Anyone else use an Ultrasonic Cleaner?

[Gunnerdad80]

Today I bought an inexpensive Ultrasonic Cleaner from Harbor Freight, about $80. Several YouTube videos suggested using Simple Green so I picked up a jug. I did presoak the parts for about 10-15 min with CLP then in the UC for a total of about 15 min. It appears to have worked pretty good but doesn't seem to remove the copper fouling from the barrel all that well. The gun I cleaned was a well worn, crusty, early model EAA/Tanfoglio WITNESS FAB 92 Compact. As filthy as the gun was and as worn as the magazine looked it still shot like a champ, before I cleaned it.

Does anyone recommend a better cleaner to use in the UC or should I just suck it up and barrel brush it? I try to use non-toxic products when possible but not opposed to any suggestions.

[George16]

Use the purple simple green only.  It is non-corrosive to metals, non-degrading to plastics and clean rinsing. It’s a cost-effective concentrate can be custom diluted for specific cleaning jobs and used in pressure washers, carpet cleaners, floor scrubbers, ultrasonics, dip tanks and other cleaning equipment.  Safely cleans aluminum, stainless steel, polished steel, chrome and other metals.

I use this to clean my guns in my ultrasonic cleaner and also use it to clean my truck’s engine bay. Works better than the green Simple Green.

[QuickDrawMcgraw]

Yep with the Purple Simple green like George16 posted (you can pick up from Home Depot) or I use Slip2000 725 Gun Cleaner - it is a water based cleaner.

[Gunnerdad80]

Awesome, thank you both!

[retteryer]

But it’s still not going to remove copper fouling, especially if it’s safe on metals or will it?

[Gunnerdad80]

But it’s still not going to remove copper fouling, especially if it’s safe on metals or will it?

If the UC does everything else pretty good I don’t mind hitting the barrel with bore cleaner and a brush.

[Czechbikr]

I bought one a few years ago and use it very seldom.  I used a degreaser called Purple Power.  I put some magazines in the thing and ran it the hell out of it to find that it took most of the paint off the mags.  They went from looking like new to looking like WW II surplus.  The one trick as I understand is to let it run initially to develop cavitation and micro bubbles.  I'll have to try it again soon...or sell it.

[The Principal]

Thanks for sharing. There is a LGS that offers this service. I always wondered how it worked.


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[George16]

Thanks for sharing. There is a LGS that offers this service. I always wondered how it worked.


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Key is using the right cleaner and water temperature. I use warm water with the purple simple green and have seen great results especially in cleaning my own guns compensators.

[Kenneth07ex]

I bought one a few years ago and use it very seldom.  I used a degreaser called Purple Power.  I put some magazines in the thing and ran it the hell out of it to find that it took most of the paint off the mags.  They went from looking like new to looking like WW II surplus.  The one trick as I understand is to let it run initially to develop cavitation and micro bubbles.  I'll have to try it again soon...or sell it.

Purple Power will definitely remove paint. Never tried it in a SC, just tried to degrease an old tool box. Ended up having to paint it.

I've used a few different things in my sonic cleaner. I'm pretty underwhelmed by the success of the cleaner. IMO, it's really best for getting into places where you couldn't get to otherwise. Not so much for places, like gun bores, where you could apply elbow grease.