Owning a gun is a huge responsibility in more ways than one.
The first and most important responsibility is to keep it away from children, in a safe and secure place that’s easily accessible for you. The second one is maintenance.
To properly maintain your firearm, you must keep it clean pretty much any time after you use it. Even a single shot taken means it’s necessary to clean it. And for beginner gun owners, cleaning up may seem like a daunting task.
But with today’s tech improvements and dedicated online resources, the cleaning process is as easy as pie.
One of the best new gadgets is the ultrasonic gun cleaner. In this article, we’ll help you decide the best ultrasonic cleaner for gun parts in terms of price and quality.
What Are Ultrasonic Cleaners?
Ultrasonic cleaners may be something you’ve heard before, though maybe not in relation to guns.
When we talk about fast things, mostly rockets, and jets, the word “sonic” is mentioned to convey the speed at which they travel.
Namely, it’s used concerning the speed of sound. But in this case, ultrasonic cleaners don’t clean at the speed of sound (not yet, at least).
They use sound waves, which travel through a liquid, usually a detergent, within the cleaner.
Once the waves hit the gun part immersed in the solution, tiny bubbles are produced which then explode and produce energy that can dislodge dirt from every nook and cranny of the object.
The best way to understand how well the process works is to see it in action. But it’s also cool to understand the theory behind the concept.
Ultrasonic cleaning has been a thing in the industrial sphere for a few decades now, but lately, technological advancements have made it available to a larger audience.
And even though the article focuses on gun parts, ultrasonic cleaners can clean a wide variety of items, from dental equipment, jewelry, and lab equipment to brass parts and even carburetors.
Anything metallic can be stripped of its dirt and grime with the proper combination of ultrasonic waves and a cleaning solution.
What Are the Best Ultrasonic Cleaners for Gun Parts?
After scouring through the jungles of the world wide web, we created a list of the 5 best ultrasonic cleaners for gun parts. And we bring that list to you now:
- H&B Luxuries’ Industrial Grade Ultrasonic Cleaner
- Hornady Lock-N-Load Hot Tub Sonic Cleaner
- iSonic P4810 Commercial Ultrasonic Cleaner
- Hornady Lock-N-Load Sonic Cleaner
- ONEZILI Ultrasonic Cleaner
Let’s look at each cleaner and see their specifications as well as the pros and cons of owning each one.
1. H&B Luxuries’ Industrial Grade Ultrasonic Cleaner
The first ultrasonic cleaner on our list comes from H&B Luxuries, namely the Industrial Grade Ultrasonic Cleaner with a heater.
This cleaner comes with a spacious steel tank with a 2.5-liter capacity. Its length allows for the cleaning of a wide variety of items, ranging from gun parts to dental equipment.
However, even being 9.84″ long x 5.90″ wide x 3.15″ high, some buyers might not find the tank spacious enough for the type of item they wish to clean.
Its ABS 757 plastic basket is considered to be better at water and drop-proofing than the metal counterparts one can find in other products.
It can operate at 160 Watts allowing for a longer and more powerful cleaning cycle.
Coupled with a heater that can go as high as 149° Fahrenheit, this ultrasonic cleaner should provide a more thorough cleaning experience.
Circuit protectors are built in, as are industrial integrated circuits that should help keep the cleaner in top shape even in subpar conditions.
Overuse of the heater and the plastic basket can and does lead to them wearing out over time.
Five different cleaning cycles should remedy that fact though, since shorter cycles are less taxing on the heater and plastic basket, and with the right cleaning liquid give the same results as longer cycles.
Pros:
- Five different cleaning cycles
- Water-proof and drop-proof basket
- Spacious tank, at 2.5-liter capacity
- 160 Watts operating power
Cons:
- The tank size may not be enough for larger items.
- The plastic basket is prone to breaking if the cleaner is overused.
- The heater can malfunction due to overuse.
2. Hornady Lock-N-Load Hot Tub Sonic Cleaner
Hornady’s Lock-N-Load sonic cleaner comes with a 9-liter tank capacity, large enough to accommodate even an AR-15 upper (and other gun parts of similar size).
Buyers have used it to clean everything from gun parts to cases.
And with their Hornady Sonic Clean Solution, they promise a thorough cleaning of tarnish, oxidation, and carbon buildup.
The tank is made out of stainless steel which means that maintenance of the tank itself should be quite easy.
There’s also a removable plastic basket drain tray, but be warned – buyers did mention that smaller cases and cartridges sometimes fall through the cracks of the basket.
Also, the drain valve tends to clog and, if your warranty has expired, you will be forced to either ship it out to Hornady for repairs (which costs money) or manually drain the water.
Oh, and yes, there is a one-year manufacturer warranty so, if there are some issues with your sonic cleaner, Hornady should be able to help with them.
This model also comes with a de-gas function, adjustable heating, and timers for cleaning solution usage, as well as a digital cleaning timer (0-30 minutes).
Pros:
- Spacious, 9-liter tank
- Enough length to accommodate even larger gun parts
- Detailed exterior and interior cleaning of cartridges
- One-year manufacturer warranty
Cons:
- The drain valve’s poor design leads to clogging.
- The size of the cleaner makes it a hassle to carry around with you.
3. iSonic P4810 Commercial Ultrasonic Cleaner
The iSonic P4810 comes with a 2-liter tank and is perfect for carburetor, brass, and gun part cleaning.
Just like the previous models, the iSonic ultrasonic cleaner comes with a plastic basket in which smaller items can be placed to receive a detailed ultrasonic soak.
The heater on this model comes pre-set at 140° Fahrenheit and is coupled with a 30-minute timer.
iSonic offers its buyers the option to buy additional accessories for this cleaner, such as beaker holder sets coming in 500 and 1000 ml sizes.
Since its size is relatively small, and the outer casing of the cleaner is made of plastic, operating the machine will be a quiet process.
The cleaner does tend to get hot after prolonged use, so it’s recommended to stick to just the sonic cleaning settings and use the heater only sparingly.
Giving the machine a breather after prolonged use and changing the water and liquid in the tank is also a necessity for good maintenance.
Pros:
- Operates silently
- Can be used for brass, gun part, and carburetor cleaning
- The option to buy additional accessories exists
Cons:
- The cleaner can get hot after long use (approx. one hour).
- Using the heater too often can lead to malfunctions later on.
- The tank needs to be cleaned immediately after use to prevent spots.
4. Hornady Lock-N-Load Sonic Cleaner
Another Hornady sonic cleaner is the Lock-N-Load model, this time without hot tub additions.
Compared to the hot tub version, the normal Lock-N-Load has a 2-liter tank and an 80W ceramic heater.
The manufacturer again recommends using their branded cleaning solution for the best results.
This model has microjets that can clean the exterior and interior of small gun parts and other metal equipment.
Even though the cleaner comes with a heater, it’s recommended not to use it when cleaning cases or when degassing.
Filling up the tank to the dotted line and putting the cases (up to three hundred 223 cases!) in the solution is enough to ensure a deep clean.
The heating element, like in most sonic cleaners, tends to go out from overuse after a couple of months, so use it sparingly and follow the instructions that come with the cleaner.
Pros:
- Microjet function for detailed cleaning of small objects
- 80W ceramic heater
- Smaller size allows for easier moving
Cons:
- The heater tends to go out from overuse.
- The smaller tank size limits the cleaning potential to only smaller firearms.
5. ONEZILI Ultrasonic Cleaner
The Onezili ultrasonic cleaner comes with a spacious 6-liter tank with dimensions 11.82″x6.11″x5.91″.
The maximum temperature is 176°F, but the manufacturer recommends cleaning at anywhere between 104 and 140 degrees.
The cleaning frequency is 40 kHz, which allows for the removal of stains in just a couple of seconds.
It comes with a timer that can be set anywhere from 1 to 99 minutes of washing, depending on the level of dirt and grime on your items.
Its use is not limited to gun parts exclusively, since it can be used to clean medical equipment, fuel injectors, bullets, brass parts, tableware, lab equipment, and jewelry.
While using the cleaner, its sound might be a slight problem if you have a sleeping baby, or pets that don’t deal with sound too well.
However, don’t let that trick you – the sound made by the cleaner isn’t even louder than a regular hair dryer – it’s just very specific and needs some getting used to.
When using the built-in temperature regulator, always double-check the readings with your own thermometer since users did report having issues with it.
Pros:
- Spacious 6-liter tank
- 1-99 minute timer
- 176°F heater
- Allows for a wide variety of items to be cleaned, not exclusive to gun parts
Cons:
- The heating element is prone to malfunctions.
- The sound can be annoying and needs getting used to.
- Thermometer readings can be unreliable.
Tips for Buying the Best Ultrasonic Cleaner for Gun Parts
Before you order any gun cleaner, make sure you consider some key factors that could affect your experience. Some include:
Gun Cleaner Heaters
One of the most important characteristics of any ultrasonic cleaner is the heating element.
While reading up on the sonic cleaners, a common issue between all of them is the way the heater tends to malfunction.
It’s important to follow the instructions the manufacturer sends along with the product, to ensure the heater remains in good condition for the duration of its use.
Also, since the way sonic cleaners work is by sending sound waves through water, the vibrations will heat up the liquid solution naturally, eliminating the need for the heater in most cases.
Tank Size
If you wish to clean your rifles and rifle cases, pay attention to the tank size and dimensions of the sonic cleaner you’re ordering.
Anything under 6 liters will probably be too small for your rifles, but can still be useful for cleaning your rifle cases.
For smaller firearms, there’s no need to cash out too much and buy a sonic cleaner with a bigger tank – you can always run multiple cycles on your 2-liter cleaner and finish up cleaning your whole arsenal in a couple of hours.
General Physical Properties
Ultrasonic cleaners come in different sizes, and depending on your needs, it’s best to pay close attention to what those sizes are.
If your goal is to be able to frequently carry around the ultrasonic cleaner with you, then a smaller and lighter model would best fit that type of lifestyle.
On the other hand, if you have a single, dedicated place where you’d store and use the cleaner, then a bigger and heavier model is a viable choice.
In addition, since the use of cleaning solutions and water is of utmost importance, finding a cleaner with a draining valve is the thing to do – especially if you end up buying a larger cleaner where manual draining would be a waste of time.
What’s also important from a physical standpoint is the display screen of the cleaner.
It’s key to make sure the readings on both the temperature and timer displays are correct if you want to keep the ultrasonic cleaner crash-free for the foreseeable future.
Final Thoughts
Now you should have a basic idea of what it is to look out for when buying the best ultrasonic cleaner for gun parts.
And if you’re already on the lookout for an ultrasonic cleaner, and already have the required background knowledge, then one of our 5 choices might turn out to be just the thing you’re looking for.
But don’t stop there! The gun-cleaning journey is a non-stop trip, so try reading more of our articles on gun maintenance and cleaning, or read up on general gun-ownership tips.
