Ultrasonic Cleaning

[s4alex]

I got the 2.5L one at Harbor Frieght.

I dont exactly put a whole firearm in there. I strip all the guns I plan on cleaning and place pieces in the cleaner. The only things that really go in alone are the frames. Like in my glock or my revolver.

Now, if I just use simple green and water (which I have only done a few times) I rinse them off in warm water. If I use a cleaner (MPro7), I just dry them off a bit and then use compressed air. I get a bit paranoid, so I go at it good with my compressor.

After I think they are good, I start the reassembly, with oiling and lubing as I go along.

The cleaner doesnt get them completely clean, but cleaner than I can get by hand in that short amount of time.

[BigRich]

I use a small L&R unit from Brownells. I use the cleaning solution and water displacement oil that L&R provides. It does an excellent job. I have noticed that if part are left in the cleaning solution for more than 30 minutes all applied paint markings are removed. Fifteen to twenty minutes does the job. From there it is a hot water rinse, compressed air then into the oil bath for twenty minutes. After the parts drip dry they are lubed, bores patched and then reassembled. I can do two 1911 sized handguns at a time.

[ibt77]

ive always used diluted mr clean then used air and a hair dryer to finish them off.

[Jyruiz]

A buddy of mine has this one,

http://www.ultrasonicsdirect.com/shprulhacl.html

and it works great, clean in one tank, lube in the other, but it is to expensive for me to justify. The solution is also very expensive, but boy does it get everything out.

[Wnick308]

I just order my ultrasonic cleaner on Saturday and can't wait to use it. I never like how hard it is to clean small part not just with firearms but shop parts too.

[Jyruiz]

I just order my ultrasonic cleaner on Saturday and can't wait to use it. I never like how hard it is to clean small part not just with firearms but shop parts too.

Which one did you order?

[BraveUlysses]

Warning!!!!! Not all brass/case cleaning solutions are safe for gun parts and steal.

Do not use the case cleaning solution to clean gun parts.

After a day at the range I cleaned some brass in an ultrasonic cleaner with Hornady's case cleaning solution. It did a good job. Afterwards I thought I'd through my Glock slide assembly in the ultrasonic cleaning with the same solution for a quick cleaning. It took the finish off my Glock and took it down to bare metal.

If anyone is interested I'll post pics of a completely freaked up naked Glock.

[EscalonShooter]

I have been using ultrasonics to clean guns for 2 years now. I bought a 6 quart used unit with a heater off e-bay. I also bought one of the small jewelry cleaners from HF. I use Ed's Red exclusively to clean my guns. The 6 quart unit is filled with Ed's Red and is used to do my deep cleaning(which occurs about every 4 to 6 outings). The small unit stays filled with an Ultrasonic weapons lube such as: http://www.policehq.com/Products/LR-212 and is used to lube my weapons after their cleaning bath.

Here's what I found about ultrasonics(It works for me - Take it for what it is worth):
1. DO NOT use any cleaner or lube with water. Water in ultrasonics will put moisture in places you can not get to.
2. Condition your gun - it will make future cleaning so much easier
3. To condition: Give your gun parts a lengthy bath in the ultrasonic with Ed's Red
Make sure the gun is completely clean using Ed's Red as the cleaner
Give your gun a lengthy bath in the ultrasonic using the weapons lube - This will ensure that any cleaner is displaced and all surfaces of the gun are completely lubed
4. After the conditioning process, after normal shooting, you will be able to literally disassemble the gun, wipe down the surfaces that have powder residue on them, run a patch with Ed's Red through the barrel, run a dry patch through the barrel, reassemble and oil. This works even if the gun has been sitting for a week or two after shooting. Cuts my gun cleaning time down to around 5 to 10 minutes per gun.

I do a deep cleaning/reconditioning(everything in the ultrasonics with cleaner than weapons lube) about every 4 to 6 outings.

M-Pro 7 is used for all my rail lubings.

You can not beat Ed's Red. Better than most commercial formulas and wayyy cheaper.

The recipe: 1 part kerosene, 1 part denatured mineral spirits, 1 part Dexron ATF. It is the old Frankfurt arsenal recipe. I leave out the acetone since I don't clean shotguns.

Hope this helps.

[Toyman321]

I've got the larger cleaner from Harbor Freight. I have used both Simple Green and the regular Harbor Freight cleaning solution in the cleaner. To dry parts I usually use an air compressor, I've also occasionally used a heat gun as well. I threw my cylinder to my BP revolver in it for the first time last night, it was amazing watching the crud come off the cylinder.

[Corbin Dallas]

Has anyone used an entire bottle of hoppe's in their US?

[FXR]

Warning!!!!! Not all brass/case cleaning solutions are safe for gun parts and steal.

Do not use the case cleaning solution to clean gun parts.

After a day at the range I cleaned some brass in an ultrasonic cleaner with Hornady's case cleaning solution. It did a good job. Afterwards I thought I'd through my Glock slide assembly in the ultrasonic cleaning with the same solution for a quick cleaning. It took the finish off my Glock and took it down to bare metal.

If anyone is interested I'll post pics of a completely freaked up naked Glock.

I'm interested

[stinkfinger]

I have used hoppes #7 in my US. Works great, but if you leave it in for too long it will remove paint. Also the HF basket is starting to melt in the spots located above the heaters.