How to Test an Ultrasonic Jewelry Cleaner

Use aluminum foil to test your ultrasonic cleaner.

Ultrasonic jewelry cleaners are great tools for home use, as well as in a jewelry-making studio. Testing your ultrasonic cleaner from time to time will ensure that your equipment is kept in tiptop shape.



There are two simple tests for checking the workings of your ultrasonic cleaner: the foil test and the slide test. Use either or both tests periodically to be sure your ultrasonic cleaner is working to capacity.

Things You'll Need

• Aluminum foil
• Frosted glass slide
• Number 2 lead pencil
• Ultrasonic cleaner
• Ultrasonic cleaning solution

Instructions

1. Use a number 2 lead pencil to mark a large "X" on a frosted glass slide.

2. Lower the marked slide into the ultrasonic cleaner, which should be filled with ultrasonic cleaning solution. Turn on the ultrasonic cleaner. Allow the ultrasonic cleaner to run through its usual cycle. Remove the slide. The "X" pencil mark should be gone if the ultrasonic cleaner is working properly.

3. Cut a large piece of aluminum foil. The piece should be large enough to lower into the ultrasonic cleaner and still have a long foil "tail" that will allow you to suspend the foil from above the unltrasonic cleaner -- either by hand or with a dowel -- while the ultrasonic cleaner is operating.

4. Lower the foil into the ultrasonic cleaner that is filled with ultrasonic cleaning solution. Turn the ultrasonic cleaner on and allow it to cycle as usual. Remove the foil from the ultrasonic cleaner once the cycle is complete. The foil should be uniformly perforated if the ultrasonic cleaner is operating properly.

Tips & Warnings

• Never put your hand in an ultrasonic cleaner while the cleaner is operating. It can cause nerve damage to hands and other body parts.

References

• "The Complete Metalsmith: Professional Edition"; Tim McCreight; 2005
• "Metalsmithing"; Robert Ebendorf, Michael Jerry and Thomas Markusen; 1973
• "Jewelry: Fundamentals of Metalsmithing"; Tim McCreight; 1997
• "Jewelry Concepts and Technology"; Oppi Untracht; 1982
• "The Complete Book of Jewelry Making"; Carles Codina; 2006

Resources

• Cole-Parmer Technical Library: Ultrasonic Cleaner FAQs
• Ultrawave: Frequently Asked Questions About Ultrasonic Cleaning
• Soniclean: Foil Test for Ultrasonic Cleaners