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GENERAL => General Discussion => Topic started by: SkidRowe on December 29, 2020, 10:26:12 AM

Title: Ultrasonic Cleaner
Post by: SkidRowe on December 29, 2020, 10:26:12 AM
Hello
I was thinking about purchasing an ultrasonic cleaner for my Shadow2 and a couple other handguns as I find parts of the Shadow hard to get at and I’m inexperienced in stripping these trigger mechanisms etc. Reassembly would be the near impossible as I can tear apart anything.🙀 Has anyone tried this? I’m open to suggestions.
Title: Re: Ultrasonic Cleaner
Post by: Grendel on December 29, 2020, 10:43:48 AM
UCs remove everything, dirt, crud, lubrication. Which means you still have to strip and rebuild the gun to dry it out and replace the lubrication on the parts you cannot reach.
Title: Re: Ultrasonic Cleaner
Post by: SkidRowe on December 29, 2020, 10:49:05 AM
Thank you Grendel
It would still be an option but only for when I feel comfortable doing a complete tear down. Makes perfect sense, glad I asked.
Title: Re: Ultrasonic Cleaner
Post by: Gunnerdad80 on December 29, 2020, 11:02:48 AM
I bought a cheap one from Harbor Freight just to see if I liked it. I enjoy a complete tear down and cleaning especially when I get used guns in. Very satisfying to me. I really like an UC and will definitely be investing in a better quality one in the future.
Title: Re: Ultrasonic Cleaner
Post by: HollowDawg on December 29, 2020, 04:57:57 PM
i use an ultrasonic on all my blued/black CZs and on my stainless ones too. Solution I use in my ultrasonic is a slightly modified Ed's Red solvent. By volume: 1 part K1 Kerosene, 1 part mineral spirits, and 1 part Dexron ATF. I leave out the acetone(too hard on plastics and some paints) and the lanolin that are in the original recipe. i remove grips and field strip. I always use outside and I don't let the heat get above 110 degree Fahrenheit since I'm not entirely sure what the flashpoint of this stuff is. I have been using this method for 6 years now with never any problem on any pistol or revolver. Gets everything really clean except the barrel bore(somewhat cleans it) that I swab w bore cleaner after the ultrasonic bath. Drip dry parts on paper towel.  i find the Ed's leaves a very light coat of oil on everything. wipe off the exteriors w paper towels and Q-tips for hard to get spots. Tetra on the high wear spots. Total takes maybe 5 mins after bath to finish. Never need carb cleaner this way. Amazing how much powder fouling etc ends up in bottom of ultrasonic after it settles out!!!
Title: Re: Ultrasonic Cleaner
Post by: SkidRowe on December 29, 2020, 05:01:18 PM
I have many uses for it besides the firearms, wife’s jewelry and our eyeglasses come to mind and it will encourage me to be less timid with teardowns, appreciate your thoughts.
Title: Re: Ultrasonic Cleaner
Post by: retteryer on December 29, 2020, 10:36:16 PM
I have HF one. Never used it on CZ’s, only on a few strikers that I have and a motorcycle carbs. Definitely a time saver, it’s a mens slow cooker.
Title: Re: Ultrasonic Cleaner
Post by: gifbohane on December 30, 2020, 03:52:44 PM
I bought an RCBS sonic a few months ago.  I used it mostly on cartridges. I thought that it would save time over tumbling but with rinsing and drying it is another type of pain in the aZZ.

VERY reluctant to put rifle parts into it for fear of leaving water or solution in deep parts that I cannot get to.  Am OK putting bolt parts into it, ones that I see to lube afterwards.

Actually regret buying it.
Title: Re: Ultrasonic Cleaner
Post by: George16 on December 31, 2020, 06:37:14 PM
Purple-colored Simple Green worked best with my ultrasonic cleaner for me. Cheap from Home Depot too.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Simple-Green-128-oz-Pro-HD-Heavy-Duty-Cleaner-2110000413421/100550784
Title: Re: Ultrasonic Cleaner
Post by: SkidRowe on January 06, 2021, 09:50:05 PM
Thank you for your comments and help.
Title: Re: Ultrasonic Cleaner
Post by: BubbaLa on January 07, 2021, 12:57:39 AM
UCs remove everything, dirt, crud, lubrication. Which means you still have to strip and rebuild the gun to dry it out and replace the lubrication on the parts you cannot reach.
Lymans ultrasonic lube. I use it in a separate unit.it lubes the metal pores and displaces water. Pricey but goes a long way.
Title: Re: Ultrasonic Cleaner
Post by: Dan_69GTX on January 15, 2021, 02:36:03 PM
It will remove the anti-reflective coating on eyeglasses.

I use one a lot.  Use water base and Hornady solution (or something similar) with good results.  For guns I don't wanna tear down to make sure all water is removed and not rusting something, I use a solvent based cleaning lube (lucas, Hoppes, etc)

It will not remove stuff that is really caked on - or at least it will not remove it very fast. 

I still follow up with compressed air and/or spray cleaner to get stuff that may have settled inside the parts.

Not the end-all of cleaning, just another tool.
Title: Re: Ultrasonic Cleaner
Post by: Evo on January 15, 2021, 02:42:03 PM
Whats the best and most affordable one ti buy? OP, which ones are you looking at?
Title: Re: Ultrasonic Cleaner
Post by: hardmix on January 24, 2021, 11:25:53 AM
I have heard uc are good for cleaning suppressors. I have .22 that gets pretty dirty.

I like the idea of cleaning pistol parts. Definitely going to check out the harbor freight unit.
Title: Re: Ultrasonic Cleaner
Post by: Dan_69GTX on January 25, 2021, 07:29:43 AM
Like anything - you get what you pay for.  Some folks have had good results with HF stuff, some don't.  Which one is the best - no idea.  I have a Hornady unit - the long one, and really like it.  Can you take a totally gunked up gun, put it in there and it comes out spotless - no.  It is just another tool in the arsenal of cleaning products.

Title: Re: Ultrasonic Cleaner
Post by: GoliaFF1979 on May 13, 2025, 09:49:10 AM
I see it's been a while since this was posted, but I'm curious if anyone here has run hotter handloads through their CZ Tactical Sports and noticed any long-term effects. I've been working up some 9mm major loads for competition and wondering how forgiving the TS is with higher pressures compared to something like a Shadow 2. Anyone still running heavy loads in theirs?
Title: Re: Ultrasonic Cleaner
Post by: Earl Keese on May 13, 2025, 12:02:24 PM
I see it's been a while since this was posted, but I'm curious if anyone here has run hotter handloads through their CZ Tactical Sports and noticed any long-term effects. I've been working up some 9mm major loads for competition and wondering how forgiving the TS is with higher pressures compared to something like a Shadow 2. Anyone still running heavy loads in theirs?
Wrong thread.
Title: Re: Ultrasonic Cleaner
Post by: lewmed on May 14, 2025, 08:37:53 PM
If you buy a ultrasonic cleaner get one size larger than you need you will find many uses for it.  Several years ago my son brought home the ugliest most neglected Sig P 220 that I've ever seen. We field stripped the Sig and removed the wood grips then dropped the mess in a Creworks 6L ultrasonic with a 50/50 mix of kerosene and mineral spirts for about 30 min. When I removed the pistol from the cleaner and blew it off with a air hose it looked like a new gun. I also use the ultrasonic to clean baked on carbon from suppressor parts what it does in a few min. would take hours to scrub clean by hand.
Title: Re: Ultrasonic Cleaner
Post by: M1A4ME on May 15, 2025, 07:21:26 AM
A few decades ago (I still find it hard to think how long I've been doing this stuff sometimes) I was issued an old model Colt Trooper .357 magnum.  Those were the ones with the Python frame and skinny 4" barrel.  It was butt ugly nasty everywhere.  Not feeling confident (in those days) to take it apart and put it back together I came up with a different way of cleaning it.  Not sure now why I did it that way but it worked great.

I got a pan the gun would bit in, removed the grips, put the gun in the pan, put water in it and added dishwashing liquid.  I put it on the stove top and boiled it.  I boiled it till the oily crud stopped coming out of the frame and floating to the surface.  The boiling water and dish detergent got it done.

I took it off the stove, poured the boiling water down the sink and took the gun out to lay on a towel on the table.  The gun was dry before I got the oil out and put plenty on it and did some dry firing before using my oily rag to wipe off the excess.  No issues with normal cleaning after that. 

Oh, got an ultrasonic cleaner for Christmas a few years ago.  Someday I may use it.  And, I don't think I'd put a plastic framed pistol in the boiling water.  I have used carb cleaner and brake cleaner on those a few times.  Gotta be careful with the carb cleaner.  It's pretty harsh on the grips of a Ruger Mk1.  I know.