Ultrasonic cleaning....

BigDaves30Herrett · Feb 9, 2015

Does anyone have experience with ultrasonic cleaning? Have any of you ever stuck anything other than brass in one for cleaning? Like say, an old war rifle receiver. I am wondering if it would take care of the cosmoline but not harm the finish on the steel. Thanks.

Blitzfike · Feb 9, 2015

Dave I have one of the large Harbor Freight Ultrasonic cleaners and I routinely clean pistols and receivers in it. I probably do more military rifle bolts than anything else in it. Mostly I use odorless mineral spirits in cleaning gun stuff, but I have been known to use simple green and other cleaners in it as well. I usually buy WD-40 in the gallon cans from Lowes and will sometimes use it as well. Be careful of using acetone or lacquer thinner in them, it can make an explosive vapor pretty quickly and will also dissolve the mat in the bottom of it...

p238shooter · Feb 9, 2015

Stuck the expandable metal band of a wrist watch I had worn several years in a small one one time. Yuck. They really work.

dennishoddy · Feb 9, 2015

BigDaves30Herrett said:
Does anyone have experience with ultrasonic cleaning? Have any of you ever stuck anything other than brass in one for cleaning? Like say, an old war rifle receiver. I am wondering if it would take care of the cosmoline but not harm the finish on the steel. Thanks.

Do some google research on this. Simple green doesn't do aluminum any good at all.

I tried a mix of dawn dish soap and lumishine when trying to clean my M&P upper, and it removed the bluing.

There are a lot of downfalls to ultrasonic cleaning. Make sure you investigate each item and what its made from before trying to clean them.

swampratt · Feb 10, 2015

X2
Aluminum can be eaten up by many chemicals including Lemishine which is mostly citric acid.
I pin tumbled some aluminum cases with brass ones and barely got the case head back

Blitzfike · Feb 10, 2015

swampratt said:
X2
Aluminum can be eaten up by many chemicals including Lemishine which is mostly citric acid.
I pin tumbled some aluminum cases with brass ones and barely got the case head back

Just curious, did the aluminum plate out on the brass? I've had problems with missing both aluminum and steel cases in the solution causing strange color changes in the brass. And good info on the aluminum and simple green Dennis, so far I have only cleaned steel or stainless steen actions in the Ultrasonic cleaner. I'll file that info away in the DONT DO file.

HiredHand · Feb 10, 2015

Simple Green Pro HD is safe on aluminum, I think the regular Simple Green is the stuff that's bad for aluminum.

"Simple Green® Pro HD is a readily biodegradable, noncorrosive, and professional grade formula developed for multipurpose home and DIY applications including: use on floors, walls, appliances, automotive or recreational vehicle cleaning and degreasing, and for pressure washing, parts washing, ultrasonic cleaning, and more. It quickly eliminates tough grease and grime, removes oily stains, and is safe on metal surfaces.
Excellent multipurpose heavyduty cleaner and degreaser
Noncorrosive formula, safe for metal surfaces
Use everywhere on the job site or in the garage

Manual or equipment use including parts washers, dip tanks, pressure washers, and ultrasonics

Use Simple Green Pro HD in a general cleaning dilution on floors, painted surfaces, aluminum, stainless or polished steel, chrome, plastics, vinyl, canvas, cabinets, counters, stove tops, refrigerators, sinks, showers, tile, and more. Use Simple Green Pro HD in a heavier cleaning dilution for engines, wheels, tools, heavy equipment, landscaping equipment, bumpers, grease and oil stains, exteriors of cars, trucks, vans, RVs, and boats; on BBQs, ovens, grills, range hoods and vents, machinery and more."

source: http://simplegreen.com/products/pro-hd-cleaner-degreaser/

swampratt · Feb 10, 2015

The aluminum did not plate out on the brass as I only had a couple aluminum cases in the mix. and I use less than 1/8teaspoon Lemishine per 1/2 gallon of water.
The aluminum gets walnutted

or just wiped down if it is clean

djcorrell · Feb 12, 2015

I have used the Hornady branded parts cleaner....It will affect the blue.
Most of it polished out, but after having this happen twice, I now use it only on stainless.
Cleaning brass with Citric Acid is the best. If you must, add a drop of Dawn dish soap.
The main problem with Aluminium in an ultrasonic is the micro cavitation that occurs.
This would be a commercial style, the little ones probably do not have enough power.
Unless it is a suppressor, I would not worry about it.

BigDaves30Herrett · Feb 14, 2015

Thanks fellas. LOTS of great info!

Ultrasonic cleaning....

BigDaves30Herrett

Marksman

Blitzfike

Sharpshooter

p238shooter

Sharpshooter

dennishoddy

Sharpshooter

swampratt

Sharpshooter

Blitzfike

Sharpshooter

HiredHand

Sharpshooter

swampratt

Sharpshooter

djcorrell

Sharpshooter

BigDaves30Herrett

Marksman

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