Anyone have work experience with ultrasonic cleaners?

[Racer X]

I know we really have a very diverse group here, with some very interesting work histories.

Anyway, I want to get a good 2+ quart heated ultrasonic cleaner, but I need it for 2 wildly different things.

My partner makes jewelry, so it will get used to clean various jewelry during the polishing process, and periodically after being worn. BUT, I want to use it for cleaning pistols and medium-small rifle parts. My issue is getting lead residue from the firearms in with the jewelry.

Can you put a smaller container in an ultrasonic tub and have the vibrations pass through properly to the smaller vessel, like a pyrex dish or tempered canning jar? Or would the parts in a ziploc bag with the solvent work? I can preheat the solvent or cleaner, so the second container being a thermal barrier isn't an issue.

[davester]

I have used parts in a Ziplock bag in order to minimize solvent use or to isolate extremely contaminated parts from relatively clean ones. Seems to work OK.

[Diana]

We have ultrasonicators in the lab; these are small devices used to soak items in a solvent and clean them using ultrasonic vibrations (just like you are asking about... Huh!). All sarcasm aside, it is common practice to put a small pyrex beaker containing the cleaning material and item to be cleaned inside the sonicator, I just make sure that the beaker is actually touching the bottom and not floating in the water in the sonicator tub. This both contains the small item and prevents it from going everywhere, and allows me to use smaller amounts of the cleaning solutions.

Every lab I have worked in has had this same set up.

A note of caution: if you don't feel the beaker (or jar) vibrating, then the circuitry used to produce the vibrations has worn out. Finding replacements for the part is not difficult, but replacing the glued on part is the issue. Lots of glue is generally used. Its easier just to buy a new sonicator.

Diana

[Racer X]

Thanks Diana, and everyone else. Everything I have read is the failure point is usually the transducers debonding and falling off.

Wasn't sure about the beakers or trays.

[RAMd®d]

Will an ultrasonic cleaner actually remove lead from rifling?

Like most, I've use Hoppes No. 9 and other solvents, along with a wire brush to clean a barrel.

But even my bright shiny 'cleanest' still had lead in the grooves. The lands were always pretty clean.

Using this:

got the lead out.

Several passes ended up with a clean screen ( the small round wire disc) a brighter bore, and a tighter group.

I'd be surprised if an ultrasonic cleaner worked that miracle.

[Racer X]

Not bore lead, but a caked on lead residue in every nook and cranny in the reciever. It's a Ruger Mark III upper, and the loaded chamber indicator is caked frozen open. I have NEVER seen that, even in online pictures.

[M A V I C]

I wonder if the main pan is replaceable. If it is, buy a spare and swap between uses.

[Diana]

How about a patent for doing just what you are wanting? And one that may be expired... but I don't really know if it is or not.

Hopefully this gets it to you. If not, let me know. Questions? Again, let me know.

patent

Diana

PS. I found that Brownells talks about something of the sort:

Brownells how-to