Ultrasonic cleaning solutions

[Dave P.]

I have a ultrasonic cleaner that I use, normally a water based cleaner
with the gun totally apart, acetone rinse and then lube and reassemble.
Looking for a ideas on some of the oil based cleaners, trying avoid
the full detail strip. Maybe clean it, blow it off and go with just
a field strip. Mostly polymer frames...LCP, Glocks etc.
Any thoughts?
Thanks
Dave

 

[Peter M. Eick]

I just ordered another gallon of Mpro7 for my ultrasonic this evening. I use 2 gallons of Mpro 7 and then 2 gallons of L&R water displacing gun oil.

My approach is to fill the ultrasonic (I have a big stuellersonic unit) and heat it up. 15 minutes per round and I can usually get two to 3 handguns immersed at once. Drip dry and then switch fluid and 15 more minutes in the gun lube. Drip dry, conventional lube, put the grips back on and into the safe. Works great!

 

[beag_nut]

I would ( I definitely DO) avoid the acetone. Because it's an organic solvent, it can release the plasticizers in polymer plastics (double-speak, I know). Once the plasticizers begin leaching out, that never stops. Almost impossible to determine what plastics are used in today's crop of handguns (there ARE a couple plastics immune to the process). Learned this the hard way, in industry.

 

[Dave P.]

Good point on the acetone, never really thought a quick shot would hurt
much.
Guess I'll only use it on the steel stuff, maybe hit the plastic with some
of the poly-safe gun scrubber stuff.

Peter, have you ever tried any of the one step stuff?
Thanks
Dave

 

[Peter M. Eick]

Nope. Mpro7 works so well, and things are so clean, I just don't see the upside in experimenting. Besides i can do it in my house and let it run with no mess or smell.

 

[dfariswheel]

An alternative, which is admittedly expensive, is to buy a gallon bucket of Cylinder & Slide Shop's "Dunk-It".
This is a combined cleaner and lubricant.
It's intended that you just hang the gun in the bucket and let it soak to clean it.
Remove, shake off the excess and it leaves a lubricant on it.

This also works in an ultrasonic cleaner, which eliminates any rinsing or making sure you have all internal surfaces coated with a coat of lube to prevent rust.

I would still apply a standard gun lubricant on key areas, like slide rails and barrels.