Ultrasonic cleaners are a great way to clean all sorts of things. They work by producing high-frequency sound waves that agitate the liquid and cause the dirt and debris to dislodge.
This makes them a great choice for cleaning everything from jewelry to golf clubs. But, will ultrasonic cleaner clean brass?
In this blog post, we will take a look at ultrasonic cleaners and brass and determine whether or not it is possible to use an ultrasonic cleaner to clean brass.
What is Ultrasonic Cleaning?
Ultrasonic cleaning is a process that uses high frequency sound waves to agitate a cleaning solution. This process helps to remove contaminants from surfaces without damaging the object itself.
How Does Ultrasonic Cleaning Work?
Ultrasonic cleaning is a process that uses sound waves to clean objects. The sound waves create tiny bubbles in the water or detergent solution, which help to loosen and remove dirt and grime.
Ultrasonic cleaners are powered by generators and use transducers to create the sound waves. The ultrasonic frequency of the sound waves can vary, but is typically in the kHz range, or thousands of cycles per second.
Why Is Brass Prone To Tarnish?
Brass is an alloy made up of copper and zinc. Over time, the zinc oxidizes and reacts with oxygen in the air to form a patina on the surface of the brass. This patina can make brass appear dull and lackluster.
While some people enjoy the patina as it gives brass an antique look, others prefer the gleaming appearance of polished brass. ultrasonic cleaners are safe for use on a variety of materials including metals, glass, and plastics.
When using an ultrasonic cleaner, it’s important to use the correct type cleaning solution chemistry and amount of detergent for best results.
You should also avoid using cleaners that contain ammonia or other harsh chemicals as these can damage your brass objects.
How to Clean Brass With an Ultrasonic Cleaner
Brass is a beautiful, timeless material that can add a touch of elegance to any space. But over time, brass can become tarnished and lose its luster.
When traditional cleaning methods don’t seem to be doing the trick, it’s time to break out the big guns: an ultrasonic cleaner.
Sonic cleaners use high-frequency sound waves to create tiny cavitation’s in liquids, which loosen dirt and grime from surfaces and leave your brass looking good as new.
Cleaning Functional or Decorative Brass Items
To clean functional brass parts like doorknobs, drawer pulls, or faucets, you’ll need:
An ultrasonic cleaner
A mild detergent or vinegar solution (1 part vinegar to 3 parts water)
A soft cloth
A toothbrush (optional)
Protective gloves (optional)
Fill the ultrasonic cleaner halfway with warm water and add a few drops of detergent. Submerge the decorative brass hardware in the solution and let it soak for 5-10 minutes.
Turn on the ultrasonic cleaner and let it run for 3-5 minutes. Carefully remove the item from the solution and dry it off with a soft cloth.
If there are any stubborn residues remaining, use a toothbrush dipped in the solution to gently scrub them away.
Rinse the item well and drain the tank and dispose solution concentrate from the stainless steel tank and dry it thoroughly before using it again.
How to Clean Brass Cases Using Ultrasonic Cleaners
Many reloaders use ultrasonic cleaners to clean their brass. Ultrasonic cleaners use high-frequency sound waves to create cavitation action in the liquid.
The cavitation bubbles implode, and this action cleans the object being cleaned.
Reloaders use ultrasonic cleaners for many brass cleaning tasks such as removing carbon buildup from the inside and outside of the case, removing primer pocket gunk, and cleaning spent primer pockets.
Here are step-by-step instructions for how to clean brass cases using ultrasonic cleaners:
- Firstly, you need to remove all of the live primers from your brass cases. To do this, you can either use a primer pocket swage tool or a small punch. Be careful not to damage the primer pockets during this step.
- Once all of the live primers have been removed, you can then place your brass cases into an ultrasonic cleaner filled with cleaning solution.
- Set the timer on your ultrasonic cleaner for 5 minutes and let it run.
- After 5 minutes, check on your brass cases and see if they need more cleaning time in the cleaner. If they do, set the timer for an additional 3-5 minutes cleaning cycle.
- When your brass cases are done cleaning, remove them from the ultrasonic cleaner and place them onto a towel to air dry.
- Once your brass cases are dry, you can then put fresh primers into them and start reloading them!
- Dispose of the solution according to local regulations. Following the instructions in the user manual, wash the tank with fresh water.
RCBS Ultrasonic Cleaner Cleaning Brass
Why Ultrasonic Cleaning Brass Works So Well
Sonic cleaning is an extremely effective way to clean brass because it uses ultrasonic cavitation to remove dirt, grime, and tarnish from brass surfaces.
This process is also much gentler on brass than traditional cleaning methods, so it won’t leave behind any heat marks or damage the surface of the metal.
Plus, ultrasonic cleaners are relatively inexpensive and easy to use.
Conclusion
Cleaning brass by hand is no fun. It’s time-consuming and often doesn’t produce noticeable results. Ultrasonic cleaners offer a much easier way to clean brass and restore its original gleam.
In just 30 minutes to an hour, you can have clean, shiny brass without any harsh chemicals or abrasive scrubbing.
All you need is an ultrasonic cleaner and some distilled water (or a commercial cleaning solution). Give it a try the next time your brass starts to look dull, you’ll be amazed at the difference!
