you just want to clean the mouth piece (fipple) out or is the bore of the whistle body full of guck too?
Wouldn't a package of pipe leaners (the soft kind without the bristles) and warm Soapy water be cheaper? Depending on what material your whistle is made of this my be a very bad idea (the cleaner).
I my be mistaken but I think these devices are used for cleaning non- ferrous metals and even if it is made of non-ferrous metal what might become of the soldier or epoxies that hold the whistle together?
They have had them in various places that I have worked and they were often used unofficially for cleaning all sorts of small mainly metallic objects, usually with great success. But things that are porous and not quite so hard as you may think might fall to pieces and things that are stuck on may fall off. I wonder if invisible cracks might open.
John Sindt was at our session last Saturday and he went and cleaned a whistle with a few drops of dish soap in hot water, I think he soaked it briefly and then washed it out.
An ultrasonic cleaner, using warm soapy water shouldn't harm it, since the vibrations are very gentle, but you had better check with John or another whistle maker. I would, if you get ahold of someone ask also if a jeweler's steamer might clean it well too. It's a powerful shot of steam... so check first. It could loosen something that shouldn't be loosened. Can't imagine it would, but who knows.
Ya Know...I have used an Ultrasonic daily (4-5 day work week) for many years and it has never crossed my mind to dump my whistles in it.. Eww.. What would John S. say?
I'll try to find out about that lamhtrom, Are you a jeweler? What about a quick blast of steam, have you tried that? I'll email John and see what he says.
Should have said above "some things that were porous fell to bits (e.g. soft pottery) and some things stuck on fell off (e.g. glass stones in cheap costume jewellry)"
Handy domestic gadget until the novelty wears off ? Very seasonal.
John Sindt says ultrasonic should be fine,
Brass and delrin are both pretty indestructable materials.The most important things to remember is to not scratch the windway,the end of the fipple and the edge of the ramp.
I think he is on this group so he may see this thread if it doesn't disappear to fast.
Ultrasonic cleaner
Ultrasonic cleaner
Anyone have an opinion on using an ultrasonic cleaning bath to clean all the sh!te out of the fipple of a whistle?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ultra-3000-Ultrasonic-Cleaner-replaced/dp/B000KLLAOY
# Posted on December 23rd 2008 by Nick Splease
Re: Ultrasonic cleaner
technical stuff:
http://www.coleparmer.co.uk/techinfo/techinfo.asp?htmlfile=ultrasoniccleaner_faq.htm&ID=792#anchor1
# Posted on December 23rd 2008 by Nick Splease
Re: Ultrasonic cleaner
I wouldn't want to try it with a wooden one !
# Posted on December 23rd 2008 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Ultrasonic cleaner
you just want to clean the mouth piece (fipple) out or is the bore of the whistle body full of guck too?
Wouldn't a package of pipe leaners (the soft kind without the bristles) and warm Soapy water be cheaper? Depending on what material your whistle is made of this my be a very bad idea (the cleaner).
I my be mistaken but I think these devices are used for cleaning non- ferrous metals and even if it is made of non-ferrous metal what might become of the soldier or epoxies that hold the whistle together?
# Posted on December 23rd 2008 by madfluter
Re: Ultrasonic cleaner
What about a Hadron high-energy particle accelerator?
# Posted on December 23rd 2008 by Duijera Dubh
Re: Ultrasonic cleaner
yeah but I think they cost a bit more than 20 or 30 quid
# Posted on December 23rd 2008 by Nick Splease
Re: Ultrasonic cleaner
madfluter got it in one.
pipecleaners - the clue is in the name.
# Posted on December 23rd 2008 by showaddydadito
Re: Ultrasonic cleaner
They have had them in various places that I have worked and they were often used unofficially for cleaning all sorts of small mainly metallic objects, usually with great success. But things that are porous and not quite so hard as you may think might fall to pieces and things that are stuck on may fall off. I wonder if invisible cracks might open.
# Posted on December 23rd 2008 by david_h
Re: Ultrasonic cleaner
As far as I'm concerned the pipe cleaner method is easy and cheap enough for me. I wouldn't spend that much just to clean my fipple.
# Posted on December 23rd 2008 by rob_handel
Re: Ultrasonic cleaner
Feh. Just dunk the sucker in yer whiskey.
# Posted on December 23rd 2008 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: Ultrasonic cleaner
Scrubbing Bubbles!
# Posted on December 23rd 2008 by pipewatcher
Re: Ultrasonic cleaner
John Sindt was at our session last Saturday and he went and cleaned a whistle with a few drops of dish soap in hot water, I think he soaked it briefly and then washed it out.
An ultrasonic cleaner, using warm soapy water shouldn't harm it, since the vibrations are very gentle, but you had better check with John or another whistle maker. I would, if you get ahold of someone ask also if a jeweler's steamer might clean it well too. It's a powerful shot of steam... so check first. It could loosen something that shouldn't be loosened. Can't imagine it would, but who knows.
# Posted on December 24th 2008 by irisnevins
Re: Ultrasonic cleaner
Ya Know...I have used an Ultrasonic daily (4-5 day work week) for many years and it has never crossed my mind to dump my whistles in it.. Eww.. What would John S. say?
# Posted on December 24th 2008 by lamh trom
Re: Ultrasonic cleaner
I'll try to find out about that lamhtrom, Are you a jeweler? What about a quick blast of steam, have you tried that? I'll email John and see what he says.
# Posted on December 24th 2008 by irisnevins
Re: Ultrasonic cleaner
Should have said above "some things that were porous fell to bits (e.g. soft pottery) and some things stuck on fell off (e.g. glass stones in cheap costume jewellry)"
Handy domestic gadget until the novelty wears off ? Very seasonal.
# Posted on December 24th 2008 by david_h
Re: Ultrasonic cleaner
John Sindt says ultrasonic should be fine,
Brass and delrin are both pretty indestructable materials.The most important things to remember is to not scratch the windway,the end of the fipple and the edge of the ramp.
I think he is on this group so he may see this thread if it doesn't disappear to fast.
# Posted on December 25th 2008 by irisnevins