Thread: Ultrasonic cleaner tips please

The propriety stuff sold as ultrasonic cleaner fluid in the US is basically just showerpower bam. Spray bottle at the supermarket... It's a citric acid and natural plant based stuff that's pretty much the upgraded version of simple green citrus just cheaper. Goes good on the shower too.

There's a heap of stuff online about tuning an ultrasonic cleaner - a properly set up US cleaner will work at much higher efficiency and you'll hear the difference (unless your hearing isn't the best).

One of the things about the cases after US cleaning is the brass is 'pickled' so will tarnish quite readily and will take fingerprints and stain up like nothing else. Not much of an issue if you are turning it over quickly, but if you plan on storing it for a long period of time it might be an issue. Running it through a quick tumble cycle with some tarnish preventer of some sort in there will stop that.

One other point, the US cleaning will knock the carbon off the inside of the case neck so might end up with a noticeable change in feel when seating the pill - I've really not been able to confirm this as sometimes I think it's noticeable other times I think I'm dreaming. Other people have mentioned something similar though.

I wouldn't worry about chucking brass in boiling water, as that's 100degC. Annealing temp is above 300degC.