Using breakfree clp for an ultrasonic cleaning fluid

[johnds]

I recently came into possession of a ultrasonic cleaner and have been using it to clean my brass. With a 50/50 solution of water/white vinegar it does a great job and even cleans the primer pockets shiny clean if you decap the brass first.

The unit is big enough to put a government size 1911 and I have been wondering about using it to clean my pistols after I field strip them. I have done a lot of reading about which fluids to use and have decided I would like to stay away from the water based stuff that recommends you dunk the clean parts in oil to keep things from rusting afterwords.

I have seen the posts on ed's red and even considered using m-pro 7 as a cleaning agent. I don't know enough about the ultrasonics but would assume when the you start using a heavier oil base solution the ultrasonic cleaning actions reduces.

Can anyone set me straight on this subject. Has anyone used 100% clp as a ultrasonic fluid.

Thanks,
Johnds

 

[FROGO207]

I make a cleaning oil that uses :
1 part Marvel Mystery oil
1 part PB Blaster
1 part Lucas oil
It works really well for degreasing and removing powder fowling from my firearms. Unsure how it would work in an ultrasonic tank. I might try goggling ultrasonic cleaners as they probably make a special cleaner for your purpose already.

 

[johnds]

Thanks FROGO,

I am specifically looking for info on ultrasonic cleaning fluids. I don't want to start another thread about what is the best stuff to clean your gun with.

Thanks for the input.

Johnds

 

[atblis]

FWIW, the commercially available weapons cleaning solutions I can find for sale, are water based.

http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/lid=...ng_Clinic__Ultrasonics___The_King_Of_Cleaning

 

[essayons21]

The solution marketed here seems to be a mixture of acetone, oil, and some sort of detergent. I would think that CLP would work just fine in an ultrasonic cleaner. If you try it, let me know how it works out.

EDIT: just noticed that what I linked is the same thing as is marketed on brownell's

 

[johnds]

The L&R and Brownells are both water based systems as far as I can tell. I do recall seeing a solution that did not require a second dunk in oil but can't remember where.

I talked to a m-pro 7 dealer and he said it would work OK for a ultrasonic solution but I also read that m-pro 7 starts to settle out after two years. If I get an old gallon of m-pro 7 then that concerns me.

I will talk with the Break Free clp folks tomorrow and see what they have to say.

I must say that I am impressed with the way this ultrasonic cleans. This unit has a solution heater as well that increases the cleaning action.

I shoot Precision brand bullets in my 1911. They are lead but have some kind of coating on them and work OK but they leave lots of lead and stuff in the barrel that makes them really hard to clean. Precision suggests that you soak the barrel in %50 white vinegar and %50 hydrogen peroxide and then brush them. I tried that solution in my ultrasonic for 30 minutes on the barrel and a couple of passes with a brush and I was done. Don't try this on anything except stainless barrels.

Johnds

 

[hso]

Bursting microbubbles are integral to ultrasonic cleaning popping material free of the metal.

If you switch materials completely do not be surprised if the ultrasonic cleaner does not work.

 

[chris in va]

HSO beat me to it. Use the regular stuff.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultrasonic_cleaning

 

[johnds]

HSO and Chris.....

That is kinda what I was afraid of. It sounds like a water based solution and a post oil bath are in my future.

Johnds

 

[Landpimp]

I only use L&R(assume Brownells is the same) in my US. Does feel odd to wash the gun in HOT water before it goes in the micro lube(and after that it still needs a normal lube job)

even a non heated unit will heat up the fluid just by the US action

 

[jerkface11]

If you're gonna try something weird in it use automatic transmission fluid (thats the part of eds red that does the work)