cleaning up old bolts, washers and small parts
#1
Nordschleife Master
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I wanted to pass along a heads up on something that I think anyone doing a restoration job should have.
Its the Vibratory Tumbler, as sold from Eastwood at $250 or something, OR the same thing from Harbor Freight for $60, which i bought on sale for $40 about a month ago.
THIS THING IS AWESOME, you have different media to use for cleaning, removing rust, or polishing, leaving a high luster finish. Well worth the expense for all those little jobs. Just set it in the 5lb bowl, fill with the media and come back in 2-3 hours and its looks factory fresh. I have only used the "green rust removal" so far and will be investing in the media that should leave things nice and shiny.
GREAT TOOL, Highly reccomended!
Its the Vibratory Tumbler, as sold from Eastwood at $250 or something, OR the same thing from Harbor Freight for $60, which i bought on sale for $40 about a month ago.
THIS THING IS AWESOME, you have different media to use for cleaning, removing rust, or polishing, leaving a high luster finish. Well worth the expense for all those little jobs. Just set it in the 5lb bowl, fill with the media and come back in 2-3 hours and its looks factory fresh. I have only used the "green rust removal" so far and will be investing in the media that should leave things nice and shiny.
GREAT TOOL, Highly reccomended!
#2
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Ryan-
I thought this would be about an ultrasonic cleaner (which I have and really like) but it's cool the tumbler is a good solution too.
I've been toying with buying a Caswell plating kit to clean up my crappy looking FPR's when I do the intake R&R, but I can't imagine how you'd seal the FPR to keep the solution from trashing it- Maybe a tumbler's a better idea. Anyone ever cleaned up plated metal bits with a tumbler?
I thought this would be about an ultrasonic cleaner (which I have and really like) but it's cool the tumbler is a good solution too.
I've been toying with buying a Caswell plating kit to clean up my crappy looking FPR's when I do the intake R&R, but I can't imagine how you'd seal the FPR to keep the solution from trashing it- Maybe a tumbler's a better idea. Anyone ever cleaned up plated metal bits with a tumbler?
#3
Nordschleife Master
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Rob,
Good question, i would like to do the same as those parts look brown now not the golden color they should be. I think with the tumbler you could probably use a bunch of masking tape to cover the holes up and throw it in the tumbler.
I have a FPR from the other engine, I will try this and let you know how it looks in a few hours. I need to get the other media, i think its listed as "dri shine" for the nice polished look. I will try it in the green material and let you know how it turns out.
Good question, i would like to do the same as those parts look brown now not the golden color they should be. I think with the tumbler you could probably use a bunch of masking tape to cover the holes up and throw it in the tumbler.
I have a FPR from the other engine, I will try this and let you know how it looks in a few hours. I need to get the other media, i think its listed as "dri shine" for the nice polished look. I will try it in the green material and let you know how it turns out.
#4
Nordschleife Master
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do those ultrasonic cleaners really work, those are like the jewerly cleaners right, i never thought those did anything but you may have a much better unit.
#5
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I have an old Bransonic that was being thrown out by another lab- It holds about a half gallon, and I put in a (roughly) 1:4 mix of simple green and water.
You can often find them on Ebay for $40-50.
Every bolt and bracket I took off the car during the TB/WP and MM/realgasket got cleaned for 5-10 minutes. It also works well on plastic parts- here's the before and after on the oil filler cap- (took 30 minutes and 2 changes to get all the stains out of the plastic)
and after:
You can often find them on Ebay for $40-50.
Every bolt and bracket I took off the car during the TB/WP and MM/realgasket got cleaned for 5-10 minutes. It also works well on plastic parts- here's the before and after on the oil filler cap- (took 30 minutes and 2 changes to get all the stains out of the plastic)
![](https://webfiles.uci.edu/redwards/public/oil%20filler%20cap%20before.jpg)
and after:
![](https://webfiles.uci.edu/redwards/public/engine-%20new%20timing%20belt.jpg)
#6
Nordschleife Master
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Rob,
as soon as i opened this post i got a Safari (mac) log in screen for something at the uci lab.
I am not sure if others will get this as well, but your pics dont show up, i see just little blue boxes with white question marks in them.
as soon as i opened this post i got a Safari (mac) log in screen for something at the uci lab.
I am not sure if others will get this as well, but your pics dont show up, i see just little blue boxes with white question marks in them.
#7
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Yep, I got the same.
Rod
Rod
Originally Posted by RyanPerrella
Rob,
as soon as i opened this post i got a Safari (mac) log in screen for something at the uci lab.
I am not sure if others will get this as well, but your pics dont show up, i see just little blue boxes with white question marks in them.
as soon as i opened this post i got a Safari (mac) log in screen for something at the uci lab.
I am not sure if others will get this as well, but your pics dont show up, i see just little blue boxes with white question marks in them.
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#9
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I have an ultrasonic - works really well - about 8"x8"X6" - only limitation is size.
I use 50/50 simple green/water.
Gets all the crud and oil off no problem. Will not get rid of hard rust though.
A clean cycle is about 4 mins and I paid about $80 a couple of years ago.
I use 50/50 simple green/water.
Gets all the crud and oil off no problem. Will not get rid of hard rust though.
A clean cycle is about 4 mins and I paid about $80 a couple of years ago.
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Does it have the "Do It Yourself" manual transmission, or the superior "Fully Equipped by Porsche" Automatic Transmission?
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#10
Nordschleife Master
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really
well i will pass on buying all new cam cover bolts, i think the short ones are $23 each and the long ones are $12 each, lets see you need 20 of the long one's and 6 of the short ones so thats what $378 for just those 26 bolts, or i can just clean them up for a few dollars.........
well i will pass on buying all new cam cover bolts, i think the short ones are $23 each and the long ones are $12 each, lets see you need 20 of the long one's and 6 of the short ones so thats what $378 for just those 26 bolts, or i can just clean them up for a few dollars.........
#11
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the ultrasonic sounds like a good thing to have, the tumbler takes 2-3 hours as opposed to 4-5 minutes. I guess they both have their uses, but it sounds like i need to get an ultrasonic cleaner as well to add to the tool collection.Many things are just grimey and oily and i am sure the ultrasonic will work great for those.
The ultrasonic does what exactly doesnt it just agitate the liquid solution, or is there more to it then just the agitation/shaking?
The ultrasonic does what exactly doesnt it just agitate the liquid solution, or is there more to it then just the agitation/shaking?
#13
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So if you had a large enough ultrasonic cleaner for, say, a cylinder head? Sure beats using a bead blaster!!
Not that expensive either:
http://www.omegasonics.com/industrial/models.shtml
Not that expensive either:
http://www.omegasonics.com/industrial/models.shtml
#14
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Ryan,
Yes its high frequency agitation and it also generates heat. The water heats up and this helps with the process. I can also see the need for the tumbler - Xmas is coming and the kids will be happy they have something to buy for the man with everything - not.
Roger
Yes its high frequency agitation and it also generates heat. The water heats up and this helps with the process. I can also see the need for the tumbler - Xmas is coming and the kids will be happy they have something to buy for the man with everything - not.
Roger