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Ultrasonic cleaning

Posted: Sat Mar 09, 2019 12:38 pm
by MotorRacingBruce1980
Does anyone have some good recommendations of cleaning fluids to use in an ultrasonic cleaner.

I use Vinegar, Water and a little washing up liquid for my Brass and that works well.

Would like to find something good to use on my Moderators, any tips anyone?

Re: Ultrasonic cleaning

Posted: Sat Mar 09, 2019 1:46 pm
by 20series
Personally I use citric acid.

Alan

Re: Ultrasonic cleaning

Posted: Sat Mar 09, 2019 3:01 pm
by WelshShooter
Citric acid works well with plain water. I use one tea spoon with 2L of water and a squirt of dishwashing liquid to act as a surfactant.

I use this solution in a heated ultrasonic bath for 10 mins at 45°C. Afterwards, be sure to give the brass a healthy rinse with plain water. I usually tumble for 30 mins just to give the brass some shine.

One word of caution - do not use the above for blued steel! I cleaned a bolt using the above method, and whilst it cleaned very well it also stripped most of the blueing! Luckily it was a semi auto rifle where the bolt is internal so you can't see any difference.

Re: Ultrasonic cleaning

Posted: Sat Mar 09, 2019 4:07 pm
by sclg
I found this stuff many years ago and have used it ever since for all sorts of things. Works wonders on brass with 8 mins in the ultrasonic bath.
Not that cheap but you use so little (about 1% solution) it lasts for ages.
https://www.coleparmer.co.uk/p/cole-par ... lution/504

Steve

Re: Ultrasonic cleaning

Posted: Sat Mar 09, 2019 4:32 pm
by Pete
This stuffs good, too.....

http://www.decon.co.uk/english/decon90.asp

Pete

Re: Ultrasonic cleaning

Posted: Sat Mar 09, 2019 5:08 pm
by bewildered
As above, citric acid from Wilkos, add 10g to 500ml of boiling water, a squirt of washing up liquid and dilute to a litre with cold water. 10 mins in US bath cleans cases a treat. Rinse well, shake off excess water, dry on radiator overnight and then dry tumble for final polish.

Re: Ultrasonic cleaning

Posted: Sat Mar 09, 2019 6:50 pm
by shugie
sclg wrote:I found this stuff many years ago and have used it ever since for all sorts of things. Works wonders on brass with 8 mins in the ultrasonic bath.
Not that cheap but you use so little (about 1% solution) it lasts for ages.
https://www.coleparmer.co.uk/p/cole-par ... lution/504

Steve
Says not to use with zinc (or magnesium, aluminium) is that ok with brass which has zinc in it? I've seen old brass seacocks become weakened through the zinc being leached out by seawater. Takes a long time of immersion to do it though.

Re: Ultrasonic cleaning

Posted: Sat Mar 09, 2019 10:52 pm
by Daryll
I used to use Seaclean, but when that ran out I bought this stuff..

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ultrasonic-c ... 2591e1bc71

It works very well.... 10 mins in there at 40+ degrees, then a ringe in water with a dash of rinse-aid, then dry in the sun or Oven at 100 degrees.

Re: Ultrasonic cleaning

Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2019 9:34 am
by bewildered
I have sometimes found that brass cases have pink patches on them after cleaning with citric acid, particularly old cases with alot of discolouration. This is apparently a well known phonomenon and due to the citric acid leaching out the zinc in the brass leaving a thin layer of pink copper. I have found an hour or so dry tumbling gets rid of this pink layer. Some say throw the cases away if you see this pink discolouration, others say the layer is so thin it doesn't matter. Being a tight old git I believe the second group and am continuing to reload mine although I do keep a careful eye on them.

Re: Ultrasonic cleaning

Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2019 10:03 am
by shugie
bewildered wrote:I have sometimes found that brass cases have pink patches on them after cleaning with citric acid, particularly old cases with alot of discolouration. This is apparently a well known phonomenon and due to the citric acid leaching out the zinc in the brass leaving a thin layer of pink copper. I have found an hour or so dry tumbling gets rid of this pink layer. Some say throw the cases away if you see this pink discolouration, others say the layer is so thin it doesn't matter. Being a tight old git I believe the second group and am continuing to reload mine although I do keep a careful eye on them.
I'd be chucking them away, having seen the state of a brass seacock where the zinc had gone, it had become very brittle.