So Re: cleaning - Does anyone use an ultrasonic for handgun cleaning?

[Old-Duckman]

Found the responses from the complete disassembly cleaning thread interesting...to say the least.

Some YouTubers use an ultrasonic cleaner, I looked at them on the Net and there are some reasonably priced ones.

Wondering if any of you use that method. If so, size recommendations and maker/model.

They could surely be used for firearms other than BP.

I used to have a very small one for cleaning technical pens but it would be useless for a handgun with the exception of the cylinder, and it wasn't very powerful, wouldn't mind an upgrade.

 

[BatBoy]

I don’t personally own one. It’s been on my to do list for at least 20 years. I always find something else to purchase though.

I have a good friend who’s father owns a rather large sonic cleaner that you can put an entire barrel action in. I’ll have to ask him what model he has.

 

[ord sgt]

I use an ultrasonic cleaner for the barrel and cylinder of my .44 calibre revolver. It's handy for cleaning brass cases for my unmentionable firearms.

 

[SDSmlf]

Tossed a handgun in my ultrasonic cleaner and had flash rust on every visible surface. Used tap water (carbon filtered and with no history of causing flash rust) with a bit of Dawn in it. The cleaner does warm the water a little. I was able to clean everything up afterwards, but I’m done using it to clean BP guns. I have used it to clean non-BP guns with a solvent instead of water, but the solvent just doesn’t do a good job with the BP residue.

 

[flntlokr]

I used to disassemble and chuck into the dishwasher for super cleaning a couple of times a year.

 

[LST-1185]

No never used one. I just use hot water, la awesome degreaser, compressed air, barricade for the bore and ballistol for the rest of the firearm.

 

[Blackpowderwarrior]

I use one now.
Throw in the barrel cylinder and nipples.
I use hot water and a shot of ballistol in the water. I clean the frame with a old shirt patch"
The ultrasonic cleaner was 100$ well spent

 

[brownac1983]

I use one. It's the larger of the two models that Harbor Freight sells. I'm sure there are better ones out there but it works great. It's also handy for carburetor parts and anything else that you can fit in it.

 

[Salty]

I used to put my disassembled gun parts in the DW until I got caught. So I bought the Harbor Freight unit. Works great. But needs to coat parts with fresh oil after drying to keep away the rust.
It also cleans my wife’s rings to sparkle.

 

[J. Paul]

When I was with Sheriffs office about 10 years ago I had a conversation with a big city police agency Officer. They didn't clean their own firearms, instead they turned them in and they were cleaned using ultrasonic then into a lube tank after which they dripped overnight when they were wiped down then signed back to the Officer again. I did not see it, but was only told about it. The Officer telling me sounded like he had no clue and was just repeating what he had been told.

 

[BadDaditood]

I bought one just for c and b revolvers
Works great but I keep running out of distilled water…
At least I no longer limit myself to 1 pistol per range day

 

[sheriff john]

Stuff will rust if you don't use the correct cleaner, blow dry, and oil right quick.

 

[Some_Mook]

Be aware that the vibrations from the cleaner can lead to some finish / bluing damage if your parts are making direct contact with a metal basket or laying on the bottom of the cleaner. I cut a piece of a silicone baking mat to fit the bottom of the basket. Punched holes in it and secured it to the basket mesh with plastic zip ties. Kind of learned this lesson the hard way with a '51 Navy barrel. I have been using a citrus degreaser and hot water. When I remove the parts from the bath I rinse with tap water and then dry everything with compressed air. No flash rust issues for me, I do go over everything with balistol inside and out after drying. I use the time that the hard parts are in the ultra sonic unit to clean the parts that don't go into a solution for cleaning.

YMMV

 

[Davey Boy]

If you search in Percussion Rifles on this forum for

Whitmore, Duff, Wolff & Co.​

You will see where I used an ultrasonic cleaner on the lock and trigger without damage to the patina

I was using lab grade isopropyl alcohol in a glass container in the water bath tank

If you want to get into technical details of cleaning using ultrasonics, I can keep on going.

Some_Mook is correct to be careful of dissimilar metal contact

I generally start with a cotton swab and spit, then move on to something else until satisfied with results

 

[Flintlock Whiskey]

10+ years working on and cleaning surgical instruments. We used ultrasonic cleaners all the time. It was a required step that could not be skipped. If you look at hemostats with box joints and scissors, the tolerances are very close. Blood and body fluids get into them and cannot be removed with manual cleaning alone. For those who dont know, the ultrasonic soundwaves cause cavitation in the joints and recesses of metal instruments which removes the infectious waste that can come loose during the following surgery procedure and cause a lot of issues. I would think that getting the bp residue out of revolver parts with an ultrasonic cleaner would be a good idea. I didnt know that HF sold them, going to look into it.

 

[IronHand]

I have had a Hornady ultrasound unit for years. Works great for all handguns that are short enough to fit in it. Mine is too short for a Remington NMA. Luckily my NMA is stainless. Colts can, of course, be disassembled. Nipples are placed in a small pill bottle of solution and dropped in the tank.

I use 1/4 Murphys and 3/4 water but I may start adding alcohol as well. Run, wipe, blow dry and lube.

IronHand