Ultrasonic Cleaning Fluid?

[GTN]

I would like to use my ultrasonic cleaner for some gun parts like pistol barrels and other small parts, rifle bolt carriers etc…
I looked at Amazon and there are so many different options.
What cleaner fluid do you recommend?

 

[PA Guns & Ammo]

I have used powdered laundry detergent with very good results.

 

[GTN]

I have used powdered laundry detergent with very good results.

It doesn’t hurt the finish?

 

[spat]

I would like to use my ultrasonic cleaner for some gun parts like pistol barrels and other small parts, rifle bolt carriers etc…
I looked at Amazon and there are so many different options.
What cleaner fluid do you recommend?

Anything that works well for manual cleaning, isn't *too* flammable, and has a low viscosity.

It really depends on what material you are cleaning. Alkaline solutions work great on steel, avoid then on aluminum for instance.

I've used the generic harbor freight ultrasonic cleaner on steel and titanium pretty well. Not sure I'd use it on aluminum, or at least not for long.

 

[Saltwater60]

Anything that works well for manual cleaning, isn't *too* flammable, and has a low viscosity.

It really depends on what material you are cleaning. Alkaline solutions work great on steel, avoid then on aluminum for instance.

I've used the generic harbor freight ultrasonic cleaner on steel and titanium pretty well. Not sure I'd use it on aluminum, or at least not for long.

Why not too flammable? That could be fun!!

 

[spat]

Why not too flammable? That could be fun!!

Exciting anyway.

Might be fun outdoors

My main concern would be volatilizing the solvent with the ultrasound so you end up with a lot more of it in the air than you'd think you'd have.

 

[dsdmmat]

I use simple green in mine.

 

[FP1201]

Glad folks are giving advise on what to use....I have one of the Hornady US cleaners and have only used the Hornady solution, but that's getting pretty funky from gun parts.
Simple Green sounds good...
I wonder about odor free mineral spirits?
In the past Lacquer thinner was my go-to for cleaning Gun Parts encrusted with dried/sticky oils that had turned to varnish...does a great job cleaning and your Liver readily absorbs it through the skin (Osmosis) frikk'n wonder I'm alive at all.
We used to get 55 gallon Drums of "Zero-Tri" and that stuff worked great. but was wicked expensive.

 

[Darth]

Dawn Dish Soap

 

[GTN]

Dawn Dish Soap

Never would have thought that would be good. Just a few drops should be good?
Thanks

 

[Darth]

Never would have thought that would be good. Just a few drops should be good?
Thanks

If it's good rough for the little oil thief birds, it's good enough for my needs.

It's what I use.

 

[JunkBoxFull]

@GTN
I use liquid laundry detergent. I`ve had the very best luck with "ALL" and "PERSIL".
Its best to use distilled water too, in my own opinion.

Look into this link, it might shed some light on UltraSonic cleaning for you.

What do you put in a ultrasonic cleaner

Ultrasonic cleaners are invaluable tools for maintaining cleanliness and prolonging the lifespan of various items, ranging from jewelry to delicate instruments. By using ultrasonic waves to create tiny cavitation bubbles, these cleaners effectively remove dirt, grease, and other contaminants...

www.bjultrasonic.com

 

[Tisto]

Diesel fuel cleans almost anything metal.

 

[camper4lyfe]

One thing you can also do, if you have small parts, you can use something like a mason jar filled with cleaner and put that in the sonic filled with water. It'll work through the jar, and you won't have to chase parts.

 

[GTN]

I tried the dawn dish soap today. 12 min. It did an ok job. Maybe my bolt was just really dirty

 

[spat]

I tried the dawn dish soap today. 12 min. It did an ok job. Maybe my bolt was just really dirty

If you need dish soap, but excessive suds are a problem, then use dishwasher detergent.

It's basically the opposite. They put additives in the manual soaps (dish, hand, clothes, etc) to make lots of suds, because that gives people the feeling it's doing something.

But the soaps for the automated stuff had additives to do the opposite, so your washing machine or dishwasher doesn't flood your house.

 

[Will556]

Simple Green works well but don’t use the standard Simple Green. Get the Extreme version which was formulated for aviation parts. It’s safer for metals, especially aluminum inside ultrasonic cleaners which with the wrong solutions can cause pitting.

 

[GTN]

Simple Green works well but don’t use the standard Simple Green. Get the Extreme version which was formulated for aviation parts. It’s safer for metals, especially aluminum inside ultrasonic cleaners which with the wrong solutions can cause pitting.
View attachment 273720

Thank you. I was going to try the green Simple Green that I already have tonight

 

[JunkBoxFull]

Thank you. I was going to try the green Simple Green that I already have tonight

DON`T! I tried it and it turned my shell cases and gun parts green on 2 separate washes. Everything had a greenish hue to it.

 

[GTN]

DON`T! I tried it and it turned my shell cases and gun parts green on 2 separate washes. Everything had a greenish hue to it.

I guess I didn’t write my other post the way I meant it. I meant that I was going to try it, but after you said not to I wasn’t.

 

[JunkBoxFull]

I guess I didn’t write my other post the way I meant it. I meant that I was going to try it, but after you said not to I wasn’t.

Good! Stay away from that shit. I don`t know why people think that shit is so great.

 

[Will556]

Good! Stay away from that shit. I don`t know why people think that shit is so great.

It’s super helpful to clean weapon light lenses though. One bottle of it for a few dollars and you’ll use it forever. Instead of spending money on dedicated fancy lens cleaners like Paragon WLC. I dip a qtip in a little regular Simple Green and start scrubbing and it looks brand new.

 

[JunkBoxFull]

It’s super helpful to clean weapon light lenses though. One bottle of it for a few dollars and you’ll use it forever. Instead of spending money on dedicated fancy lens cleaners like Paragon WLC. I dip a qtip in a little regular Simple Green and start scrubbing and it looks brand new.

I`ve never tried that. Before i shoot it down, i`ll try that an see how it works. I think i might still have a small bottle of it, unless wife tossed it already.

 

[Will556]

I`ve never tried that. Before i shoot it down, i`ll try that a see how it works. I think i might still have a small bottle of it, unless wife tossed it already.

Even if she did, the worst thing that happens is you spend $5 for a spray bottle of it. It works really well for cleaning carbon on lights. Cheap and it lasts forever.

 

[JunkBoxFull]

Even if she did, the worst thing that happens is you spend $5 for a spray bottle of it. It works really well for cleaning carbon on lights. Cheap and it lasts forever.

I`ll give it a shot. All i know is that i would never use it to clean brass or gun parts ever again.

 

[kev74]

Simple green will corrode aluminum. Works ok on steel parts.

Lately I've been using mineral spirits.

 

[GTN]

So after using the Extreme Simple Green cleaner, do you rinse it with water and then blow it out with an air compressor?

 

[Will556]

So after using the Extreme Simple Green cleaner, do you rinse it with water and then blow it out with an air compressor?

Yeah, you’ll want to rinse off the degreaser so it’s not left on the surfaces. I’ll take an old toothbrush and scrub the surfaces while running clean water over them to help get any of the residue off. Then blow all the parts off with compressed air and make sure they’re completely dry.

 

[GTN]

Yeah, you’ll want to rinse off the degreaser so it’s not left on the surfaces. I’ll take an old toothbrush and scrub the surfaces while running clean water over them to help get any of the residue off. Then blow all the parts off with compressed air and make sure they’re completely dry.

Thanks!
Again!

 

[Keyzard]

For cleaning brass I use a bit of dish soap and a sprinkle of Lemi Shine. A thorough rinse in fresh water and then into an old air fryer to dry.