Lyman Ultrasonic Brass Cleaner

[Double-O-Dave]

Good evening:

I saw one of these at a local store on mark down for $80.00 + tax. It is NIB and also features a heater to warm up the liquid cleaning solution. Sorry, I'm slow to the party and don't know diddly about these - are they any good? Is this a good price? The pictures on the box showed you could clean reloading dies, and revolver cylinders (removed from the pistol), but it didn't seem like you could clean anything much bigger than a J-frame in it.

Any information and advice would be greatly appreciated.

Regards,

Dave

 

[venomballistics]

Ultrasonic cleaners are delicious if you need anything cleaned.
they will get every last spec of curd off of and out of everything but they do nothing for polishing.
It would be an asset for cleaning up gun parts, especially slides where so tool known to common man can get in to clean the firing pin and extractor holes.
those who have used them on brass usually didnt care for them .. we like the stuff gleaming, which it will not do, but you can be assured the scuffs and scratches will be free from any crud.

 

[parabarbarian]

I use an ultrasonic cleaner on brass to get some of the crud out before tumbling. I use a citrus degreaser for that. I don't know if it is necessary but the primer pockets and inside of the cases seem cleaner. They are also, as noted above by venomballistics, really nice for cleaning parts.

I think I paid about $80 for mine.

 

[TAROMAN]

I tried one for brass and sent it off to Goodwill. A quick (1-2) wash in hot water with a couple tablespoons of Bar Keepers Friend cleans cases much better than the ultrasonic ever did.

 

[thndrchiken]

I use an ultrasonic cleaner for my brass, use water and simple green. Cleans it up nice, rinse with boiling water and then lube size, trim and chamfer. Final polish in the tumbler. I find that I have to clean my dies much less frequently. Also if you have a Harbor Freight in your area check them out you can get the same exact cleaner without the big name brand for much less.

 

[PattonTime]

Lyman cleaner

I use mine all the time for cleaning my brass.
It does not make them shine, but it sure gets them clean.
Goes quickly too.
I am trying to avoid lead dust .
Hope it helps ?

 

[parabarbarian]

I use mine all the time for cleaning my brass.
It does not make them shine, but it sure gets them clean.
Goes quickly too.
I am trying to avoid lead dust .
Hope it helps ?

Lead and the chemical residue associated combustion of smokeless powder are two of the reasons I decided to use the ultrasonic cleaner before tumbling. I still need to dispose of the used solution but I'm pretty sure that safer than breathing in the dust.

 

[m657]

I've used the larger Harbor Freight version for several years. Most of a 6" SAA will fit down in the pan. It works better with the special concentrate for gun cleaning than the strange powder that came with the unit.

Haven't tried brass cleaning except for some trial Black Power cases...and it was WONDERFUL for that.

Mine has the heater unit too and that seems to make it work better than without.

 

[CMD-KY]

I use the Lyman with one TEAspoon of citric acid crystals which can be found in the grocery canning section or a home brewer store. Clean, not shiny is the result and no grit in the clean primer pocket.

 

[Double-O-Dave]

Thanks to everyone who responded. I believe I have enough information to move forward now. Fortunately, there is a Harbor Freight store a few miles from my home that I can go check out for their ultrasonic cleaner.

Regards,

Dave