O.K. Richard... I'm happy that for a guy who knows everything there is to know about ultrasound cleaners that you find it necessary to continue in this thread to ask for my dumb opinions... and I'm equally as surprised that there are so many folks interested in reading this pleasant exchange.

You said in your most recent post .. "we all can learn something new from other people, i for one am always open to learning a new trick!" Well Richard ... here's a new trick for you to consider that I just read on thechipboard.com

A philosophy professor stood before his class and had some items in front
of him. When class began, wordlessly he picked up a large empty mayonnaise
jar and proceeded to fill it with rocks right to the top, rocks about 2" in
diameter.

He then asked the students if the jar was full?

They agreed that it was. So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles
and poured them in to the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles, of
course, rolled into the open areas between the rocks.

The students laughed. He asked his students again if the jar was full?

They agreed that yes, it was.

The professor then picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of
course, the sand filled up every-thing else. "Now," said the professor, "I
want you to recognize that this is your life. The rocks are the important
things - your family, your partner, your health, your children - anything
that is so important to you that if it were lost, you would be nearly
destroyed. The pebbles are the other things in life that matter, but on a
smaller scale. The pebbles represent things like your job, house, or car.
The sand is everything else, the small stuff."

"If you put the sand or the pebbles into the jar first, there is no room
for the rocks. The same goes for your life. If you spend all your energy
and time on the small stuff, material things, you will never have room for
the things that are truly most important."

Pay attention to the things that are critical in your life.
****** Play with your children.
****** Take time to get medical checkups.
****** Take your partner out dancing.
****** There will always be time to go to work, clean the house, give a
dinner party and fix the disposal.
****** Take care of the rocks first - the things that really matter.
****** Set your priorities, the rest is just pebbles and sand.
****** May there always be work for your hands to do;
****** May your purse always hold a coin or two;
****** May the sun always shine on your windowpane;
****** May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain;
****** May the hand of a friend always be near you;
****** May God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you. (An Irish
Blessing)

Use whatever method you prefer to clean your silver strikes Richard. I'll NOT be using an ultrasonic cleaning machine on mine ..... but I'm happy that you found a buyer on this message board for your extra machine.

Oh, BTW Richard; I too have emailed some MAJOR professional coin dealers who advertise in "Numismatic News, Coin World and The Numismatist". I'm sure that you have heard of some of them. Here's what they had to say about ultrasonic cleaners:

Here is the same question I posed to each one of them...
Q: "Would you please offer your professional candid opinion on the effectiveness of using ultrasound cleaners for cleaning silver coins or tokens? Would you recommend using a small amount of baking soda with an ultrasound cleaner? If not, why not?"

A: "Ultrasound is probably OK .. as long as you use only water and no chemicals. Baking soda is an abrasive like sandpaper and will leave hairlines all over the coins. The best thing to do is not to clean them, but if you have to, just use a mild soap and water. If there is grease etc. on them you can use acetone or unisolvent and it will get the dirt without harming the toning or patina" ... Gary Overton

A. "Fred is at the Central States show this week. I read him your email and his reply was: "Every coin is different and it's a personal choice as to how you clean it. It is not easy to tell you what to use or not to use, as again every coin is diferent." ... Fred Weinberg

A. "I am getting ready to leave for Columbus, Ohio. Please call me at 516-365-4120. Reason: There is too much to explain. Baking soda can harm the surface AS WELL AS ULTRASONIC CLEANERS." ...Anthony Swiatek

A. "The only good cleaner for silver coins is jewel lustre. The only coins that should be dipped are BU coins with tarnish. Most coins are best left alone." ... Jim Blanchard

A. "Ultrasound cleaners work fine. I would not recommend using anything abrasive, although baking soda does work on spots when used very carefully. I would use a Q-tip with some rubber cement thinner after the ultrasound cleaner to remove all the residue of the cleaning solution. Denatured alcohol and acentone in that order are very good dips to remove residue also." ... Dan Wahrer manager Williams Gallery

A. "No problems as long as the coins are NOT UNCIRCULATED." ... CT Rodgers

In conclusion Richard; I think I'll leave it up to the readers of this message board who's "two-cents" opinions and/or professional advice they care to choose from.

As my good friend Gene Trimble always likes to say at this point in a boring thread .... "Stick a fork in me, I'm done." I'm going to tend to those stones, pebbles and sand in the glass jar.