Using medical instrument ultrasonic cleaner for brass cleaning

B

big bear

CGN frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
270   0   1
Have one of these. What solution should I use to clean brass with. Ideally something I can buy at the grocery store or hardware store.Or is the stuff used for instruments (they are typically high grade stainless steel with tungsten teeth and gold plating on some handles) as it came with some of that., ok for brass cleaning? Is there an ideal volume of solution to amount of brass for efficient cleaning.

Thanks!
 
I use a little bit of Lemishine (or citric acid) in mine along with dish soap and hot water. I decap my brass before cleaning as I find it does a credible job of cleaning primer pockets too- not as good as wet tumbling, but better than dealing with dirty primer pockets.

Other things that work are descaler powder (contains citric acid), Coca-cola (phosphoric acid- heat and use straight with dish soap) and StarSan (phosphoric acid- use very dilute, no need to add soap).
 
I use liquid HE laundry detergent and food grade citric acid (the stuff they put on sour candy). The citric acid is also useful to remove lime deposits from the espresso coffee machine, the dishwasher and various other things in the house. Much less dangerous and better smelling than CLR.
 
Does anyone have an ultrasonic cleaner they would recommend? What would be the most cost effective option out there with respect to volume and being heated? Is there any better option then the 200 to 300 dollar ones on Amazon?

To the OP: simplegreen and warm water. That's what I've seen used in a number of SKS cleaning youtube videos I've watched... Not from personal experience.
 
I bought an ultrasonic cleaner a couple of years ago for car parts and the like. It's worked very well and has been used in many different applications. It does have a heater element so it keeps water warm. It's the same ultrasonic cleaner as the hornady but without their stickers on it and much cheaper. Its $129 on amazon. Click on the link below and it should take you directly to the product. As for brass cleaning solution I just use Hornady's solution as you dont require much to clean the cases.
Ultrasonic Cleaner
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00AXEB6BA?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
 
Airgunnr said:
I bought an ultrasonic cleaner a couple of years ago for car parts and the like. It's worked very well and has been used in many different applications. It does have a heater element so it keeps water warm. It's the same ultrasonic cleaner as the hornady but without their stickers on it and much cheaper. Its $129 on amazon. Click on the link below and it should take you directly to the product. As for brass cleaning solution I just use Hornady's solution as you dont require much to clean the cases.
Ultrasonic Cleaner
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00AXEB6BA?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
Click to expand...

Is that big enough to fit an SKS bolt and trigger group by chance? No particular reason for asking or anything:p
 
I've got the Hornady 2.0 litre cleaner. Used with hot water, a scant teaspoon of Lemishine, and a squirt of Dawn dish soap it does a good job on brass. Usually one 30 minute cycle using the heat option is enough.
Dump the solution after every load, it doesn't clean as well the second time around. It's dirt cheap anyway.
Rinse with hot fresh water after the clean cycle, then dry in a 180 F oven for 30 mins. Turn oven off and let cool completely to make the most of the heat.
 
I bought the generic copy of the Lyman ultrasonic cleaner below for $83.99 last year on Amazon. Shop around I have seen it as low as $50.00 US and It works very well. Just remember the hotter the water the better they clean, and it may take a few cycles for the water to reach the proper temp. I fill it with hot tap water so it reaches the proper temp faster and run it for four 8 minute cycles. I use the same dish soap and Lemi-Shine as I do in my wet tumbler. It does not have the same bling as wet tumbling but you do not get any case mouth peening.

iSonic Professional Grade Ultrasonic Cleaner P4820-WPB with Heater and Digital Timer, Plastic Basket

Digitial timer: 180, 280, 380, 480 and 90 seconds.
Large tank size: 9.6"x5.9"x3". Tank capacity 2.6 Qt / 2.5 L.
Power: 110V 160W including the heater. (220V available with extra charge) Ultrasonic frequency: 35,000 Hz.
Come with a full size plastic basket.
Warning: Do not use liquid bleach in the s.s. tank and corrosive solvents.

TBYOvdY6nHvF.jpg


51-qfOODX1L._AC_.jpg
 
Last edited:
bigedp51 said:
I bought the generic copy of the Lyman ultrasonic cleaner below for $83.99 last year on Amazon. Shop around I have seen it as low as $50.00 US and It works very well. Just remember the hotter the water the better they clean, and it may take a few cycles for the water to reach the proper temp. I fill it with hot tap water so it reaches the proper temp faster and run it for four 8 minute cycles. I use the same dish soap and Lemi-Shine as I do in my wet tumbler. It does not have the same bling as wet tumbling but you do not get any case mouth peening.

iSonic Professional Grade Ultrasonic Cleaner P4820-WPB with Heater and Digital Timer, Plastic Basket

Digitial timer: 180, 280, 380, 480 and 90 seconds.
Large tank size: 9.6"x5.9"x3". Tank capacity 2.6 Qt / 2.5 L.
Power: 110V 160W including the heater. (220V available with extra charge) Ultrasonic frequency: 35,000 Hz.
Come with a full size plastic basket.
Warning: Do not use liquid bleach in the s.s. tank and corrosive solvents.

TBYOvdY6nHvF.jpg


51-qfOODX1L._AC_.jpg
Click to expand...

Had one. Someone told me some vinegar and salt for the solution, ended up rusting the tank. It's only thin plating. For 30$ more I got a 3L with a longer 30min timer,
 
I’ve got a Hornady cleaner that Ive had for about 10 years. Lymans brass cleaner solution concentrate, it does a couple hundred rounds at a time. I usually toss it in vibratory cleaner for a few hours first, then run it through the ultrasonic cleaner for about 10 min. to clean any polishing rouge off of it. They come out sparkling clean and ready to load. I also punch the primers first to clean the pockets well. it’s dirt cheap to use, works really well, and does as many as I want done in a given session
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom