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Anybody Have An Ultrasonic Cleaner?
Horse Plains Drifter
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Care to share your experience, type/brand you have, size of unit, or recommendations? TIA for any input.
Comments
We had one at HQ. It's not a magic Jeanie in a stainless pot. You still have to work at it with a rag, q-tip & brush. It may be good to loosen crud that's built up over years, but... , it went away because it was killing the night sights. After using it, you had to re-lube the entire pistol. It was rectangular & big enough to hold a full size semi-auto (disassembled) & had a basket to hold the parts. Oh, then they want you to buy their special chemicals.
harbor freight with simple green works ok small parts
I have a small one, about a 6" cube size tank. Couldn't tell you what brand it is but it's commercial quality. Came into a friend's pawn shop years ago. I don't use it a great deal but on some things it is great. I have used everything from case cleaner solution to a stout "Dawn" dish detergent in it.
Lyman, 6000 works great even using simple green. Still need to lube. On 22 handguns I use a bore snake before cleaning.
I bought one at Harbor Freight. Works good especially on carburetors.
Years ago I bought out a camera repairman and one of the items included was a professional ultrasonic cleaner outfit. That thing was a beast. When I would disassemble a camera I would put the appropriate parts in the tank, and turn it on. Less than 5 minutes later I would have parts that looked absolutely brand new. Sadly one day I turned it on and let the smoke out of it.
Then I bought a little jewelry ultrasonic cleaner. If you left it on for about 30 minutes stuff would come out a little cleaner, most times.
Joe
My main uses would be small automotive type parts, and cartridge cases. I have been going through accumulated brass lately, and to me it's drudgery to get a large amount of the stuff ready for the polisher. Yesterday in the reloading forum I asked about cleaning the inside of case necks, and was informed there were brushes for just that. Yuck, more drudgery! I was reading that some fellas use an ultrasonic cleaner, and they claim that in 15 minutes the cases are clean inside and out. Even the primer pockets.
I also want it to be large enough to clean a disassembled four barrel carburetor. I saw one yesterday online that is eight gallons, and has a 20" X 12" X 8" basket. Something like that might work good for me, especially using Oakie's idea of putting small things into a smaller container.
I use the stainless steel pins in my tumbler. They do an awesome job on dirty brass and the primer pockets are nice and clean when done.
Joe
Nose around on-line and read some of the reviews on Amazon. I have Amazon Prime free shipping so I usually use them when price is within reason. Also when reading reviews read several and take them with a grain of salt. If bad reviews I look and see if several are saying almost the same thing about a product so as to indicate it's more likely a true review.
The one I got will do the big 4 barrel quadrajets also. and it's liquid capacity is around 2 gallons. Keep in mind a gallon of water weighs 8.34 lbs per gal so a 8 gallon tank you mentioned is going to be 65lbs+ in weight. For small carbs or small pieces in a large USonic just leave your tank full of water enough to cover small parts placed in a glass or smaller container. Some clear plastic containers will survive (not melt) in 140F hot water Do get one that heats the water and adjustable temperature control and length of cycle time is a nice thing. They are really great for carbs, especially small carbs. I sometimes run a small carb in a US before taking it apart. A soak in the hot water and cleaner allows me to quite often take a carb apart and re-use the o-rings, diaphragms and gaskets and not even have to do a new kit.
For small carbs or to start out with a really dirty carb I just use dawn dishwashing liquid in some water and if a carb is really bad I use a 50/50 mix of white vinegar and water, but I rinse the magnesium or aluminum carb's good with baking soda and water as a final rinse in a small pail to stop the acidic action of the vinegar. Vinegar is a acid and will keep on working on some carbs and they will start feeling greasy/gummy and will cause some metal pieces to rust if not neutralized.
Also Simple Green is ok but few more $$'s. I have a really fine strainer that I strain my solution through every once in awhile for re-use.
Also I would not leave the 50/50 vinegar water mix in the Usonic tank for long term storage. Might cause a china USonic tank to rust even though they are suppose to be Stainless.
When cleaning brass hulls use a cleaner that is actually recommended for brass.
I do not remember the exact solution recommended but Lyman shows it on their website or maybe midway sells such.
Brass, Silver, Gold has little bit different cleaner recipes. (for different types of jewelry also)
Right about hull prep, it's about the most boring part of reloading or if you have lots of old brass. I converted my Brass hull trimmer to use a electric screwdriver and I bought one on these RCBS case prep centers several years ago. I usually do most of my case prep when snow is deep and cold outside.
RCBS 90375 Trim Mate Case Prep Center 110V AC
I try to buy RCBS because they have lifetime warranty (on most of their products) and good customer Service.
Thanks everybody for the input. Yes, the eight gallon cleaner is pretty big alright, but the two gallon outfit seemed like it might be a bit small. I was looking on that South American river place, and they didn't seem to have any sizes between the two gallon and the eight gallon.
I have a stainless one I bought on Amazon.I use it mostly on small engine carburetors.Saved me tons of time and money.
I use this one every day. A very deluted water and simple green clear is what I use.
Mr. Shaw ,,,,,,,, looks like ya need a cleaner for yer cleaner !!! 😎 😂 ,,,,,,,, ^^^^^^^^^^
Be careful not to overdo ultrasonic cleaning. Yes, it can make parts look squeeky clean, but it can also remove a very thin layer of metal and/or create pits in the metal.
AND I've found on small engine carbs such as some chainsaw and weedeater 2 cycle carbs that have the built-in non-serviceable check valves (walbro types with the internal non-servieable check valves) that it's best to not use heated cleaner. It will soften and ruin the internal rubberized type check valves. On these type carbs I just use the spray type carb cleaner from the spray can to blow out the passages and install a kit if the diaphragms are dry and hard.