Has anyone used an ultrasonic cleaner for their guns - or boat parts?

I bought one and I'm clear on the cleaning part but have read a lot of
opinions on the best way to lubricate the parts after they are cleaned.

On Sat, 26 Nov 2016 21:48:20 -0500, Alex wrote:

Has anyone used an ultrasonic cleaner for their guns - or boat parts?

I bought one and I'm clear on the cleaning part but have read a lot of
opinions on the best way to lubricate the parts after they are cleaned.

===

I have not used one but it's not clear to me that a special lubricant
would be required - anything suitable for normal lube and corrosion
protection in my opinion.

wrote:
On Sat, 26 Nov 2016 21:48:20 -0500, Alex wrote:

Has anyone used an ultrasonic cleaner for their guns - or boat parts?

I bought one and I'm clear on the cleaning part but have read a lot of
opinions on the best way to lubricate the parts after they are cleaned.
===

I have not used one but it's not clear to me that a special lubricant
would be required - anything suitable for normal lube and corrosion
protection in my opinion.

If you are cleaning a gun, for example, how can you be sure to displace
the water/solvent when you remove it from the tank? There are tiny
areas that wouldn't be a problem with normal cleaning.

I was looking for some firsthand experiences to compare to the differing
opinions on the internet.

On Sat, 26 Nov 2016 22:59:17 -0500, Alex wrote:

wrote:
On Sat, 26 Nov 2016 21:48:20 -0500, Alex wrote:

Has anyone used an ultrasonic cleaner for their guns - or boat parts?

I bought one and I'm clear on the cleaning part but have read a lot of
opinions on the best way to lubricate the parts after they are cleaned.
===

I have not used one but it's not clear to me that a special lubricant
would be required - anything suitable for normal lube and corrosion
protection in my opinion.

If you are cleaning a gun, for example, how can you be sure to displace
the water/solvent when you remove it from the tank? There are tiny
areas that wouldn't be a problem with normal cleaning.

I was looking for some firsthand experiences to compare to the differing
opinions on the internet.

My first thought would be to use an air compressor to get the moisture out. Then I would think any
good lubricant would do the job. I then, not wanting to sound completely stupid, went online. Came
across this, which I'm pretty sure you've probably already seen:

"Never use an ultrasonic cleaner unless you completely strip the device prior to submerging, dry the
parts completely, and re-lubricate prior to assembly.

The bath will completely strip grease and lubricants from the parts, dirt and soft residues, but is
not particularly effective at removing hard, baked-on residue from the chamber and feed ramp. It's
impossible to properly apply grease to the shafts and sliding parts in a pistol without disassembly,
much less a revolver.

I've soaked a 1911 barrel for 20 minutes, hardly touching carbon on the feed ramp. On the other
hand, the bolt carrier group of an AR is easy to disassemble and comes out of the bath spotless,
inside and out. Even the gas tube extension comes clean. Cartridges come out spotless inside and
out, but the hard residue in primer pockets is hardly touched.

If you get sand into a mechanism, you have to remove all the grease to clean it. The ultrasonic bath
excels at this task. My guns have thus far been spared, but I've used it to clean bicycle chains and
freewheels, as well as carburetors.

Gun parts can be dried quickly and effectively with compressed air. That has little effect on wet
cartridges, which I put in a mesh bag and hang over a floor fan for a day.

Everybody has a "secret" formula for a cleaning solution, most of which make no sense from a
chemist's point of view. Commercial cleaners are based on detergents, with EDTA or citric acid for
cleaning brass. Ammonia or vinegar are too weak to do much of anything. (forget "and." Citric acid
neutralizes EDTA and vinegar neutralizes ammonia.) Simple Green works well to remove grease, but
will form a sticky gel if left in the bath for more than a day. "

From:

https://forums.1911forum.com/showthread.php?t=440246

(As you know, I'm really in to 1911's now! The SR1911 is on its way)

On Sat, 26 Nov 2016 21:48:20 -0500, Alex wrote:

Has anyone used an ultrasonic cleaner for their guns - or boat parts?

I bought one and I'm clear on the cleaning part but have read a lot of
opinions on the best way to lubricate the parts after they are cleaned.

I would put mineral spirits with a dash of oil in my cleaner. When the
mineral spirits evaporates away, you still end up with a uniform oil
coating. Then wipe all the oil off that you can, knowing it is still
there on the microscopic level. When assembling the gun, lube the
operating surfaces as normal but too much is as bad or worse than none
at all.

On Sun, 27 Nov 2016 08:27:32 -0500, Poquito Loco
wrote:

If you get sand into a mechanism, you have to remove all the grease to clean it. The ultrasonic bath
excels at this task. My guns have thus far been spared, but I've used it to clean bicycle chains and
freewheels, as well as carburetors.

===

In basic training we used to get sand in the M-14 trigger mechanism
all the time. The unauthorized but effective cure was to wash it
under hot soapy water, rinse, dry, and re-oil immediately.

wrote:
On Sun, 27 Nov 2016 08:27:32 -0500, Poquito Loco
wrote:

If you get sand into a mechanism, you have to remove all the grease to
clean it. The ultrasonic bath
excels at this task. My guns have thus far been spared, but I've used it
to clean bicycle chains and
freewheels, as well as carburetors.

===

In basic training we used to get sand in the M-14 trigger mechanism
all the time. The unauthorized but effective cure was to wash it
under hot soapy water, rinse, dry, and re-oil immediately.


In air force basic, I seem to remember washing the M1 carbines we used at
the firing range in soapy water first part of cleanup. But that was nearly
60 years ago, so memory may be tainted.

On Sun, 27 Nov 2016 12:30:59 -0500,
wrote:

On Sun, 27 Nov 2016 08:27:32 -0500, Poquito Loco
wrote:

If you get sand into a mechanism, you have to remove all the grease to clean it. The ultrasonic bath
excels at this task. My guns have thus far been spared, but I've used it to clean bicycle chains and
freewheels, as well as carburetors.

===

In basic training we used to get sand in the M-14 trigger mechanism
all the time. The unauthorized but effective cure was to wash it
under hot soapy water, rinse, dry, and re-oil immediately.

That was SOP on the M1. The only issue is very hot water and immediate
re oiling

On Sun, 27 Nov 2016 12:30:59 -0500, wrote:

On Sun, 27 Nov 2016 08:27:32 -0500, Poquito Loco
wrote:

If you get sand into a mechanism, you have to remove all the grease to clean it. The ultrasonic bath
excels at this task. My guns have thus far been spared, but I've used it to clean bicycle chains and
freewheels, as well as carburetors.

===

In basic training we used to get sand in the M-14 trigger mechanism
all the time. The unauthorized but effective cure was to wash it
under hot soapy water, rinse, dry, and re-oil immediately.

We washed our M-14 under hot (really hot) soapy water in OCS. Then we rinsed them in hot (really
hot) water. Each individual then waved the hot pieces around to air dry them. Worked well.

On Sun, 27 Nov 2016 15:18:53 -0500, Poco Loco
wrote:

On Sun, 27 Nov 2016 12:30:59 -0500, wrote:

On Sun, 27 Nov 2016 08:27:32 -0500, Poquito Loco
wrote:

If you get sand into a mechanism, you have to remove all the grease to clean it. The ultrasonic bath
excels at this task. My guns have thus far been spared, but I've used it to clean bicycle chains and
freewheels, as well as carburetors.

===

In basic training we used to get sand in the M-14 trigger mechanism
all the time. The unauthorized but effective cure was to wash it
under hot soapy water, rinse, dry, and re-oil immediately.

We washed our M-14 under hot (really hot) soapy water in OCS. Then we rinsed them in hot (really
hot) water. Each individual then waved the hot pieces around to air dry them. Worked well.

I think the hot soapy water thing started when they were using
corrosive ammo.