Pennsylvania Firearm Owners Association
Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 12
Results 11 to 18 of 18
  1. #11
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    Where the amish roam, Pennsylvania
    (Lancaster County)
    Posts
    2,810
    Rep Power
    21474851

    Default Re: Ulrtasonic Advice

    Here's a good article that should help information wise when choosing an ultrasonic cleaner also Grizzly industrial has a lot of good options.

    https://sonicsoak.com/blogs/articles...eaning-machine

    https://www.grizzly.com/ultrasonic-cleaners

  2. #12
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    Gilbertsville, Pennsylvania
    (Montgomery County)
    Posts
    24
    Rep Power
    0

    Default Re: Ulrtasonic Advice

    Quote Originally Posted by JustinR View Post
    Pick the biggest one you think you'll use and then go up 50%. I bought a 3qt with On, Timer, and heat - if I'd known everything I'd use it for, I would have bought a 5-6qt with emphasis on the longest dimension of the unit, preferably about 18".
    Sound advice, but unfortunately I do not have $3000 for the one I would then purchase...

    Looks like a few of you are pretty happy with the Harbor Freight model, so that will certainly warrant a good looking at. Being a somewhat mechanical person by trade, I just have a hard time taking anything from that store seriously. I also know how expensive shopping by a name can be, and doesn't always carry with it any certainty as to the quality. In this case, the Lyman model is around $140, where the Harbor Freight model is around $80, and they look very similar, as if they might actually be the same machine under a few aesthetic differences? Thank you for that feedback...

    As to my aluminum question, I guess it is either a myth, or misunderstanding, perpetuated by your normal online channels of panic. I would go with the latter since I have seen AR's and other aluminum parts being cleaned in ultrasonics. Looks like it could have been a problem at one point, but was easily remedied by a better understanding of frequencies and proper Ph balance? Thank you again for your advice and guidance on that one!

    After looking at the Grizzly web sight, which I had long ago forgotten all about until you guys just reminded me, I found something along the lines of what I want to build up to...

    https://www.grizzly.com/products/Bal...9-Liter/BE1167

    Again, start with something more economical, and work my way up to the bigger toys...
    Last edited by marstev; September 8th, 2019 at 12:32 PM.

  3. #13
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Location
    Mohnton, Pennsylvania
    (Berks County)
    Posts
    7,194
    Rep Power
    21474854

    Default Re: Ulrtasonic Advice

    Quote Originally Posted by marstev View Post
    Sound advice, but unfortunately I do not have $3000 for the one I would then purchase...

    Looks like a few of you are pretty happy with the Harbor Freight model, so that will certainly warrant a good looking at. Being a somewhat mechanical person by trade, I just have a hard time taking anything from that store seriously. I also know how expensive shopping by a name can be, and doesn't always carry with it any certainty as to the quality. In this case, the Lyman model is around $140, where the Harbor Freight model is around $80, and they look very similar, as if they might actually be the same machine under a few aesthetic differences? Thank you for that feedback...

    As to my aluminum question, I guess it is either a myth, or misunderstanding, perpetuated by your normal online channels of panic. I would go with the latter since I have seen AR's and other aluminum parts being cleaned in ultrasonics. Looks like it could have been a problem at one point, but was easily remedied by a better understanding of frequencies and proper Ph balance? Thank you again for your advice and guidance on that one!

    After looking at the Grizzly web sight, which I had long ago forgotten all about until you guys just reminded me, I found something along the lines of what I want to build up to...

    https://www.grizzly.com/products/Bal...9-Liter/BE1167

    Again, start with something more economical, and work my way up to the bigger toys...
    From what I have read aluminum is used to check if your setup is correct. If it quickly pops holes in the foil and tears it up you are good to go. Aluminum is soft and the bubbles are like little detonations. Same way ping wrecks engines.
    The Gun is the Badge of a Free Man

  4. #14
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    Gilbertsville, Pennsylvania
    (Montgomery County)
    Posts
    24
    Rep Power
    0

    Default Re: Ulrtasonic Advice

    Quote Originally Posted by Gunsnwater View Post
    From what I have read aluminum is used to check if your setup is correct. If it quickly pops holes in the foil and tears it up you are good to go. Aluminum is soft and the bubbles are like little detonations. Same way ping wrecks engines.
    Actually, my original question wasn't about the foil, but something to the effect the cavitation has on aluminum alloy at a molecular level? In one Youtube video I saw, the guy was very insistent as to "NEVER NEVER NEVER" put aluminum parts in an ultrasonic cleaner, and that wasn't the first time I had heard something along those lines. Think it was just one of those old-wives tails as I have seen time and again examples of using ultrasonics to not only clean aluminum gun parts, but automotive parts as well. That's why I think I can conclude, for now anyway, that some of the issues of the past were more about the follies of using the wrong cleaning compound, and possibly frequency issues with earlier generation machines.

  5. #15
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    127.0.0.1, Pennsylvania
    (Lancaster County)
    Posts
    20,351
    Rep Power
    21474874

    Default Re: Ulrtasonic Advice

    Quote Originally Posted by Noah_Zark View Post
    When cleaning aluminum you need to absolutely avoid alkaline (high pH) cleaning solutions, and strong acid (low pH) solutions. Acids will remove oxides, and anodizing is aluminum oxide. Standard commercial aluminum cleaners are mildly acidic to intentionally remove dulling aluminum oxide and make the component bright again. Unfortunately they remove anodizing.

    Stick to cleaners that have a pH between 5 and 8, diluted and ready for use. Invest in some pH test strips (litmus paper) in both acid and alkaline ranges to check your solutions. It's very inexpensive.

    Noah
    Do you have any recommendations on brands of fluid to use? I just ordered a 2L cleaner with heat this evening. Mostly I'll be using it to clean small engine parts. Lots of aluminum carbs out there. I don't want to dissolve them.
    Rules are written in the stone,
    Break the rules and you get no bones,
    all you get is ridicule, laughter,
    and a trip to the house of pain.

  6. #16
    Join Date
    Dec 2012
    Location
    Langhorne, Pennsylvania
    (Bucks County)
    Posts
    330
    Rep Power
    5877350

    Default Re: Ulrtasonic Advice

    I have the Hornady "Hot Tub" cleaner and their cleaning solution and it does all my handguns, rifles, and I drop my suppressor and baffles in it routinely with no issues. Bonus is that my wife bought it for me, but I'd definitely not hesitate to recommend it!
    "A nation of sheep will beget a government of wolves." ― Edward R. Murrow

  7. #17
    Join Date
    Sep 2016
    Location
    York, Pennsylvania
    (York County)
    Posts
    1,411
    Rep Power
    21474845

    Default Re: Ulrtasonic Advice

    Mine is about 24" x 12" x 8" deep. I bought it to clean motorcycle parts (the size was specifically selected so I could fit a 'bank' of four carbs in it), but it works great for firearms. Got it off Amazon a couple years back.

    My 'cleaning solution' is basically 10 parts water to 1 part Zep "citrus degreaser". I've also used a similar 10/1 ratio of Simple Green "concentrated".

    I typically run it at 60 degrees celsius. I -have- noticed that non-ferrous (e.g. aluminum) parts will darken in that if run a long time (30 minutes+) but also that about 95% of the 'darkening' goes away once they cool down.

    I strip and clean my guns in it regularly with no adverse effects that I've noted.
    DGAF

  8. #18
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Location
    Mohnton, Pennsylvania
    (Berks County)
    Posts
    7,194
    Rep Power
    21474854

    Default Re: Ulrtasonic Advice

    Quote Originally Posted by marstev View Post
    Actually, my original question wasn't about the foil, but something to the effect the cavitation has on aluminum alloy at a molecular level? In one Youtube video I saw, the guy was very insistent as to "NEVER NEVER NEVER" put aluminum parts in an ultrasonic cleaner, and that wasn't the first time I had heard something along those lines. Think it was just one of those old-wives tails as I have seen time and again examples of using ultrasonics to not only clean aluminum gun parts, but automotive parts as well. That's why I think I can conclude, for now anyway, that some of the issues of the past were more about the follies of using the wrong cleaning compound, and possibly frequency issues with earlier generation machines.
    Length of time.
    The Gun is the Badge of a Free Man

Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 12

Similar Threads

  1. Advice
    By cruzans in forum Pistols
    Replies: 22
    Last Post: December 1st, 2014, 05:06 PM
  2. pfa advice
    By Bill76 in forum General
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: November 23rd, 2010, 01:31 PM
  3. Some advice?
    By Kaos in forum General
    Replies: 19
    Last Post: December 2nd, 2009, 03:50 PM
  4. Need advice
    By JDePietro in forum General
    Replies: 27
    Last Post: April 1st, 2008, 09:03 PM
  5. AR advice..
    By J8300 in forum General
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: January 28th, 2008, 11:50 PM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •