Since my last post related to my most commonly used ultrasonic cleaning machines, I figured that it might be prudent to say something about the cleaning solutions I commonly use in said cleaning machine. To be perfectly honest, I have only ever used the ones we used in back in school. I liked the results I got when using them so well that it actually never crossed my mind to go out and buy alternate solutions. I suppose that I could add another solution to my order the next time I replenish my supply, but the WT and WT Mark 2 use such a small amount of solution in each cup that it takes me a long time to go through a an entire gallon. Anyhow, I’ll list the three solutions I use, what machines I use them in, what results I get using them, where I buy them, and what they cost. As with anything, your mileage may vary.

–Zenith Radiant No.777 “Ultimate Watch and Clock Cleaning Solution”

This is my main cleaning solution in my WatchMaster WT and WT Mark 2 only in the first cleaning cup. It’s oil based and does not have an unpleasant smell like some of the other solvent based cleaners out there. I use this for all movement parts except the pallet fork and the balance complete. Obviously, you don’t clean the dial or hands with anything like this cleaner. After going through the rinse and drying cycles, brass, silver, gold, and steel parts all come out sparkling even if they went in looking like they sat in a mud puddle for a month. I don’t typically use this solution on on case parts for the simple reason that my case cleaning tank would happily hold half a gallon or more of it and it’s expensive. There’s no chance of it hurting the material the cases are made of, but I’ve found that a detergent based cleaner, a stiff nylon brush, and a bit of steam do a fantastic job  so that a stringent chemical cleaner isn’t even necessary. This solution is only used in the designated cleaning solution cup in my cleaning machine. I pour out and replace the cleaning solution when, after allowing it to settle, I see a small layer of contaminant or sludge in the bottom of the cup. I buy mine from Esslinger in a gallon sized jug for about 50 dollars, not including shipping. As it is an oil based cleaner, there is no good way to, or need to for that matter, to dilute it. Also due to it being oil based, water based rinses should not be used in conjunction with it.

–Zenith Drizebrite No. 101 ” Ultimate Watch and Clock Final Rinse”

This is the rinsing solution that goes along with the Zenith 777 in the WatchMaster cleaners. This solution goes, not only in the subsequent cleaning cups, but also in the dip rinse cup. In order for the parts to come out really clean, you need to rinse the cleaning solution off of the parts before actually running them through an ultrasonic rinse cycle. So long as the parts basket is drained before placing it into a dryer, parts rinsed in this solution come out sparkling. Jewels shine, do not show spots from drying, and take oil just as they should. Six or seven minutes in the drying cup of my WatchMaster is all it takes to get toasty warm perfectly dry parts.

I change out my solution when I can see contaminants start to cloud the solution. I pour the dip rinse cup out, wipe the cup out with a paper towel, and refill it with the rinse from the first ultrasonic cup. I continue wiping out and transferring the solutions up the line until I get to the last ultrasonic cup and fill it with fresh solution from the jug. If I’ve just run a particularly dirty movement or two through the machine I will empty all the cups, wash them out with Tide detergent, hand dry them, and then leave them upside down for the fins on the ultrasonic cups to dry for an hour or two.

This rinsing solution is also oil based and so should not be used with a water based cleaning solution and is why the cups need to be extremely dry when filling them with cleaning or rinsing solution after being washed. This solution is also purchased from Esslinger, in a gallon jug for around 45 dollars not including shipping. As it is slightly less expensive than the Zenith 777 cleaner described above, and you’re going to use two to three times as much of the rinse as the cleaner, I suggest purchasing it two gallons at a time.

–PolyChem DeOx 007 Concentrated Degreaser, Deoxidizer, and Brightener

The final solution I use is a 4:1 ratio of water and concentrated DeOx-007 in my McKenna Labs CH-17 ultrasonic cleaning machine. Similar to the layout of the WatchMaster cleaners, the “McKenna Kleaner” has separate cups between which the parts being cleaned are transferred; two ultrasonic cups and one dip rinsing cup. There is also a heated forced air drying cup, but I prefer hand drying the parts I clean in this machine in order to avoid rust or water spots. Also similar ultrasonic cup has cleaning solution in it. The dip rinse cup and second ultrasonic cups are filled with distilled water. The only parts I clean in this machine are the pallet fork and balance complete. I only leave the parts for 90 seconds in the cup with the cleaning solution, drain the basket briefly on a paper towel, then dip rinse the parts basket in the non-ultrasonic distilled water cup, drain the basket again on the paper towel, then a final 90 seconds in the ultrasonic cup with distilled water. Immediately after draining the basket on the paper towel one more time, I remove the parts from the basket and dry the parts off with a hand blower and watch tissue.

I use a higher concentration, a 3:1 mix of water and DeOx-007, in a quart jar in my L&R half gallon ultrasonic cleaning tank. Gold, silver, nickel, and chrome cases come out exceptionally clean. Particularly gross cases may want a scrubbing to release some of the contaminants around the lugs, but this detergent based cleaning solution does a great job of loosening everything first. After rinsing and drying the case parts, I’m always pleased with the results. The jug the solution comes in recommends and 8:1 dilution, but the higher concentrations won’t hurt the parts unless you leave them sitting in the solution for hours or days. I buy my solution from Merritt’s in a gallon sized jug for around $28 before shipping. Since it’s a concentrated solution, it seems to last for ages.

Well, That’s it for now. With some luck, my next post will be in a week or two and will cover the restoration and use of my McKenna Laboratories “McKenna Kleaner” Ultrasonic cleaning machine model CH-17 from 1961. If you have questions or comments for me, leave them in the comments section below. I’ll do my best to answer it in a timely manner.