Ultrasonic Cleaner

[SkidRowe]

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.

[Grendel]

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.

[SkidRowe]

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.

[Gunnerdad80]

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.

[HollowDawg]

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!!!

[SkidRowe]

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.

[retteryer]

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.

[gifbohane]

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.

[George16]

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

[SkidRowe]

Thank you for your comments and help.

[BubbaLa]

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.

[Dan_69GTX]

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.

[Evo]

Whats the best and most affordable one ti buy? OP, which ones are you looking at?

[hardmix]

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.

[Dan_69GTX]

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.