PSA: That $20 ultrasonic cleaner from Harbor Freight actually works for cleaning circuit boards

I was sure it was junk when I saw the price tag, figured it couldn't even shake a loose screw. Last month a customer brought in a water-damaged laptop from a flood in New Orleans, and I threw the motherboard in there with some 99% isopropyl for 3 cycles. Cleaned off all the crud better than my cotton swabs and toothbrush ever did, and the board fired right up afterwards. Anyone else have a cheap tool that surprised them?

3 comments

3 Comments

kim.nina15d ago

Huh, pretty sure you mean 91% isopropyl, not 99%. The 99% stuff evaporates too fast to actually do any cleaning in an ultrasonic, it's gone before the cavitation even kicks in. Glad it worked for you though, that's a steal for twenty bucks.

beth27615d ago

Grab a cheap heat gun or a hair dryer and warm up the ultrasonic bath solution first, then drop the 99% in. The heat slows the evaporation rate way down, you get the full cleaning power without it disappearing. I do this for my carburetor parts and it works like a charm, the 99% actually dissolves brake cleaner residue way better than 91% ever did. Just gotta keep the lid on tight and work fast.

sethfoster15d ago

You ever notice how people get dead set on a certain way of doing things and then it’s like the other way doesn’t even exist? It’s kind of like how everyone swears by one brand of tape for masking off windows for painting, and then there’s that one guy who uses the cheap stuff and it works just fine if you know the trick. Maybe it’s just me but I think there’s always a workaround if you’re willing to experiment a little instead of just sticking to what everyone says is the only way.