Old school Zenith cleaning machine

[ewinrow]

Minus the cleaning containers, I picked-up an old school Zenith cleaning unit that works well for the unbelievable price of $2.00 at the flea market today. Need jars and advice on proper usage and products to use for unit. Anybody have any advice on parts and to help pull me along with this new process to me along with proper usage? Thanks guy’s. Ed…..

[david pierce]

Ewinrow,
Uncle Larry’s usually has jars but the offical ones are rather expensive. You might find something that will work at Hobby Lobby, Wall Mart, Pier One, Cost Plus, Target etc. If the agitator fits and it holds liquid, what the heck.
david

[Bob Tascione]

Hi Ed,
I didn’t realize you had asked about solutions to use in your machine. I thought were just asking about jars which David covered well. There are different solutions that range in price and cleaning quality. We’ve covered solutions up here pretty well before so let me try to find the posts for you. It will be a little later this morning when I can jump back in here but I’ll try to cover a few things when I do. Doing a little file backing up work on the forum right now.
Adios for now and Welcome to the forum Ed!
Bob

[Bob Tascione]

Hi Ed,
Take a look at the following threads when you have a chance. There’s another one that digs into other solutions like L&Rs 566 non-ammoniated waterless and the rinse L&R #3 but so far it’s eluded me. I’ll try to locate it too.
http://clockrepairtips.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=265&p=1162&hilit=zenith#p1162
http://clockrepairtips.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=340

Bob

[david pierce]

Ed,
I use plain old straight NAPTHA that I buy by the gallon from Home Depot. If I clean a watch hairspring I run it through the NAPTHA and then dip it in Laquer thinner to remove any residual oil that might be left on the part. I dry the parts by laying them on a paper towel for about 30 minutes. When I suggested this on the NAWCC blog I was attacked on their froum. One guy flashed his Rolex credentials in my face and told me I “needed to man up and use L&R cleaner”.
david

[arutha]

David,
that really annoys me when you get that kind of response about your methods. What these “Rolex” specialists forget is that they are doing this day in day out and paying for “proper” cleaning solution is easy for them because the price of the stuff is like loose change to them. When you add up the price of the cleaning solution and the rinse it becomes quite expensive. If what you are using works and you get a clean movement and it doesn’t dissolve the shellac then what is the problem.
Sorry for ranting on your post Ed but this gets to me. You will find this happens quite a lot on other horological forums, You will ask a question about how to do something, you will get thirty different answers on how to do it and at least two of the forum members will get into a massive argument and fall out over it.
I have some of the L&R cleaner and rinse, I use it on clock platforms in a watch cleaning machine, it is ok but I cant say I am amazed by the results. It does get stuff quite clean but it does nothing to remove tarnish. I have the fast drying rinse and it doesn’t seem to dry that quickly. Just my two cents worth.
As for jars, they dont have to be glass, I had an ultrasonic unit that had stainless steel containers, just thought it might give you another option. If you try to use anything plastic just leave whatever solution you use in it overnight and check there is no residue coming from the plastic. Some types of plastic will melt with some solutions and others will be ok.
Paul.

[ewinrow]

@david pierce wrote:

Ewinrow,
Uncle Larry’s usually has jars but the offical ones are rather expensive. You might find something that will work at Hobby Lobby, Wall Mart, Pier One, Cost Plus, Target etc. If the agitator fits and it holds liquid, what the heck.
david

Hey Dave, I have found that moonshine jars do just the same. Found two need one more. The Ball wide mouth ones work fine. Thanks Dave, Ed…..

[ewinrow]

@Bob Tascione wrote:

Hi Ed,
I didn’t realize you had asked about solutions to use in your machine. I thought were just asking about jars which David covered well. There are different solutions that range in price and cleaning quality. We’ve covered solutions up here pretty well before so let me try to find the posts for you. It will be a little later this morning when I can jump back in here but I’ll try to cover a few things when I do. Doing a little file backing up work on the forum right now.
Adios for now and Welcome to the forum Ed!
Bob

Hey Bob, I have settled for the large mouth moonshine jars. Working for me fine. Now the chemicals, I took head to your vid. So far so good. Thanks for the reply. I’d also like to thank everyone who showed their concern and gave-up their time to give their advice. Besides I also count my blessings because I only paid $2:00 for the entire unit, screens and machine and for the work it does I think I done fine.

[david pierce]

Ed,
So what happened to the moonshine?
david

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