Hidden gems you’ve found

[TwisT]

Ultrasonic jewelry cleaner from Temu. It was $5! I use it to clean bearings. Remove the shields and clean them separately in Dawn. Place the bearings with the rolling elements facing down. Fill with isopropyl alcohol until it covers the bearings. Turn it on. A few minutes later all the debris is in the bottom below the strainer. Most effective/effortless way I have ever cleaned bearings.

I saw this post, googled a few videos, and I'm sold. I'll put it on my Christmas list. Maybe one I can fit a hanger in.

[rikki]

Expand Quote

Pals, like said above, the Indy T-tool is the bee's knees and really all you need and goes well with Ventures too.

[close]

Do you still scratch the truck with the inner bolts?

The tool can touch the truck occasionally, but it doesn't actually scratch it if you're careful. There's just enough clearance. It works best with a slight angle, with which you can tighten the nuts without leaving any marks on the truck.

Just actually checked my cast Ventures which I've been tightening with the Indy tool and I couldn't really see any tool marks. I mean, the trucks get scratched from skating anyway.

[moykky]

Expand Quote

Ultrasonic jewelry cleaner from Temu. It was $5! I use it to clean bearings. Remove the shields and clean them separately in Dawn. Place the bearings with the rolling elements facing down. Fill with isopropyl alcohol until it covers the bearings. Turn it on. A few minutes later all the debris is in the bottom below the strainer. Most effective/effortless way I have ever cleaned bearings.

[close]

I saw this post, googled a few videos, and I'm sold. I'll put it on my Christmas list. Maybe one I can fit a hanger in.

I don't know how that works, but: I got a ultrasonic cleaner from my father and used it to clean bike parts and stuff. Once I had a fancy bike chains with some...fancy coating. The coating was mostly gone after cleaning the chains in ultrasonic cleaner. So, it works great if there are no "moving parts" that can rub against each other when it vibrates. I keep a thin kitchen sponge under the items too.

[meeevs]

Expand Quote

Expand Quote

Ultrasonic jewelry cleaner from Temu. It was $5! I use it to clean bearings. Remove the shields and clean them separately in Dawn. Place the bearings with the rolling elements facing down. Fill with isopropyl alcohol until it covers the bearings. Turn it on. A few minutes later all the debris is in the bottom below the strainer. Most effective/effortless way I have ever cleaned bearings.

[close]

I saw this post, googled a few videos, and I'm sold. I'll put it on my Christmas list. Maybe one I can fit a hanger in.

[close]

I don't know how that works, but: I got a ultrasonic cleaner from my father and used it to clean bike parts and stuff. Once I had a fancy bike chains with some...fancy coating. The coating was mostly gone after cleaning the chains in ultrasonic cleaner. So, it works great if there are no "moving parts" that can rub against each other when it vibrates. I keep a thin kitchen sponge under the items too.

Yeah, it agitates bubbles so effectively that they can wear off coatings etc. This is why most people using them for cleaning and waxing bike chains don't use any anodising or coatings. Any imperfections in the finish/plating/coating are an entry point and it will simply come straight off, even using a neutral cleaning agent.

I think it's overkill for skate bearings but they are pretty convenient. I use a DIY bottle that I made using the same idea as the bones bottle. Degreaser shake/swill > Isopropyl alcohol rinse, quick wipe and the rest evaporates off ready for lubricant.

[TwisT]

after doing more research, it looks like inline speed skaters have been cleaning their bearings with these things for years. None of their bearings seem as grimy as skateboard bearings going in.

[tzhangdox]

I got an ultrasonic cleaner couple years ago. Still going strong. Havent had to replace a single set of bearings since I got them, though I am on quantums which are great in their own right