Ultrasonic Cleaner Solution

Jerzsubbie

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I decided to clean my Octane9 after having shot a few hundred rounds through it. It wasn't terribly dirty but the baffles were tough to break apart and there was mild carbon build up on the baffles. No lead, I shoot plated or fmj only.

I dropped the baffles and piston in my small Hornady Ultrasonic w/ 25% Purple Power, ran it for probably 10 8min cycles, changing the solution after 2 cycles. The baffles weren't all that clean. I tried 50/50, ran a few more cycles, not much different.

I read about Zep citrus degreaser being much more effective, only $12/gallon, so I have it a try mixing 50/50. I ran it tonight for 6 8min cycles and there is only a little carbon left on one baffle. Significant difference!

In retrospect I should've cleaned 2 baffles each in purple power, Zep, and Simple Green for comparison's sake but maybe next time. Until then, I'll definitely be using Zep Citrus in my ultrasonic! Next I'll try my SS Sparrow monocore.

Have any of you guys had similar experiences or found anything that works better?
 
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Heat is your friend. If you have a heater run it as hot as you can.175> 190 degrees is what the engine builders use to remove carbon from headers and cylinder heads.

Tom
 
Heat is your friend. If you have a heater run it as hot as you can.175> 190 degrees is what the engine builders use to remove carbon from headers and cylinder heads.

Tom
I think my little Hornady unit only goes up to 140F. Max time is 8min and there is no heat control but it certainly gets pretty warm. Considering what I paid for this thing, though, I'm not complaining. It works surprisingly well with the right solutions.
 
Somebody reassure me and tell me that it's OK to drop my field stripped 1911 into the US tank.

- Stainless frame/slide
- tritium sights

Do I need to do any more than field strip?
 
Use Dawn and lemi-shine and run it a few cycles and let sit with heat on.
I read Dawn/similar sudsing soap doesn't help, the mini bubbles created absorb the vibrations.
I've a Harbor Freight unit that looks the same and it only seems to make hot milky water in 4 min increments.
 
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It shouldn't take much cleaning solution..... it should be mostly water. Like said, heat is your friend...... for no bigger than an ultrasonic cleaner is, heat some water on the stove.
 
I use 50/50 vinegar and water with a dash of lemon shine. On high heat 140 degrees to clean spent brass. It works great at removing carbon from the inside of the cases. Most cases will come out looking brand new on the inside. I'm not sure how that will work on cleaning other metals or carbon build up.
 
I was looking at that stuff for mine. But I'm liking the vinegar solution. It's available everywhere cheap and definitely non toxic.
 
If you have a dollar General around, they carry a brand of cleaner called AWESOME. That stuff is great, I use it from gun cleaning to engine degreasing.
 
I use 50/50 vinegar and water with a dash of lemon shine. On high heat 140 degrees to clean spent brass. It works great at removing carbon from the inside of the cases. Most cases will come out looking brand new on the inside. I'm not sure how that will work on cleaning other metals or carbon build up.

Interesting that you're using 2 acidic ingredients. I don't use vinegar anymore after watching my cases turn purple after a few hours drying time. Use citric acid/lemishine and a few drops of a detergent for lightly cleaning dirty brass. Otherwise I find that simple green works well for cleaning gun parts and it's safe to dump in the drain.

Besides, I don't use the ultrasonic to clean brass anymore since pins and wet tumbling work 100000000000000% better.
 
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