??
Simple, they will migrate to areas where they are of no use.
The same phenomen happens around propellers in water. OK for a surface ship, not so Ok for a submarine.
This cavitation will screw up the seals.
And I just do not want to know what happens to all the delicate contact areas in the movement, or the jewels.
The lubricating oils?
What about them??
Simple, they will migrate to areas where they are of no use.
See what the Pros say on the Watchmakers Forum here: https://www.watchuseek.com/f6/ultra-sonic-cleaner-damage-movement-142509.html and here: https://www.watchuseek.com/f6/ultrasonic-cleaners-341618.html .
Bottom line, not a good idea.
Bottom line, not a good idea.
Did I damage my Traser Code Blue?
Hello.
I have an ultrasonic cleaner. I haven't used it much, but I used it to clean one of my folding knives a week ago and it worked great. Having seen the effects of the cleaner, I thought I'd put in my Traser P6508 Code Blue too. It worked. I used the ultrasonic cleaner again, yesterday. The watch still works, but I've read that these ultrasonic cleaners can damage watches and now I'm worried - is it possible that the cleaner somehow damaged my Traser and it's going to show in the next days?
Hello.
I have an ultrasonic cleaner. I haven't used it much, but I used it to clean one of my folding knives a week ago and it worked great. Having seen the effects of the cleaner, I thought I'd put in my Traser P6508 Code Blue too. It worked. I used the ultrasonic cleaner again, yesterday. The watch still works, but I've read that these ultrasonic cleaners can damage watches and now I'm worried - is it possible that the cleaner somehow damaged my Traser and it's going to show in the next days?
Re: Did I damage my Traser Code Blue?
Over the years we had several threads re this issue, here's just one: Ultrasonic cleaner safe for mechanical watch? . Just do a search.
Over the years we had several threads re this issue, here's just one: Ultrasonic cleaner safe for mechanical watch? . Just do a search.
Re: Did I damage my Traser Code Blue?
If its a quartz and its still running, I'd say you got lucky. Parts are meant to go in an ultrasonic. Not a watch still put together. I'd have the seals checked sooner rather than later.
"He's just a witness"
If its a quartz and its still running, I'd say you got lucky. Parts are meant to go in an ultrasonic. Not a watch still put together. I'd have the seals checked sooner rather than later.
"He's just a witness"
Re: Did I damage my Traser Code Blue?
I guess it's worth mentioning, that there's a huge difference between the Walmart ultrasonic cleaners, that barely pose a threat to a rotten apple, and a real high power industrial cleaner, that runs at a few hundred watts of actual sonic power at elevated temperatures.
A Walmart cleaner run for 60 seconds at room temperature in tap water, probably didn't clean anything, but is also very unlikely to cause much damage.
Throw it in an industrial cleaner for half an hour at 80C in an appropriate cleaning liquid , and you'll see all the damage you could ever imagine (it would be clean though).
Magura
I guess it's worth mentioning, that there's a huge difference between the Walmart ultrasonic cleaners, that barely pose a threat to a rotten apple, and a real high power industrial cleaner, that runs at a few hundred watts of actual sonic power at elevated temperatures.
A Walmart cleaner run for 60 seconds at room temperature in tap water, probably didn't clean anything, but is also very unlikely to cause much damage.
Throw it in an industrial cleaner for half an hour at 80C in an appropriate cleaning liquid , and you'll see all the damage you could ever imagine (it would be clean though).
Magura
Ultra sonic cleaning machine?
Hello all,
I'm a big stickler for clean, shiny watches and I'm looking for a good way to keep my watches scuff free without having to go to the watchmaker to get them polished which is quite expensive.
I've been looking at ultrasonic jewelry cleaners, ones that can be found cheap on Amazon and what have you. Does anyone have any experience using these? Are they safe and effective?
I've tried cape cod cloths which I like but I'm looking for something a little more effective. Any advice?
Thanks in advance!
Here's a picture from Amazon of one that I'm looking into:
![Image]()
Hello all,
I'm a big stickler for clean, shiny watches and I'm looking for a good way to keep my watches scuff free without having to go to the watchmaker to get them polished which is quite expensive.
I've been looking at ultrasonic jewelry cleaners, ones that can be found cheap on Amazon and what have you. Does anyone have any experience using these? Are they safe and effective?
I've tried cape cod cloths which I like but I'm looking for something a little more effective. Any advice?
Thanks in advance!
Here's a picture from Amazon of one that I'm looking into:
Re: Ultra sonic cleaning machine?
There's a difference between cleaning your watch and removing scuffs and scratches. The ultrasonic cleaning machine you posted will do fine for cleaning bracelets, although I would avoid submersing the watch head into the watch. For scratches, if you want something more effective than Cape Cod, then you probably should consider a Dremel.
There's a difference between cleaning your watch and removing scuffs and scratches. The ultrasonic cleaning machine you posted will do fine for cleaning bracelets, although I would avoid submersing the watch head into the watch. For scratches, if you want something more effective than Cape Cod, then you probably should consider a Dremel.
Re: Ultra sonic cleaning machine?
I posted about this about a year ago. I've used such a cleaner for a long time on all my water resistant watches without issue.
Most commenters said it wouldn't harm the watch but a few offered a different perspective. Since I've used them for years I continue to do so without incident.
The cleaners remove dirt and oils from the case and bracelet pretty well. I use a soft bristle brush to get the crevasses clean. I find these cleaners to be invaluable and recommend their use.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I posted about this about a year ago. I've used such a cleaner for a long time on all my water resistant watches without issue.
Most commenters said it wouldn't harm the watch but a few offered a different perspective. Since I've used them for years I continue to do so without incident.
The cleaners remove dirt and oils from the case and bracelet pretty well. I use a soft bristle brush to get the crevasses clean. I find these cleaners to be invaluable and recommend their use.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Re: Ultra sonic cleaning machine?
I use ultrasonics for cleaning other things at work, but have never used it on a watch. Using it on a bracelet should work well though.
Ultrasonics will let you clean the little nooks and crannies that are hard (or impossible) to reach by hand because they are too small.
For something such as a watch bracelet, for example, it will help get the gunk out from between the links, that you probably could not reach otherwise without disassembling into individual links. A watchmaker may use an ultrasonic to clean the individual parts/gears of a movement as well, once it's been disassembled.
However an ultrasonic unit will do nothing for the finish. To maintain a polish you will have to do that by hand.
Also, I would never immerse the watch itself into an ultrasonic. If the water resistance was compromised in any way, or if any of the seals were even weakened to begin with it could potentially damage the seals, and ending up with water inside the case would be very bad. The cavitation in the cleaning solution caused by the ultrasonics can be fairly powerful against less robust materials, and I read an account of where a watchmaker blasted the lacquer finish off of a dial accidentally once, so that's not something I would want to risk have happen to myself (a properly functioning ultrasonic unit will punch holes through kitchen gauge aluminum foil... it's one of the tests we do to make sure it's actually working).
I use ultrasonics for cleaning other things at work, but have never used it on a watch. Using it on a bracelet should work well though.
Ultrasonics will let you clean the little nooks and crannies that are hard (or impossible) to reach by hand because they are too small.
For something such as a watch bracelet, for example, it will help get the gunk out from between the links, that you probably could not reach otherwise without disassembling into individual links. A watchmaker may use an ultrasonic to clean the individual parts/gears of a movement as well, once it's been disassembled.
However an ultrasonic unit will do nothing for the finish. To maintain a polish you will have to do that by hand.
Also, I would never immerse the watch itself into an ultrasonic. If the water resistance was compromised in any way, or if any of the seals were even weakened to begin with it could potentially damage the seals, and ending up with water inside the case would be very bad. The cavitation in the cleaning solution caused by the ultrasonics can be fairly powerful against less robust materials, and I read an account of where a watchmaker blasted the lacquer finish off of a dial accidentally once, so that's not something I would want to risk have happen to myself (a properly functioning ultrasonic unit will punch holes through kitchen gauge aluminum foil... it's one of the tests we do to make sure it's actually working).
Re: Ultra sonic cleaning machine?
I have an ultrasonic from Amazon, I bought it 6 or 7 years ago and use it 3 or 4 times a year on bracelets. I've also used it on bare cases. It works great for cleaning them but it will not buff or polish them.
I don't put the watch head in. I'm guessing the ultrasonic movement in the liquid, which is tiny but repeating rapidly and violently on a small scale, would be anything but good for the hairspring or jewels in the movement.
I have an ultrasonic from Amazon, I bought it 6 or 7 years ago and use it 3 or 4 times a year on bracelets. I've also used it on bare cases. It works great for cleaning them but it will not buff or polish them.
I don't put the watch head in. I'm guessing the ultrasonic movement in the liquid, which is tiny but repeating rapidly and violently on a small scale, would be anything but good for the hairspring or jewels in the movement.
Re: Ultra sonic cleaning machine?
Let me put it this way, the cavitations generated by my ultrasonic cleaner are intense enough to flake off some compromised PVD coatings on my old glasses. You should really think twice before putting a watch head into it, since it could severely compromise the rubber seals.
Let me put it this way, the cavitations generated by my ultrasonic cleaner are intense enough to flake off some compromised PVD coatings on my old glasses. You should really think twice before putting a watch head into it, since it could severely compromise the rubber seals.
Re: Ultra sonic cleaning machine?
That machine is used more so for jewellery pieces rather than watches. I would recommend for cleaning to purchase some professional quality cleaning gloves and use that to clean your watches before putting them on. That's what I use, I use to work for a high end jewellery store and I keep all my watches spotless doing so. The scuffs will need a buffing machine to clean them off, so I'd recommend going to the watch fix shop.
That machine is used more so for jewellery pieces rather than watches. I would recommend for cleaning to purchase some professional quality cleaning gloves and use that to clean your watches before putting them on. That's what I use, I use to work for a high end jewellery store and I keep all my watches spotless doing so. The scuffs will need a buffing machine to clean them off, so I'd recommend going to the watch fix shop.
Re: Ultra sonic cleaning machine?
It is a cleaning device not something you can remove scuffs with.
Merged your thread with another one, randomly chosen out of 50.
It is a cleaning device not something you can remove scuffs with.
Merged your thread with another one, randomly chosen out of 50.
Re: Ultra sonic cleaning machine?
Ultrasonic works by taking 2 sound wave's additive energy to heat water which then creates vapor at nucleation sites. The vapor must build a large enough bubble to create a hemisphere. Up to this point nothing has happened as far as cleaning goes. The hemisphere collapses in the form of a torroid where the top of the dome drops through the doughnut hole in the form of a jet of water. That jet of water is hot. That jet of water is what does all the cleaning action. It's what will punch a hole in a piece of aluminum.
It is a convenient coincidence that disruptions in the uniformity of a surface act as nucleation sites.
In other words, crap on a smooth surface will get blasted off since the edges attract bubbles.
What does this mean when it comes to your watch?
If your watch is filled with liquid, an ultrasonic cleaner will do serious damage to it.
If the parts inside your watch are air gapped it is impossible for the sound to damage them.
The only way an ultrasonic cleaner can damage parts inside a watch is through hi-frequency vibration of the case.
The primary way that can happen is if you put the watch on the bottom of the tank of the cleaner.
Nothing should ever touch the ultrasonic cleaners tank where the fluid is. Or said differently, always suspend the object to be cleaned.
Also, if you're using a water-based solution, 170°F will allow bubbles to form most easily and get the best cleaning action. Many ultrasonic cleaners have heaters in them. Your watch might not like to be heated to 170°F.
Also, you should de-gas water by running the cleaner for 5-10 minutes prior to use (it should start loud & get quieter - when it stops getting quieter it is ready to use).
As far as ultrasonic ruining rubber - that's nigh impossible. (Sandblasting cabinets have rubber gloves for a reason.) The little jets of water just bounce off the rubber.
If the rubber is old and crumbling then you could have a problem.
If your seals are compromised, there's a good chance that there is some oil/dirt in the compromised area. Ultrasonic cleaning will excavate the debris, break the "seal" and introduce water.
Also, there might be gaps so small that surface tension prevents ingress of water, but ultrasonic action will squirt water through.
So, to recap:
The mechanism of cleaning of an ultrasonic machine is cavitation - cavitation can not hurt your sealed watch.
BUT, 20,000hz sound waves will shake the entire case.
I have cleaned many (about 50) different watches in my ultrasonic cleaner.
A Mako Ray, which was running, gained time by running 2x normal speed (it was fully wound at the time).
(This is a watch that is quite sensitive to action once fully wound (overbanking) & not a normal stable Orient.)
Some of the watches which claimed 30-50M water resistance, mainly throw-away Timex, did cloud up.
I usually put them in at 170°F for 30 seconds max & then let them cool back down.
I usually use Micro90 and DI water.
Ultrasonic works by taking 2 sound wave's additive energy to heat water which then creates vapor at nucleation sites. The vapor must build a large enough bubble to create a hemisphere. Up to this point nothing has happened as far as cleaning goes. The hemisphere collapses in the form of a torroid where the top of the dome drops through the doughnut hole in the form of a jet of water. That jet of water is hot. That jet of water is what does all the cleaning action. It's what will punch a hole in a piece of aluminum.
It is a convenient coincidence that disruptions in the uniformity of a surface act as nucleation sites.
In other words, crap on a smooth surface will get blasted off since the edges attract bubbles.
What does this mean when it comes to your watch?
If your watch is filled with liquid, an ultrasonic cleaner will do serious damage to it.
If the parts inside your watch are air gapped it is impossible for the sound to damage them.
The only way an ultrasonic cleaner can damage parts inside a watch is through hi-frequency vibration of the case.
The primary way that can happen is if you put the watch on the bottom of the tank of the cleaner.
Nothing should ever touch the ultrasonic cleaners tank where the fluid is. Or said differently, always suspend the object to be cleaned.
Also, if you're using a water-based solution, 170°F will allow bubbles to form most easily and get the best cleaning action. Many ultrasonic cleaners have heaters in them. Your watch might not like to be heated to 170°F.
Also, you should de-gas water by running the cleaner for 5-10 minutes prior to use (it should start loud & get quieter - when it stops getting quieter it is ready to use).
As far as ultrasonic ruining rubber - that's nigh impossible. (Sandblasting cabinets have rubber gloves for a reason.) The little jets of water just bounce off the rubber.
If the rubber is old and crumbling then you could have a problem.
If your seals are compromised, there's a good chance that there is some oil/dirt in the compromised area. Ultrasonic cleaning will excavate the debris, break the "seal" and introduce water.
Also, there might be gaps so small that surface tension prevents ingress of water, but ultrasonic action will squirt water through.
So, to recap:
The mechanism of cleaning of an ultrasonic machine is cavitation - cavitation can not hurt your sealed watch.
BUT, 20,000hz sound waves will shake the entire case.
I have cleaned many (about 50) different watches in my ultrasonic cleaner.
A Mako Ray, which was running, gained time by running 2x normal speed (it was fully wound at the time).
(This is a watch that is quite sensitive to action once fully wound (overbanking) & not a normal stable Orient.)
Some of the watches which claimed 30-50M water resistance, mainly throw-away Timex, did cloud up.
I usually put them in at 170°F for 30 seconds max & then let them cool back down.
I usually use Micro90 and DI water.
Re: Did I damage my Traser Code Blue?
Cavitation from a propeller is due to vacuum, not heat - the action is similar (it will cut through 20 feet of concrete in the penstocks of a dam) but differs in 2 respects.
Bubble formation on a propeller happens repeatedly in the same spot & bubbles formed by heating (ultrasonic) can only grow to a small size limiting the power of the jet.
As mentioned previously by another member, an ultrasonic cleaner can be tested with a piece of standard kitchen aluminum foil. The foil will have braille like bumps on it & if your cleaner is strong enough, the foil will have holes pierced as if by a needle. But heavy duty foil (about 3x thickness of kitchen stuff) shows no signs of ultrasonic damage.
Gems in a loose setting can be damaged by being rattled by the ultrasonic action - the damage occurs at the contact points between the gem and setting.
Cavitation from a propeller is due to vacuum, not heat - the action is similar (it will cut through 20 feet of concrete in the penstocks of a dam) but differs in 2 respects.
Bubble formation on a propeller happens repeatedly in the same spot & bubbles formed by heating (ultrasonic) can only grow to a small size limiting the power of the jet.
As mentioned previously by another member, an ultrasonic cleaner can be tested with a piece of standard kitchen aluminum foil. The foil will have braille like bumps on it & if your cleaner is strong enough, the foil will have holes pierced as if by a needle. But heavy duty foil (about 3x thickness of kitchen stuff) shows no signs of ultrasonic damage.
Gems in a loose setting can be damaged by being rattled by the ultrasonic action - the damage occurs at the contact points between the gem and setting.
Re: Did I damage my Traser Code Blue?
Thought I should add that acrylic crystals could show some dulling at the bezel margin if a powerful ultrasonic cleaner is used at elevated temperature.
I cleaned my bathroom faucet knobs (acrylic) and there was a bit of dulling in the valleys that faced down while being cleaned (where the transducer was located).
I did this in 185°F water which is too close to the softening point of acrylic (210°F).
So if you have an old watch, like a Vostok, that you know is waterproof but has a plastic crystal, take care to do the cleaning at a lower temp.
BTW - I quickly polished the faucet knobs back to full luster with some Bon Ami.
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Thought I should add that acrylic crystals could show some dulling at the bezel margin if a powerful ultrasonic cleaner is used at elevated temperature.
I cleaned my bathroom faucet knobs (acrylic) and there was a bit of dulling in the valleys that faced down while being cleaned (where the transducer was located).
I did this in 185°F water which is too close to the softening point of acrylic (210°F).
So if you have an old watch, like a Vostok, that you know is waterproof but has a plastic crystal, take care to do the cleaning at a lower temp.
BTW - I quickly polished the faucet knobs back to full luster with some Bon Ami.
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