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Thread: Anyone tried the ultrasonic cleaner from HF?

  1. #1
    Boolit Buddy
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    Anyone tried the ultrasonic cleaner from HF?

    Is this machine any good? I looked it up and it says it only runs up to 8 minutes.

    Is that really long enough to clean cases with this machine?

    It sounded like it made some noise on a video I watched but it sounded quieter then my tumbler. The wife hates listening to the tumbler going on in the basement

    Sent from my SM-J337VPP using Tapatalk

  2. #2
    Boolit Master
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    Some ten years ago I bought a HF US cleaner for cleaning small parts and grass mower carborators, it works well for that work. Of course I had to try cleaning cases too. I still use my vib tumbler for cases; IMHO, the US tank is too small and the driver is too weak for that. And wet cleaning brass is more messy and takes more attention than I'm willing to fool with.

    I don't know a thing about your tumbler but it may be that you need to experiment with the bowl and lid nuts to get them tight enough to stop the rattle noise that's bothering your mate because it should not be that loud.

  3. #3
    Boolit Master

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    Bought a HF Ultrasonic cleaner for my wife several years back. Works great on jewelry although it can damage some types of semi-precious gem stones. Never tried cleaning brass in it. Too small of tank. I’m tempted to put some pistol parts in it but imagine they’d gunk up the tank real good. Then I’d have to buy her a new one.

  4. #4
    Boolit Master



    MUSTANG's Avatar
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    Bought one about 15 years ago. Works very well with Dawn and Lemishine for cleaning range pick up brass. I usually will do three of the 8 minute cycles for dirty brass.
    Mustang

    "In the beginning... the patriot is a scarce man, and brave and hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a patriot." - Mark Twain.

  5. #5
    Boolit Master
    farmerjim's Avatar
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    Mine works fine with citric acid and dish soap. It removes most of the carbon in the primer pockets, but not all. I still tumble the brass for 15 to 30 minutes in walnut shells with pieces of paper towel wet with Nu finish. The wax keeps the brass from tarnishing.
    There is no difference between communism and socialism, except in the means of achieving the same ultimate end: communism proposes to enslave men by force, socialism—by vote. It is merely the difference between murder and suicide. Ayn Rand

  6. #6
    Boolit Grand Master

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    I was given the med sized model by a friend but I lso have a 6 gallon vevor unit that heats also, that I use. Never tried brass in it but machine tooling and parts come out very good. I use simple green precision and aircraft mixed with water 10-1 ( 10 parts water to 1 part Simple Green). Made a drain line filter for it and use the solvent several times.

    If you go with one remember to drop the solvent by the volume of the parts.

  7. #7
    Boolit Buddy PaulG67's Avatar
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    Why do you say it only runs 8 min. I got one from HF and it has a 60 min timer. I works ok, not the best of course, use it for gun parts and anything that will fit, small engine parts, stuff like that. I keep it full of carburetor cleaner.
    Paul G


    I am Retired, I was tired yesterday and I am tired today!!!

  8. #8
    Boolit Buddy
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    Because it only runs 480 seconds as a max time. That's 8 minutes


    Are there 2 models available from hf?


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  9. #9
    Banned
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    I inherited one. Its small size didn't look large enough for brass, so I never tried it. But for cleaning small parts like seating dies, 22 rifle bolts that I don't want to disassemble and the like it does a commendable job.

    I will have to try it with a small lot of 38 Spl brass, one of these days.

    Ken

  10. #10
    Boolit Buddy
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    I can't tell the difference between it and the Lyman, i have both. The HF came from their tent sale for $20 missing the tank tray. Both look like they came from the same assembly line with a different name label.
    Bill

  11. #11
    Boolit Master pjames32's Avatar
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    I use one for brass. 480 seconds several times and it does and acceptable job. Not SS chips tumbled clean, but it works for me. Wish it had a longer timer
    NRA Benefactor Member

  12. #12
    Boolit Buddy
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    I have the large HF cleaner, use dawn soap and lemishine, run 3 0r 4 cycles works very good.

  13. #13
    Boolit Buddy
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    I picked one up cleaned 100pc of 38 special and 50pc 357mag in 2 cycles with hornandy 1shot. It was worth it

    Sent from my SM-J337VPP using Tapatalk

  14. #14
    Boolit Buddy
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    I used one for years to clean brass. It's okay for that but I found that the brass will still have a very thin coating of filth when strained and rinsed (it comes off on my hands). I used Dawn, Lemishine and hot water. Since then I've moved on to an MJR wet tumbler for big batches and they come out quite clean. Probably not necessary but that's how I want to do it. Now the HF unit is full of Ed's Red and works great on small guns. I have a 3 inch M29 that lays right in there. It turns gun cleaning into gun wiping. You can run a bead of silicone caulk around the top edge of the tank to keep wet stuff out of the electronics. I actually have 3 of these things. One is for cleaning my electric razor parts and another was for breaking up dried ink on printer cartridges that were still good but hadn't been used for a bit too long.

  15. #15
    Boolit Grand Master


    GregLaROCHE's Avatar
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    Have the ultrasonic cleaner improved to work better then back thirty years ago. I had used one back then and wasn’t impressed. It only had water and dish detergent in it. Maybe there’s better products to add.

  16. #16
    Boolit Blub Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang's Avatar
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    I use an ultrasonic cleaner to clean my brass and I love it. I use Lymans cleaning solution and it works well although when I run out of it I am going to try using house hold cleaner like simple green to save money. Be sure to rinse the cases with water immediately when the come out of the ultrasonic tank to get the grime off before it dries on.

  17. #17
    Boolit Buddy
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    I have one and use it to clean handguns, never even considered putting brass in it but there's no reason you can't.

  18. #18
    Boolit Master Shawlerbrook's Avatar
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    I also use the HF ultrasonic cleaner for small amounts of brass with hot water, Dawn and lemishine. Three or four cycles and it get brass clean, but not shiny like SS pins, but that’s ok for my needs. I am satisfied with the machine.

  19. #19
    Boolit Grand Master In Remembrance
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    If you compare the HF unit to others sold by the reloading companies, you’ll find theirs to be rebranded HF units. The same is true with lead casting Tru-Tel thermometers
    And of course, the rebrands are more expensive. And my HF has run perfectly for years
    Last edited by John Boy; 09-10-2021 at 08:56 PM.
    Regards
    John

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check