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Posted: 1/15/2008 1:59:21 PM EDT
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Does anyone use an ultrasonic cleaner to clean their AR-15? If so, do you have any recommendations or advice for this type of cleaning. Thank you, RPS96 |
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I'm gonna buy one, and I'll post a response to let you know how it goes. It seems to me there are two parts to the process. The first is a good unit, which does the job. And the second is the use of good chemicals, both to clean and then lubricate the gun. I think that while the ultrasonic cleaners have been around for a while, the latter half of the equation has more recently been perfected. that's my two cents anyway. I fully intend to experiment with a cheap gun first....... |
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I used to use an ultrasonic denture cleaner on some of the parts (what would fit in it's small stainless tub). It worked nicely. I used straight (undiluted) simple green at first, then tried various solvents. Plain mineral spirits worked the best. It was a cheap unit, and after a couple years of use (abuse) it died. I really haven't seen fit to replace it since. |
| From what I understand most people fill the tank with water and set beakers of solution with the parts in them in the water bath, usually moving the parts from a solvent/cleaner to a lubricant/protector solution. I would think 1 of quib's solution might work really well. At a $60-70 premium for an ion bond coated bcg for easy cleaning, an ultrasonic cleaner might be more useful. |
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I have one and use it from time to time. It works really well on baked on carbon like the tail of the bolt and the bolt carrier. I use Mpro7 (non-flammable) as the solvent and just let it crank away. After a couple of hours in the tank carbon can just be wiped off. BSW |
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I just ordered a unit. Sharpertek makes it, and I called around, and got a deal on it. They use the Slip2000 product mentioned in this group above as the lubricant. I'll post an opinion once it comes in and I get it up and running. Thanks for all the ideas. I did check out Harbor freight but Sharpertek seems to make a better unit for less money. (fingers crossed) In the meantime, break-free and mineral spirits are still gettin the job done....... R |
Just wondered if you got a chance to try it out yet 
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not yet...it's 10 days now since I order it and it hasn't shipped yet. They did say it would ship in 1 to 2 weeks, so I'm not a raving lunatic yet. I did get a smoking deal on it too, so I'll sit tight and wait till next week. If it hasn't shipped I'll give them a call. I did scrub the hell out of my guns though with CLP. If the ultrasonic can't get it cleaner....it's going back.... Rps 96 |
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I have been using one for a long time. It works GREAT!!! It will get carbon out of every corner of every part that you put in the cleaning unit. I would suggest using distilled water and the ultrasonic cleaning additive. They sell everything that you will need at Harbor Freight tools. Warning -- The U.S. cleaner is so powerful that it can sometimes discolor the parkerize coating on the carrier. If you have a chrome or stainless steel BCG then it is the ultimate for cleaning. If your BCG is parkerized then be pay attention to the amount of time you leave it in the cleaning unit. FYI -- A U.S. cleaner does not clean by solvent action or viabration. It actually cleans by surface tension and implosion of very tiny bubbles. Those tiny bubbles implode at around 10000 psi and 10000 degrees F. That is why the solution gets hot. If you doubt it, put a piece of tin foil in a U.S. cleaner and watch it turn to swiss cheese. On that note, DO NOT put ANY aluminum in a U.S. cleaner. It is the ONLY material that should not be U.S. cleaned. DANGER: Using solvents (ie mineral spirits) in a U.S. cleaner will create a small combustable atmosphere above the cleaning unit. One small spark could make for an ugly situation. This one will clean your gun parts as clean as they can be. If you reload, it will even get ALL of the carbon out of the INSIDE of brass:  Add a just a little bit of this to some distilled water and the surface tension of the solution is right on the money:  |
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If your U.S. cleaner has a single transducer then it will work OK. If it has DUAL transducers like that H.F. model, then it will work GREAT. Yes, the empty brass test is a good one to ensure you have the proper surface tension in your solution. Just set the brass directly in the tank with the primer pocket facing down. You should see amazing results in just a few minutes. If you don't have a H.F. near you for some of the U.S. crystals, then try a solution of 80% distilled water, 18% white vinegar, 2% isopropyl alcohol. I have used that solution and it works fairly well. Just remember, it is not the chemicals in the solution that does the cleaning in a U.S. cleaner, it is the surface tension of the solution. |
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The unit came in last night, and I tested it on some brass then on two of my pistols and the bolt carrier group from my AR. It worked amazingly. It actually has 3 transducers (I asked before I bought it). I wiped down the two pistols and the bolt carrier group with a white cloth, and it was still white. Don't get me wrong. I learned to clean guns in the Corps, and I cleaned the crap out of these test subjects before I put them in the unit. They came out cleaner. I've got some techincal questions for the manufacturer to work out, and I want to try it out some more, then I'll post the results. But at first blush, the thing works great! to be continued.... |
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Well, I've been using the ultrasonic cleaner for a couple of weeks now, and I have to say, it really does a nice job. I don't use it every time I shoot. Rather, I use CLP to break free carbon as usual, but if I notice build up in hard to reach places or if I've shot the gun several times, I'll give it a 5 or 10 minute ultrasonic bath and it comes out clean as the day it was brand new. Also, unlike CLP, after 5 or 10 days in my safe, the gun won't bleed carbon. I've taken a Q-tip to a revolver I intially cleaned, but haven't fired since, and it's still coming off white. If anyone is interested, I'll post a link to the website where I bought it. There is a great disparity of price out there, but the Sharpertek unit I bought comes from the same manufactuer, no matter how much you pay for it. I would like to know if any one has any good recipies for cleaning solution to use in an ultrasonic cleaner. I've been using the cleaner it came with which obviously works well, but it's pricey. I'm open to suggestions. thanks! |
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Here's what I've been using. http://www.sharpertek.com/sharpertek-ultrasonic-cleaner-model-sh150-4l.html This is the manufactuer's website, but not where I bought it. The link below is where I bought it. http://www.jewelsmall.com/shulhaclpa.html I bought the Sharpertek 4 liter unit. For a little bit more, you can get the six liter unit which is 3 inches deeper. However, I didn't buy it because I called the company and talked to the engineer who designed it. He said that while it was bigger, it used the same 3 transducers and as such, didn't have as much cleaning power as the smaller unit. They are using the Slip2000 lube for the second stage of cleaning. You can get the unit alone for about $100 bucks less without the gun configuration, but you won't get the polycarbonate trays and the cleaner and lubricant. I found it to be helpful. Just for the hell of it, Tonight I took a Q tip to my Anaconda which I cleaned when I first got the unit. It is spotless. The oil on it is actually clear. If it helps anyone, use the promo code I got with my order: TYPE "FIVEPERCENT" IN THE COUPON BOX TO RECEIVE A FIVE PERCENT DISCOUNT. shoot straight! |
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Other than aluminum, what materials cannot go in the cleaner? Rubber & Plastics might be OK since it does in fact come with a plastic tray? Wood & Krylon seem like they would be no-no's? I tried for a second to find something about this on one of the manufacturer websites but couldn't. |
 I just purchased this unit yesterday from the Harbor Freight store in my area. If anyone else wishes to purchase this particular model be sure to print out the Internet page for this item and take it with you because the units are priced at $99.99 on the shelf, and $79.00 on line. If you print out and bring the on line page you'll get it for the $79.99 price. Thus far I have just experimented with it on brass cases, etc., and it works remarkably well. In regards to cleaning Aluminum. I'm going to bring home a small piece of aircraft grade Aluminum from work this weekend. I'll polish one surface, then subject it to Ultrasonic cleaning. I'll try and take some before and after photographs and post the results. The company linked below sells weapon sized Ultrasonic cleaners and shows a unit that is large enough to immerse an entire upper and lower AR-15 into one which is made from Aluminum, but is coated. They also sell a special weapon grade cleaning solvent, which I'm going to purchase in the near future as soon as they get back to me with a price. Bill T. http://www.lrultrasonics.com/industries/weapons/solutions.html |
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As far as home cocktails to use in your U.S. cleaner -- here is a link to a guy that did a bunch of experiments. You can benefit from them. www.6mmbr.com/ultrasonic.html The chain that was cleaned using simple green was cleaned more by the chemical detergent and the small viabration side effect of the cleaner. A good U.S. cleaning solution would have cleaned that chain in half the time. I did a little experimenting with home cocktails in my U.S. cleaner and the best that I found was 20% white vinegar, 2% Iso. Alcohol, 78% distilled water. I just use the H.F. crystals in distilled water now. It works great and it's cheap. REMEMBER: Ultrasonic cleaners to NOT clean with a chemical / viabration action. They clean by creating very tiny bubbles on the surface and forcing them to implode at extreme pressure. Read and understand as much of this as possible: www.aqueoustech.com/images/UltrasonicPrimer.PDF FWIW -- I have never found any substrate, other than aluminum, that is damaged by a U.S. cleaner. |
Thats the same exact setup Ive got an it works awesome!! I even use the same Solution in mine. I got it all from Harbor Freight for a little over $100 bucks, and its saved me hours and hours of cleaning. Especially if you have a Suppressor. |
How many cases can you do at once? From some of the stuff I've read it sounds like most people are only doing like 30 rifle cases and 50 pistol cases at once. |
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