Ultra sonic cleaning

[Gavelek]

I am planning to buy this cleaning device:
SPT UC-0609 Ultrasonic Cleaner by SPT (it's on amazon), it is kind of small, but it has good reviews, anybody out there has been using this, or something similar, suggestions, other ideas? What kind of solvent would be good to use with this type of equipment.
Basically, I am lazy, I just want to dump all the parts and let the machine do the cleaning. Mostly for rifle parts, AK, Ar and SKS
Thanks

[drmjf]

It looks a little to small to be of any use but small parts. I use the harbor freight unit http://www.harborfreight.com/25-lite...ner-95563.html. It's 2.5 liters will take most pistol parts. I use zep citrus commercial cleaner Mixed 1 to 1.works great.

[kcstott]

Plain old hot water and a good degreaser like simple green, Krud cutter, ETC.
and don't mix it strong. the ultrasonic does a great job of cleaning parts.

[Hop Sing]

its not a lazy persons solution. You generally have to do more work with re lubricating all of the nooks and crannies because the process gets rid of all the lube. Then you have to make sure that soaking the parts in oil, that you get all of the excess oil off of the soaked parts.

[kcstott]

I should have read that post better.

Yeah you won't be saving any real work. What you save in scrubbing you'll have to give back in thoroughly drying and re-lubricating.

Ultrasonic cleaning should be reserved for an annual cleaning or depending on how much you fire your weapon a detailed teardown and cleaning.
I would not do this each and every time I went to the range unless I was a competitive shooter that burned a thousand rounds in a range session.
And I sur would not dump parkerized parts in there. Parkerizing soak up oil over time and degreasing it defeats the purpose

[CALI-gula]

I had a pistol ultra-sound cleaned as a service at a range once and I hated it. It was TOO clean! The gun and all of its parts felt chalky, almost like they had become porous and they had a matte-look which seemed as if the finish had been affected.

I took the gun home and did a good deal of oil and lube. It was fine, but it still felt like new metal "in the white" - it reminded me of a newly-built engine in that you have to do a lot to pre-oil/pre-lube it and then go easy on it during a break-in period, whereas for the life of the engine it will always have a good film of oil anywhere inside and you never want to get rid of that film.

As for the gun, while the parts have already been worn into their fit, so it's not as if starting completely over in breaking in a gun, to me it seems as if the ultra-sound cleaning re-sets the lubing/condition break-in period on a gun in the same way you would not want done to an engine either.

However, I do agree these ultra-sound cleaners may be great for really, really, abused/dirty guns, or for getting out corrosive ammo properties, and C&R items in getting out the flecks of goo and cosmoline that are often caked in crevices. I would get one for that sole purpose alone. Just be generous with the oil-soaking and re-lube!!

.

[Gavelek]

Always great info from calgunners, I guess I stick to brush and rags, but you're right is good to have one for that ol dirty Chinese sks... Thanks guys

[kcstott]

The chalky feeling might have been due to an aggressive cleaner.
Thats why I recommended what I did. the only risk is with aluminum parts. alkalines will eat aluminum. but a short dip won't hurt just don't let it soak over night.

[Iminocca]

I have the HF ultrasonic cleaner and it works great! I bought a gallon of M pro 7 and use that. Pricey, and you can't leave it in the unit (it will evaporate) just filter periodically with a coffee filter.

[tvfreakarms]

I use it on bcg and parts for my cmmg .22lr.
the solution i use is slick 2000.
and it really does suck all the grease. But for me i don't mind drying it and relube it.
But i do relube the second time cause it seems to dry suck up the lube in the first application.
ill let it site for 10 minutes or so and make sure it still has the lube. then i put the parts back together.
it little more work but im a little anal when i have to clean my gun parts