Sonic cleaners

[jowdurt]

Per my earlier post on a stuck mainspring and a dirty Red Eagle, any suggestions on what would be a good brand and size of sonic cleaner to purchase for the purpose of cleaning up my Red Eagle collection. Mostly for pistols but could size up for other things.

Also any favorite cleaning fluids?

Thanks in advance.

SRV

[outta_ammo]

I've had good luck with the smaller Harbor Freight machine and Hornady One Shot solution.

[Watertender]

I am not sure which sonic cleaner SPAS15 has but I know he is very happy with it. I should have gotten one when I was servicing medical equipment but I didn't. They do make cleaning a pistol a lot easier

[RoninPA]

Get the biggest one that will fit your largest part (now or in the future) with a little room to spare. I got one from Harbor Freight and it works fine.

409 and water (50-50) works ok but the absolute best I have found is one called MC Gun Cleaner. It is made by the Chautauqua Chemicals Company out of Ashville, NY (716) 763-4114 or info@cchemco.com or their web site at https://cchemco.com/mc-gun-cleaner-concentrate/ It's not the cheapest and I've tried many different cleaners over the past 36 years and this is, hands down, the best I've found. It is concentrated, it only takes 6.4 ounces to a gallon (128 oz) of water. (Disclaimer - I have nothing to do with this company, I found this product years ago and won't use anything else in my ultrasonic to clean with).

[06dilly]

Glad to see this topic again. What are the big no-no’s for parts to not put in the ultrasonic cleaners? I think there are some things that would be ruined in one, correct?

TomD

[RoninPA]

I have used mine mainly for cleaning firearm parts and other metal and heavy plastic parts. I know you do not want to clean thermoplastic materials, softer plastics, or things that have thin walls or delicate features. Items that are porous or items that have been glued together should not be put in as the cavitation process can harm them. Ultrasonic cleaners shouldn't be used to clean most electronics and some coated items because it could harm the coating. Now, coatings/platings on firearms, if done correctly, should not be affected. I know a firearm coated with Cerakote won't be affected but I'm not sure about plated firearms that the plating is coming off as the vibrations might cause more damage in that case.

And remember to NEVER fill the tank of an ultrasonic cleaner with alcohol, gasoline, or any other flammable liquids. Yes, this is common sense but there are those people who just have to try it.

[SPAS 15]

Sorry a bit late replying to post. Watertender is correct I am very happy with my ultrasonic cleaner. That happy in fact I now have a 1/2, 2.25 and a 6.5 gallon ultrasonic cleaner. No manufacturers name only the country of manufacture, yep you guessed it, China, but they seem well made. I got my first one to clean my 1906 Sjogren shotgun which was thick with old grease oil and dust. I ran it once and the solution was black, took the parts out, gave them a scrub with a nylon brush and then cleaned them again and the parts came out like new.

Do your homework and buy from a reputable company with good reviews. The company I purchased from were very helpful and answered all my questions, both emails and phone calls before buying. All of my ultrasonic cleaners have a Degas feature which to prepares the cleaning fluid before use and also a delicate program that allows for operation at 50% power to gently clean sensitive items.

My advice is to work out what size cleaner you want and then choose the next size up. Buy one in your choice of size with the most transducers, the highest wattage of ultrasonic and heating power. The right cleaning solution is important too. I went for a general cleaner, degreaser with an added rust inhibitor that also allowed me to use tap water.

Cleaning solutions can be expensive so on really dirty items I clean them and then filter the solution, pour it into another container to use on another first time, really dirty item, give them a scrub as mentioned and put them back in the ultrasonic cleaner with clean solution. Hope this helps. My best advice is just get one and you will wonder how you managed without one.

[RoninPA]

What SPAS 15 wrote is spot on. His last paragraph is very good, I do the same thing, when I'm done with a very dirty piece is just the dump the fluid from the ultrasonic through a very fine filter into another bottle and just let it sit (good cleaner is not cheap but it works good). A lot of the left over none fluid grime will then settle to the bottom. Then when I'm doing another dirty item I pour this fluid in and leave the solids in the bottle and then clean those debris out of the bottle so I can "rinse and repeat" several times before discarding.