Ultrasonic cleaners and aluminum frame pistols

[Charles L. Cotton]

At the PSC Board meeting tonight, a Member mentioned that he had ruined a suppressor that used aluminum baffles by cleaning it in an ultrasonic cleaner. He said it pitted the baffles. I didn't think to ask him if he was using water and soap, or a strong cleaner.

I've never heard that you can't clean aluminum in an ultrasonic cleaner. Does anyone have any information on this issue?

Chas.

[C-dub]

I have the Lyman Turbo Sonic 2500 cleaner. I have not cleaned anything aluminum in it. Reading the manual, in bold and underlined print, it states "Do not use on non-anodized (bare) aluminum or other non-ferrous metals." I goes on to to state that when cleaning aluminum, I'm assuming not bare, that cleaning time should be kept to the minimum time needed and warns that aluminum can be damaged by excessive sonic energy.

[E.Marquez]

At the PSC Board meeting tonight, a Member mentioned that he had ruined a suppressor that used aluminum baffles by cleaning it in an ultrasonic cleaner. He said it pitted the baffles. I didn't think to ask him if he was using water and soap, or a strong cleaner.

I've never heard that you can't clean aluminum in an ultrasonic cleaner. Does anyone have any information on this issue?

Chas.

Based on my daily use, lots of research before I spent big $ on a commercial tank, that users issue was the cleaner soap, not the physical action of the sonic tank.
I clean my pistols, and all manner of aluminum, magnesium, titanium and steel motorcycle parts daily in my sonic tank.
I've worked with race teams that were cleaning almost priceless aluminum parts in sonic tanks.

That said.... one of the at home user tests to see of your frequency generators are still working is to take a piece of aluminum foil on the cleaner soap surface....and turn the machine on..if it "holes" the foil its working https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YR5PgwEDFzs so yes if your cleaning any softe paper thin meterial, it can be damaged by the sonic waives. And I would guess any soft untreated aluminum part should be cleaned for a minimal time after confirming the cleaner soap is appropriate for use on that metal type.