Hornady Lock-N-Load Sonic Cleaner

[fannypacker]

Go to any gun range that rents handguns and ask. When i worked at Bullet Trap in Plano they never cleaned rent guns until they stopped working. In the case of revolvers and glocks they rarely need to be cleaned. I haven't worked there in years so my experience is dated.

[HankB]

Most solvents like MEK and acetone are just fine for a traditionally blued or stainless gun, but don't get them near plastic, paint, or Loctite unless you want it removed. It's been a long time since my chemist buddy was doing this, and I'm not certain what his brew was, but I'm quite sure he wasn't using it on plastic or painted firearms.

If you have a HF unit, try the aluminum foil test at different parts of the tank and report back. The one I had would ONLY perforate the foil in the center part of the tank - NO cleaning action elsewhere. Maybe I had a lemon . . .

Years ago I used to run into a guy at the range who was a watchmaker - he said he often used an ultrasonic cleaner on watch mechanisms, and put a few drops of lubricant in the solvent he used. When he took the watch out and let the solvent evaporate, it left *just* the right amount of lube on the mechanism. I have no details on his solvent or lubricant choices, but I wonder if a similar approach would work with firearms?

[Luggo1]

Not to hijack the thread but can I ask how the HF one does on just cleaning brass? How many pieces of 9 or 45 can you do at a time.

Thanks,

[rm9792]

Never thought to clean brass with it, always used a tumbler. Have to try that and let you know.

[mr surveyor]

one advantage to cleaning brass in the U-s device is that you can deprime first, give it a 15-20 minute bath and it's clean inside and out, flash hole and all. It won't come out all polished and shiney looking like it would with a wax job from a husk tumbler, but after a good air dry it's totally functional and ready for work.

[PBratton]

one advantage to cleaning brass in the U-s device is that you can deprime first, give it a 15-20 minute bath and it's clean inside and out, flash hole and all. It won't come out all polished and shiney looking like it would with a wax job from a husk tumbler, but after a good air dry it's totally functional and ready for work.

Yeah, I HATE it when I get corn in my flash hole ...

[Gyrogearhead]

In the "for what it's worth" dept: I've been using a 100 watt Branson ultra sonic cleaner for the last thirty years or so to clean small mechanisms, microscope parts & etc. To keep the parts from rubbing together when there were multiple items in the tank we put each one in a separate plastic container and pile them in the tank. Often we used the plastic blister packs that other products were packaged in.

The tank was kept about half full of water and the parts to be cleaned were placed in a plastic Tupperware like container with its specific cleaning agent and floated in the water in the tank. That kept the amount of solvent exposure down and it didn't take nearly as much solvent to clean a small part.

Never cleaned any glued together or plastic parts so can't advise on the problems there but if the solvent doesn't attack the plastic then I doubt the cleaning machine would bother it.

My 2c worth.

Gerry

[PBratton]

So, has anyone used an US cleaner to clean magazines? Can't think of a reason not to drop one it to clean it...

[rm9792]

I have done a lot of mags in mine. Works well as they are so open inside.