Help with Ultasonic Cleaning

[squirrelsnpr]

To give you a little background: I bought a Harbor Freight ultrasonic cleaner a while back. I have got a routine down that gives me the clean cases I'm looking for. However due to the small size (or weak ultrasonic vibrators) I have to put approximately 10 cases in a beaker at a time to get these results. If I put more then 10 the cases do not come out as clean as I want and I have to do it over.

My routine consists of running the cases for 24 minutes in a water / vinegar solution with a few drops of soap. Then I run the cases for 8 minutes in a water / baking soda mix. I then run the cases in distilled water for 8 minuets. I then use a towel and the air compressor to dry the cases. Due to the small "batches" I can roughly do 10 cases an hour. That's too inefficient for me.

I was hoping there was another cleaning agent out there that would cut down the time it takes me to go through the ultrasonic cleaning process. Or do I need to get a different ultrasonic cleaner? I'd like to hear your expirences. If I could do 50 cases in an hour I think it would be worth my time. And the more cases per hour the better!

 

[kelbro]

Are your beakers making contact with the bottom of the cleaner? If so, that will dampen the effect of the transducer netting less 'power' to the cleaning solution and the brass.

I can do about 40 pieces of 223 brass in the HF cleaner. I use the Birchwood Casey stuff and it reduces the total time by about 1/3.

 

[fayettefatts]

Suggest you try it without the beakers. If yours is like mine it came with a plastic tray that fits in the tank. I hold this tray off the bottom with wires going from the tray to the sides of the tank, just raising it enough that it dosen't touch. Perhaps spacers like o-rings under the tank would work as well. Actually it seemed to worked OK with the tray resting on the bottom. I tried beakers as well and had the same problem as you with the limited capacity.

After some searching on this forum I purchased some Citric Acid to try as a cleaning agent but have not tried it yet.

 

[bowslngr]

I have been having similar problems with my Harbor Freight cleaner. I bought it about four months ago, and when it was brand new it seemed to work better. I could get about 25-30 cases cleaned in 4-5 cycles using the Hornady solution. Now when I put just 20-25 cases in the only ones that get cleaned are the ones in the center. I use the plastic tray that came with the unit and add just enough water to cover the cases. I honestly don't think the ultrasonic vibrator is powerful enough in these things.

 

[bpratl]

I have to agree with the above findings. My HF cleaner seemed to work faster when new so I may try to suspend the beakers and give that a try.

 

[Erik Cortina]

I have the same US cleaner. I use Citranox and "lime shine" and I can clean 75 cases in 24 minutes (3 cycles). I use a plastic container and I suspend it so it doesn't touch the bottom. It works great and the cases come out clean (Citranox) and shiny (lime shine). I have found that cases clean better when they are standing up rather than laying down.

 

[kelbro]

One thing that seems to elude many is that the idea of US cleaning is to get the cleaning fluid excited, not the parts being cleaned. That is how they are designed to work. The thinner plastic cups, suspended, will help eliminate some of the damping. Less mass to move the sound waves through. 'Vibrating' the parts may even be counter-productive.

Mine also get cleaner standing up.

 

[JDY]

Erik Cortina has the correct ideal. I use a glass beaker and suspend the breaker so it don't touch any metal part of the unit. I also use Hornady cleaner with great results. When complete you need to use compressed air to blow all the water from the primer pocket then dry
the brass. I use a small toaster oven set on the low setting with the door open just a bit.

 

[squirrelsnpr]

Is this the stuff?

http://www.envirocontech.com/products/Learn-More-about-Lemi-Shine.html

 

[Erik Cortina]

Is this the stuff?

http://www.envirocontech.com/products/Learn-More-about-Lemi-Shine.html

Yeah, that's it! You don't need much, a teaspoon per 75 cases is about all I use. Makes brass shiny!

Get some Citranox from Amazon.com, mix 75 parts water with one part Citranox and you are all set. A $40.00 gallon will last you a lifetime!

 

[squirrelsnpr]

I'm going to give this solution a try. I ordered the citronox last night and I'm going to try and find this stuff locally. Here's to hunting.

I just started my hunt and saw that they also make a Lemi Shine rinse. Do I need the rinse? Or do I use the baking soda like with the vinegar?

 

[Erik Cortina]

I get the lemi-shine from the grocery store. Get the super concentrated stuff and you will be all set.

No need for the lemi-shine rinse or baking soda. I run mine about 3-4 eight minute cycles and then dump the dirty water out and simply rinse with fresh water. I fill the container up and dump out until water comes out clean. After than I either set outside to dry or use an air compressor.

Oh, almost forgot, the Citranox and Lemi-shine work faster if you use hot water!