ULTRASONIC CLEANER THREAD

[A.Texas.Yankee]

Are night sights safe for ultrasonic cleaning or any other precautions of what not to do?

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The markings will get eaten off which can affect warranty status, but that's about it, and that's depending on solution you use of course. I wouldn't use a corrosive based one and IIRC Trijicon even advises cautious use of solvents on their night sights. I was very disappointed with Trijicon night sights and have since switch to Mepro and haven't had any issues, again other than markings coming off.

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[40Arpent]

Helpful thread, as I just ordered the big Hornady cleaner. Thanks for all the useful info!

 

[Shotgun Jeremy]

The gun parts cleaning solution that Hornady offers is pretty good, yet seems to be gentle. My old boss tried making a home made solution that wound up doing more damage than good, so I just stick with the Hornady stuff. Out of the big jug, you only need a capful or two per cleaning, so it lasts a while. We use ours primarily for carberateurs, so its very important that the machine and solution work just right.

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[40Arpent]

Thanks for the info, Jeremy. I'd ordered a jug of the Hornady solution along with the cleaner. I'm perfectly good with starting out "gentle." Lol

 

[Sugar Land]

Thanks for the info, Jeremy. I'd ordered a jug of the Hornady solution along with the cleaner. I'm perfectly good with starting out "gentle." Lol

Then graduate to the hard stuff?

 

[40Arpent]

Then graduate to the hard stuff?

Something like that. LOL

But seriously, since I'm an ultrasonic cleaning newb, I just want to make sure I don't damage any of my firearms.

 

[Sugar Land]

Something like that. LOL

But seriously, since I'm an ultrasonic cleaning newb, I just want to make sure I don't damage any of my firearms.

Me too. The last time I used mine it took the bluing off of the part. Back to the old style cleaning... Let Aaron do it...lol

 

[Shotgun Jeremy]

Make sure not to use the brass cleaning solution - that will strip coatings off metal and discolor plastic.

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[40Arpent]

Make sure not to use the brass cleaning solution - that will strip coatings off metal and discolor plastic.

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i got the gun parts cleaner.

 

[40Arpent]

Me too. The last time I used mine it took the bluing off of the part. Back to the old style cleaning... Let Aaron do it...lol

i seem to recall that you had that blued part sitting in a wire basket, with metal-to-metal contact? Or no?

Let Aaron do it? hahahaha

 

[Sugar Land]

i seem to recall that you had that blued part sitting in a wire basket, with metal-to-metal contact? Or no?

Let Aaron do it? hahahaha

No it has a plastic basket but it has been sitting in the box for so long I will have to check. I was really surprised that Ruger fixed it. Talking about great CS.

 

[40Arpent]

So the question is, is it safe to put high-polished blued parts in a plastic basket in an ultrasonic cleaner, or do you risk ruining the blued finish?

 

[grasshopperglock]

Curious too. Is that just with certain solvents or the gun not fully disassembled?

I just use hot soapy water in my sonic cleaner. It works ok and I haven't had any issues with plastic.

My basket is plastic.

It'll jack up clear plastics. Say a clear lense cover. Eye glasses are also a no no. I destroyed a pair once. It'll make a ripple effect on the surfaces.

 

[robertc1024]

So the question is, is it safe to put high-polished blued parts in a plastic basket in an ultrasonic cleaner, or do you risk ruining the blued finish?

My short answer (as I posted earlier) is yes. It probably depends on the cleaning solution, but I ain't doin it again.

On another front, I did an un-official test. I was down to the last bit of my Lyman brass cleaner concentrate, and I got a container of Lemishine. I took 50 misc. 9mm cases, sized & de-primed them and put them in a 20:1 concentration of the Lyman. Ran them for 240 seconds, let them sit for 10 minutes, then ran them 300 seconds.

Then I did the same thing to another 50 cases with tap water, two tablespoons of Lemishine and a couple of squirts of Dawn.

I couldn't tell spit worth of difference between them. $21 32 oz jug of Lyman vs. $3 of Lemishine. I think I'll go with the latter.

 

[grasshopperglock]

Found this site a while back. It has a ultrasonic receipt. Scroll down a bit in the link for details.

http://www.frfrogspad.com/homemade.htm#Sizing

• Straight odorless mineral spirits
• 1 part Simple Green and 6 parts water (Don't use on aluminum)
• 1 part Dawn detergent (without the bleach) and 4 to 6 parts water.

 

[40Arpent]

My short answer (as I posted earlier) is yes. It probably depends on the cleaning solution, but I ain't doin it again.

Sorry, but I'm confused...yes, it is safe, or yes it will ruin the finish?

This is what you posted earlier...

Me too - but there are different varieties of it. Don't use the brass cleaning concentrate while cleaning gun parts - it will remove the bluing.

...but I said I'll be using parts cleaner, not brass cleaner. So let me ask again a bit differently...is it safe to clean blued gun parts as long as I'm using the plastic basket and cleaners designed specifically for those types of parts?

 

[robertc1024]

Sorry - I wasn't trying to be intentionally obtuse. I have never used any parts cleaner, so I honestly don't know.

 

[Saltyag2010]

The gun parts cleaning solution that Hornady offers is pretty good, yet seems to be gentle. My old boss tried making a home made solution that wound up doing more damage than good, so I just stick with the Hornady stuff. Out of the big jug, you only need a capful or two per cleaning, so it lasts a while. We use ours primarily for carberateurs, so its very important that the machine and solution work just right.

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Would you recommend me buying and reusing the hornady solution?

 

[Sugar Land]

Pete,

I do not know about the cleaner you are using but from experience that when I used vinegar and plastic basket it did remove bluing.

 

[TheDan]

Pete,

I do not know about the cleaner you are using but from experience that when I used vinegar and plastic basket it did remove bluing.

Bluing is a type of oxidation, and vinegar is great at removing oxidation.