Ultrasonic Cleaner Suggestions?

[3 Meter Para Bellum]

Hey there, I'm wondering if anyone has any ultrasonic cleaning machines they would suggest? I had someone ask about them but I have never used one myself, and quite frankly I am totally unfamiliar with what is available.

 

[RL338]

I bought a Hornady when they came out. I tried different recipes of cleaning solution on brass and never got the results I wanted. After 6 months I sold it and bought a cheap Harbor Freight rock tumbler and stainless pins and never looked back. Tumbling with wet stainless and a little Dawn dish soap is the best way to get sparkling clean brass.

 

[D21ALASKA]

^^Seconded

 

[DrMike]

My experience mirrors that of RL338. I used my ultrasonic for about six months and sold it at a loss. The steel pins in my Thumler Tumbler works just fine, and almost as fast as the ultrasonic worked.

 

[salmonchaser]

Similarly we bought a hydro sonic cleaner to keep in our range for cleaning pistols and AR parts. It did a good job but was in efficient and messy Compared to old fashioned work for routine pistol maintenance. Quarterly quals or swat range days it earned it’s keep with the MP-5s and M-4s.

 

[3 Meter Para Bellum]

I would have to assume cleaning gun parts with a tumbler is a bad idea...?

 

[salmonchaser]

Probably

 

[RL338]

I would have to assume cleaning gun parts with a tumbler is a bad idea...?

It will clean any finish off of the parts leaving you with raw metal.

 

[Dr. Vette]

I use stainless media for brass, and ultrasonic cleaners for car parts, gun parts and other items.
US is great for parts cleaning but just OK for brass unless you leave it in a long time.

 

[Eemelenty]

I had issues with inconsistent cleaning until I upgraded to one with a better generator. If you’re looking for more control over frequency and power settings, this one’s solid: https://www.kaijo-shibuya.com/industrial-ultrasonic-cleaners/ultrasonic-generators/industrial-ultrasonic-generator-phenix-plus/. It helped me get much more even results, especially with small parts that used to come out spotty.

 

[jjs405]

I have a cheap Harbor Freight that I use for jewelry & such and a Crest benchtop ultrasonic cleaner for cleaning guns, parts & such ... it's also heated which helps greatly. Because it's heated the parts dry very quickly after a water rinse.

I tried using it for brass but it was unsatisfactory & I deemed it a lost cause. The best solution I have found for brass is wet tumbling with stainless steel pins & adding Lemi Shine with a few drops of Dawn dish soap ... Brass comes out looking like new!