Cleaning 22 suppressor parts with ultrasonics

Sure. The Ultrasonic cleaner is a big crappy waste of money. Seriously. Ive used many over the years and I have one now ( a big Branson ) and Ive never really figured out what they were supposed to be accomplishing. They certianly do not get lead off baffles and don't do much for carbon either. The only thing that gets lead off baffles is scraping or "the dip". Yep, its toxic when its done working and only works on stainless or titanium but it flat out works. Baffles come out clean. Friends don't let friends buy silencers with aluminum baffles.

^^^ this.

I see virtually zero cleaning going on with ultrasonic on my G22 baffles.

There's a pre-treatment you can do to your parts that will aid TREMENDOUSLY in cleaning. I can't remember where it is, but there is a process that is published on the web somewhere that you disassemble your suppressor, make sure it is SPOTLESS clean (not even fingerprints), heat the parts in an oven for 15 minutes at 250 degrees, remove and submerge in silicon based brake fluid. I've done it twice to my Axiom and it wipes clean with paper towels...lead, carbon and all. It works beautifully. Wish I could help with the location of the article, but it's very well written with some updates on better products than silicon based brake fluid.

It's here: http://www.rrdvegas.com/silencer-cleaning.html

That's it. Thank you Elkins.

I actually tried it...it works EXTREMELY well.

Wow, i use a crappy $30 ultrasonic cleaner from amazon and I don't even have to use a pick or clean. I just drop my baffles in the ultrasonic, come back in 15, and they're practically new. If i've shot more than a brick, i run them 25 or 30 mins.

Personally I "dip" the baffles first. Once they are finished with that bath I rinse them and drop them in the ultrasonic for a few minutes. I guess it's kind of overkill but it's my process and I'm sticking to it!

My first cleaning I did ultrasonic, then SS tumbling.

Just experimenting - I did get my baffle stack on my AAC Element 2 looking like new with SS tumbling (and SS picks for the stubborn stuff) only so I could try the silicon dip - couldn't tumble my Sparrow without possible damage due to the design.

They say you don't have to get them but so clean (actually work better if slightly dirty), so next time I'm probably just going to dump them in the ultrasonic.

I used one of the Gunslick (same as RCBS) ultrasonic cleaners.

I cracked mine open at 1,000 rds., and they didn't look anywhere near as dirty as some I see online that have only 100 to 500 rds. thru them.

Don't know what's going on there unless somebody's shooting some awfully dirty ammo?

Based on what they looked like, and that I've dipped them in silicone, I don't plan on cracking them open again until around the 2,000 rd. mark.

I just toss my stainless baffles in a rotary tumbler with stainless pins, soap and water. They come out squeaky clean like brand new about 3 hours later. I would not recommend doing this with anything aluminum.

Vitamin G said:

Wow, i use a crappy $30 ultrasonic cleaner from amazon and I don't even have to use a pick or clean. I just drop my baffles in the ultrasonic, come back in 15, and they're practically new. If i've shot more than a brick, i run them 25 or 30 mins.

Click to expand...

What do you use for a solvent/solution?

My cheap Harbor Freight one works great. I use 50/50 Purple Power and water. Also use the heat setting.

I have cleaned several suppressors with an ultrasonic cleaner. Powder fouling comes off fine but lead build up on the baffles does not (cheap .22 bullets). I found it best to treat the baffle system with a coating that makes it difficult for the lead to stick to. I used Cerakote Microslick and it worked well. YMMV.

The dip. Just saying.

A tumbler with stainless pins works very well on steel baffles. The method for treating the cleaned baffles described in http://www.rrdvegas.com/silencer-cleaning.html (above) works very well and will make cleaning much easier the next time. I went with a Thumbler Tumbler and it works very well.