Ultrasonic cleaner @ Aldi

[meles meles]

Yes, well, "where there's brass there's muck," or somesuch...

[carlsenior]

I bought one a while back then upgraded to a heated unit from Maplin, I use a little washing up liquid and some Anhydrous Citric Acid bought from ebay for making "bathbombs" (approx 3 teaspoons per litre) it does a fantastic job and even the primer pockets are spotless! and Citric Acid doesn't harm the brass it actually helps to stop it oxidizing
After i've used the solution I let it settle out in a plastic gallon container and then I reuse it again after decanting carefully so it's very economical.

[DW58]

I don't find the need for the citric acid - my cases (including primer pockets) were perfectly clean using just "Fairy" liquid and hot water. I tried using the addition of some vinegar in a couple of test batches, but there was not obvious advantage.

[dromia]

I use Speed Green in my ultrasonics on the rare occasion that I use them.

Micro 90 works well too.

[Blu]

Plain old washing up liquid does the trick for me on both cases and machine/engine parts.

[ukrifleman]

How big is the cleaning tank, could it take a pair of glasses

It comes with a plastic insert specifically for cleaning spectacles, plus a little plastic colander for other stuff.

I don't use any of the plastic inserts, as it reduces space and takes longer to clean.
The actual bowl of the cleaner is stainless steel.

It will just about accommodate 50, .308 cases if you pack them in carefully.

Really dirty brass will need 2 or even 3, 10 min sessions, but the results are worth it, primer pockets come out spotless.

ukrifleman.

[meles meles]

Citric Acid doesn't harm the brass it actually helps to stop it oxidizing

Beg to differ, ooman. Citric acid isn't good for brass. You may not be able to notice it right away, but crevice corrosion will start at the grain boundaries, preferentially eating the zinc, and after a cleaning or three the pressure may find a weak point...

[phaedra1106]

1/4 teaspoon of Citric Acid is all that's needed, basically it acts as a water softener. After rinsing give them another rinse in clean water with 1/2 a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda added, this should neutralise any chemical reaction with the brass.

The small Aldi/Lidl units are OK for shifting carbon deposits etc. but don't really "clean" the brass, stick your cases in a tied sock and add them to your next 30/40c short wash, that shifts a lot of muck and cleans the cases. If you're doing 50 .308 at a time a 2L or 3.5l tank off Ebay for £70 - £90 will do a better job as they operate at a much higher power, 5 to 10 mins will shift the vast majority of carbon and other dirt and a further 20-30mins in a tumbler will shine the cases nicely. Or just chuck them in a stainless media tumbler for 60-90 mins and get the best of both worlds with less mucking about.

[Blackstuff]

Don't put anything with a painted/blued etc finish on as it will be stripped off, I've learned the hard way

[carlsenior]

Citric Acid doesn't harm the brass it actually helps to stop it oxidizing

Beg to differ, ooman. Citric acid isn't good for brass. You may not be able to notice it right away, but crevice corrosion will start at the grain boundaries, preferentially eating the zinc, and after a cleaning or three the pressure may find a weak point...

You may well differ and we all have our own opinions, I've been using it for years and it works well for me! just do some research and our American cousins have too! there are thousands of posts on American forums about it and they shoot a tad more ammo than we do

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthr ... ss-cleaner

http://www.thehighroad.org/archive/inde ... 08100.html

http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_6_42/36283 ... rass_.html

http://www.accurateshooter.com/technica ... ning-tips/

http://10mm-firearms.com/reloading-10mm ... tric-acid/

Just a couple to be going along with