Ultrasonic Cleaning

[Zangetsu]

Did a search, couldn’t find a thread that wasn’t at least 10 years old! Figured it’d be better to start a new one instead of pulling out the shovel and digging one up from days long gone.

Was curious what solutions you guys who use them use. I can’t seem to find a consensus on it, even when talking to my local gun shops/smiths that use them. In general, I’m looking for a non-ammoniated solution that’s safe for aluminum parts. The ones I have been looking into are;

1) Dawn + DI water. Just a few bucks / batch and reportedly quite effective.

2) Slip2000 ultrasonic solution.

3) L&R Nonammoniated solution.

4) Brownells ultrasonic solution.

Anyone got any information or experience with these things?

 

[nycmarine]

I've had a crest ultrasonic tank for years. It came with concentrated solution. I have also used dawn and water with similar results.

The problem isn't finding an aluminum safe solution. It's that aluminum itself is not really ultrasonic cleaning safe. One of the tests to check the ultrasonic function is to drop a piece of aluminum foil in the tank and watch the pinholes appear.

They can be used on anodized aluminum (AR15) but I have managed to discolor one or two of those over the years.

 

[MidRoad]

Idk how it works on brass/gun powder .but we use the purple type of simple green at work for carberators,carberators are aluminum.

 

[dh1633pm]

I have used mine for cleaning brass. It works. Doesn't shine them like the tumbler, but it does clean well. Used the same stuff that I do in the tumbler. I like the tumbler better and I didn't buy the thing to clean brass. I wanted it to clean parts. Use a little degreaser and hot water. It really cleaned the cosmoline off the SKS I got. Helps when I get my tools all dirty from use.

 

[bassjam]

I've never tried brass in them, but I throw my wife's wedding ring in an ultrasonic cleaner a few times a year. A couple drops of dawn works, but using a jewelry specific cleaning solution works better to really bring out the shine in the diamond. I'll often do a mixture: 2 runs with a dawn mix to get most of the grit off and a final run with the cleaning solution.

 

[JONWILL]

I've had a crest ultrasonic tank for years. It came with concentrated solution. I have also used dawn and water with similar results.

The problem isn't finding an aluminum safe solution. It's that aluminum itself is not really ultrasonic cleaning safe. One of the tests to check the ultrasonic function is to drop a piece of aluminum foil in the tank and watch the pinholes appear.

They can be used on anodized aluminum (AR15) but I have managed to discolor one or two of those over the years.

Glad I read this. Did not know about aluminum and ultrasonic cleaning damages

 

[MidRoad]

I've had a crest ultrasonic tank for years. It came with concentrated solution. I have also used dawn and water with similar results.

The problem isn't finding an aluminum safe solution. It's that aluminum itself is not really ultrasonic cleaning safe. One of the tests to check the ultrasonic function is to drop a piece of aluminum foil in the tank and watch the pinholes appear.

They can be used on anodized aluminum (AR15) but I have managed to discolor one or two of those over the years.

Now is it the aluminum material itself or he combination of a soft metal AND the fact it's super thin that creates the holes. Hold that piece of foil in front of 130psi from an air /blow gun it's going to tare,but bold a 1/8" piece of aluminum in front of it and it won't be harmed. We use them all the time for aluminum carb cleaning as per recommendation/procudure set place n by John Deere when addressing carb issues and warranty processes. We have had more issues with different solutions being used rather than the cleaner itself.

 

[Zangetsu]

I've had a crest ultrasonic tank for years. It came with concentrated solution. I have also used dawn and water with similar results.

The problem isn't finding an aluminum safe solution. It's that aluminum itself is not really ultrasonic cleaning safe. One of the tests to check the ultrasonic function is to drop a piece of aluminum foil in the tank and watch the pinholes appear.

They can be used on anodized aluminum (AR15) but I have managed to discolor one or two of those over the years.

I see your point, but comparing a sheet of aluminum foil vs 7075 forged aluminum seems like apples to oranges. I can rust the crap out of a piece of blued steel that would otherwise leave stainless undamaged.

 

[MikeInOr]

Distilled water is only needed if you are washing something where you are worried about water spots (Eye glasses - Distilled water, rubbing alcohol and a bit of Dawn).

For brass just use tap water and a big squirt of Dawn. I usually add a little TSP which speeds up the cleaning a good bit.

 

[TTv2]

I stopped using Dawn, it made the brass really dark when I used it and I didn't like that, brass should have some shine to it, which ultrasonics don't excel at.

I just use tap water and Lemishine now. In hot water, the vibration alone is enough to knock the carbon off, but the Lemishine helps a bit. I'm using a 2L Hornady and it cleans best in the middle of the tank, further out and it struggles. BTW, the ultrasonics need a good 15+ minutes to clean the brass well, the adverts you read of clean brass in 10 mins are BS, as is the capacities as to get the best results you have to stand the brass up. That's easy with short cases and fat cases, but put in the .30 Carbines and the .32 caliber revolver brass and have fun keeping those from falling over!

If you do large enough quantities of brass, I would get the Frankford Arsenal rotary tumbler and use that. The ultrasonics aren't worthless, they're still great parts cleaners, but for brass they perform worst out of all brass cleaning options, but they have the most utility for cleaning. I wouldn't get the ones that you can put an entire AR upper in, they're way too expensive, but something Lyman 6000 or the 7L Hornady would have more power and enough room to put a significant amount of brass in or a suppressor.

But for half that cost, you could buy a rotary tumbler instead.

 

[Zangetsu]

I usually with tumble my brass with some polish; comes out looking brand new. Was planning on using the ultrasonic for cleaning guns after extended range trips when myself, friends, and family end up putting a bunch of rounds through a bunch of different pieces; was hoping to be able to clean a dozen guns in the time it would take to clean 1! Already have a Lyman pro; I wanted one that I could in fact dump an entire AR upper with a 20” barrel

When you run firearms through it, are you still using lemishine?

 

[TTv2]

When you run firearms through it, are you still using lemishine?

No. For gun parts, I use Dawn.

 

[rdnktrkr]

For cleaning my gun parts i use "ed's red" cleaner for a couple of cycles then procede normally with rods and patches, i remove the lower on plastic guns and the grips on revolvers before putting them in the cleaner

 

[cw308]

If your looking to make your fired brass look brand new , wet tumbling with SS Pins , Sun liquid detergent works better then Dawn and water . Have a Harbor Freight single drum for small cleaning an a Tumblers B tumbler for larger loads . Will never go back to dry tumbling with corn and walnut media.

 

[TTv2]

If your looking to make your fired brass look brand new , wet tumbling with SS Pins , Sun liquid detergent works better then Dawn and water . Have a Harbor Freight single drum for small cleaning an a Tumblers B tumbler for larger loads . Will never go back to dry tumbling with corn and walnut media.

I had no idea Harbor Freight made a rotary tumbler. The dual drum tumbler is perfect for my current levels of reloading. I'll print off the 20% coupon and grab one in the next few weeks.

 

[cw308]

TTv2
Give Sun detergent a try you'll see the difference.

 

[boom boom]

For cleaning my gun parts i use "ed's red" cleaner for a couple of cycles then procede normally with rods and patches, i remove the lower on plastic guns and the grips on revolvers before putting them in the cleaner

With or without the acetone?

 

[rdnktrkr]

I made a gallon of eds red with the acetone and lanolin and just poured it into the cleaner, im sure the acetone has evaporated by now, i use the rest as a cleaner for my rifles. I also made some with just transmission oil and acetone for stubborn bolts and screws.
Find someone in the beauty shop business and they can get acetone for about $8.00 a gallon

 

[Jeb Stuart]

Ballistol milk works fantastic for gun parts. I have other solutions and Lubes for sonic cleaner, but have not even opened them as the Ballistol works so well. Cleans and gives a light film of lube of all parts, Does not gunk up. Great for cleaning pistol firing pin channels. Use can of compressed air from Walmart to blow out and left over crud.

 

[cw308]

I also use Ballistol , after shooting at the range I run about four patches through the barrel makes cleaning when I get home a breeze . A good cleaning when I get home is two medium tight patches of JB Compound run back an forth 10 times each , dry patched out , Kroil as a wash , dry patch followed by Hoppes #9 , 3 wet an dry patches , dry patch to finish . No JB in the chamber. First to last shots are in group no flyers .

 

[1MoreFord]

I used to use the parts washer at work but that is no longer an option. Guess this thread is of interest to me. Please carry on. TIA!

 

[Dudedog]

For brass in the wet tumbler car wash and wax (your favorite flavor, my brass gets what the car gets, car gets what's on sale) + about a 9mm case of citric acid powder which is in the canning section of the supermarket.
Citric acid is cheaper than Lemi shine.
DIdn't care for the Ultrasonic for brass but for other things it works.

 

[Blumpy]

Did a search, couldn’t find a thread that wasn’t at least 10 years old! Figured it’d be better to start a new one instead of pulling out the shovel and digging one up from days long gone.

Was curious what solutions you guys who use them use. I can’t seem to find a consensus on it, even when talking to my local gun shops/smiths that use them. In general, I’m looking for a non-ammoniated solution that’s safe for aluminum parts. The ones I have been looking into are;

1) Dawn + DI water. Just a few bucks / batch and reportedly quite effective.

2) Slip2000 ultrasonic solution.

3) L&R Nonammoniated solution.

4) Brownells ultrasonic solution.

Anyone got any information or experience with these things?

I use one on my black powder revolvers and vaping equipment. Use a couple drops of dawn...soak...run 10 min...let soak...run another 15 min. Works great. Rinse,dry, and you're set to go.

 

[luger fan]

I gave mine away. Hoppe's, GunScrubber, bore brush, and a bit of time does a quicker job.

 

[cw308]

I'm telling you guy's that use Dawn in your wet tumblers to use Sun detergent no need for anything else no LemiShine , just Sun , makes brass shine and stay that way until the next firing . Give it a try and see .