Any recommendations for a unit and a bio friendly degreaser to use in it?
I got a DK sonic one, that was recommended on the silca podcast iirc. Get one with a bigger capacity than you think, especially if you want to clean a cassette. around 3l.
However after a couple of years I am not really sure they are worth it. Shaking a chain in a jar with cleaning agent of choice is at least if not more effective to prepare a chain for waxing, and clean the cassette with brushes, once you start using a waxed chain, you don't really need to clean cassettes beyond hosing the mud off.
Yeah I think outside of bike shops or someone doing several chains at once on a regular basis then it's not needed
Used one when I was preparing diving kit for high pressure O2 - any oil residue could actually make it burst into flames and kill you to death so stuff needs to be really properly clean. Biking kit generally doesn't need to be *that* clean so a decent scrub with degreaser or IPA is enough. If you want a mechanical clean then allegedly the household dishwasher does a good job.
If you want a mechanical clean then allegedly the household dishwasher does a good job.
cough, don't tell the other half that's how the cassette got cleaned (but no longer a needed method with chain waxing).
I bought one 18 months ago. I chuck my chain in it maybe twice a year with soapy warm water or a degreaser then I rinse it with warm water in the ultra sonic cleaner and it does a good job of cleaning out the very fine dirt which is hidden within the chain.
Would I buy another if the one I have breaks? Probably, but I wouldn't rush to get one and I'd wait for a bargain buy.
Was just going to start a new thread about this as I fancy one. Spotted the manual control DK Sonic one mentioned above, and I'm tempted by that over a Chinese digital number for a simiar price, looks decent quality.
Want to ask though, is even a 3 litre one, noted above, enough for an MTB cassette? I reckon even at 6 litre you're going to have to turn over a cassette as it'll stick out of the top of the fluid.
I think I'd get the use out of it from my fleet of bikes plus tools, likely getting a carburettor motorbike, jewellery(?) that kind of thing.
I’ve got a very basic 2l iirc. I use it fairly regularly for cleaning bike bits and car bits.
to degrease a chain I’d pop it in a poly bag it thin walled plastic container (cut down milk bottle) in Screwfix degreaser or white vinegar.
Place that in the machine and pour near boiling water around it. then fire it up.
ill reuse the degreaser numerous times . Letting the crud settle and decanting the cleaner liquid off
I’ve got a very basic 2l iirc. I use it fairly regularly for cleaning bike bits and car bits.
to degrease a chain I’d pop it in a poly bag it thin walled plastic container (cut down milk bottle) in Screwfix degreaser or white vinegar.
Place that in the machine and pour near boiling water around it. then fire it up.
ill reuse the degreaser numerous times . Letting the crud settle and decanting the cleaner liquid off
I do the same. It's a useful way of optimising the use of cleaning stuff.
I have a VEVOR one - slightly bigger. I do similar trick - degreaser in a smaller container / jar, for whatever is being cleaned. Screwfix degreaser. A 2L milk carton with the top section cut off is ideal, as it has a built in handle.
Great for mucky cassettes and chains, and also troublesome things like mechanical mechs, brakes.
Be aware that concentrated degreaser can take the anodising off some components.
Nice tips about the cleaning of smaller/really dirty components.
I think you've properly convinced me, shall order one later. 👍