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Ultrasonic cleaner

Riverview SalesRiverview Sales Member Posts: 19 ✭✭
edited October 2007 in Ask the Experts
any experence with ultrasonic cleaners? do they work? what soultions do you use and does the stainless steel basket put any wear on blue guns?
Dave

Comments

  • Riverview SalesRiverview Sales Member Posts: 19 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Do any of you guys use an ultrasonic cleaner? The directions tell you to use water and a powdered cleaner,I'm not sure this would clean dirty gun parts etc. Any other product that is safe to use that you can recommend?or advice. Thanks
  • Riverview SalesRiverview Sales Member Posts: 19 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Need a low cost ultrasonic cleaner for 1911 size handguns.
    Any advise?
  • gotstolefromgotstolefrom Member Posts: 1,479 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    search using the word ultrasonic.
    You should pick up info on 2/18 and 8/13/07 in 'experts' and 9/28 in gen'l discussion.

    They can get tough to clean parts clean, and clean brass prior to reloading, but they can have drawbacks with continued use.
  • zinkzink Member Posts: 6,456 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Use them all the time. I get my cleaning solution from Brownells, it is expensive to begin with but is diluted and lasts along time. Don't use any other as discoloration can happen and finish can be removed. As for my second tank I use Marvels Mystery Oil, works great and is way cheaper than any other.

    The key is not to let them stay cleaning for along time as the cavitation and vibrations can cause problems. The clean very well but inspection for any underlying problems stillhas to be done.

    Lance
    Gunsmith
    Gander Mountain
    Fayetteville, NC
  • mrbrucemrbruce Member Posts: 3,374
    edited November -1
    I've been using one for years, with plain old dish soap on shotgun receivers with no problems at all, I generally hang them from wires to prevent any damage from happening.
    I also do brass caseings with Citronox and they have never been so clean inside and out.
  • md1634md1634 Member Posts: 644 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I've got one and they work fine. I can do two pistols at a time,takes about 30 to 40 minutes to completely clean anbd lubricate them. I don't think I've ever claned a gun so well. One word of caution, When the gun is cleaned ALL of oil and lubicants are gone. Relubricatiing the pistol right away is a must.
  • gotstolefromgotstolefrom Member Posts: 1,479 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have a couple of 'smaller units'. I use the smallest to clean really dirty brass, and the largest one I have was from a dental office, who were tossing it for replacement. It cannot take anything nearly as large a pistol frame or a shotgun receiver (mrbruce).

    I go through as many gun supply, etc. catalogs as the next guy and have never seen an ultrasonic cleaner as large as mentioned in these replies. I could have used one on my last two restore projects. Where can I find these larger units ?

    Thanks
  • md1634md1634 Member Posts: 644 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Handgunner Magazine has advertisements for the compmany that I bought mine from;they have units that are big enough for long arms if your willing to pay $$$$$. Also if you google "ultrasonic cleaning" you'll find a number of vendors
  • jtmarine0831jtmarine0831 Member Posts: 908 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Ultrasonic cleaners are one of the most helpful cleaning itmes on the market. And they serve other purposes also. I once had a couple of scope mount screws on a Savage 340 receiver that I came acrossed, very rusty, but salvagable. I could not shake them with any driver I had, but after about 45mins. in a sonic the turned right out. Be very careful if you clean anything aluminum though, short periods of no more than 5-6mins.. It can cause fretting and surface errosion in aluminum parts if cleaned to long at once.
  • md1634md1634 Member Posts: 644 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I understand that they can also turn some,if not all, plastic parts an odd color. The instruction manual for mine says to wipe down Glock frames with a silicone cloth if they turn "grayish". I've done blued and stainless guns with no problems, but you do have to remove the grips and field strip them first.
  • cpermdcpermd Member Posts: 5,273 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have an ols Photosonic that has a 48" tank.
    Plain water or dishsoap and water work well.
    Great for .22LR suppressors.

    Simple Green works well as long as no Aluminum involved.

    CP

    Forgot to add, I use string or baling twine to hold the item in the cleaning fluid.
  • AdamsQuailHunterAdamsQuailHunter Member Posts: 2,022 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Hello "Riverview Sales[:)] I have a sneaking feeling that you may be into realistate. All of the things the others have mentioned are true. You can get a BIG tank but it going to take BIG bucks. Suspend whatever you are cleaning besides brass by a string and don't let it touch the bottom. It will do ugly things to aluminum especially with Simple Green. Simple Green is one of the best detergents on the market, but it does not get along with aluminum too well.

    Best of luck with your quest for an ultrasonic machine[8D]
    Steve Adams
    AdamsQuailHunter on GunBroker, Shotgun World, Beaar Tooth Bullets, E-bay and Yahoo
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