Ultrasonic Gun Cleaning with the HG575!

So you bit the bullet, and decided to enter the world of ultrasonic firearms cleaning and re-lubrication. Thankfully you chose the best way to get started, in that you have purchased the HG575 Gun Cleaner. But now that you have it, how on earth do you use it to both clean and re-lubricate your weapons?

Setting Things Up

After you unpack your new ultrasonic unit and all it’s accessories, it’s time to decide where it’s going to go. We suggest you choose an area with a sturdy, flat surface like a work bench, within easy reach of an outlet, and somewhere with a good amount of air-flow. Next, make sure all the dials on the HG575 are turned off before attaching the power cord and plugging the unit in.

Lay out the included accessories and cleaning solutions, and set them aside. Mark one of the mesh baskets as the designated “cleaning basket”, and the other as the “lube basket”. This will come into play later on in the process.

NOTE: Running an ultrasonic cleaner’s heat or sonics with no water in the tank can cause irreparable damage to the unit!

Cleaning Your Guns

After you have your unit all set up where it will be used, it’s time to get cleaning! First, fill your ultrasonic bath to within 3/4 of an inch to the fill line with fresh, hot water. Next, grab your included bottle of CC235 weapons cleaning concentrate and add about 7 to 9 ounces to the tank water. Up to 12 ounces can be used in the event you must clean very dirty parts. Once your tank is filled with fresh solution turn the heater to 50-55 degrees Celsius (120-130 F), and run it for around 5 minutes without any parts or baskets. This process is known as “de-gassing” and forces trapped gas out of the cleaning solution, resulting in a better cleaning action.

NOTE: You can use a tank of cleaning solution more than once! Around 30 handguns can be cleaned in one tank of solution, depending on the soil level of each gun.

DOUBLE NOTE: Before cleaning, UNLOAD AND FIELD STRIP YOUR GUNS! This should go without saying, but being extra cautious where firearms are concerned never hurt anybody!

Once your tank is de-gassed, and your weapons are stripped, it’s time to get cleaning! Place your field stripped weapons inside the “cleaning basket” (basket can hold two pistols or revolvers), automatics should be placed with slides and receivers faced toward the bottom of the tank, while revolvers should be placed upside down and have all cylinders open, hammers cocked, and ejectors held open. Lower the basket into the tank slowly, agitating slightly to jostle out any pockets of trapped air.

Once the basket is resting in the tank, set the timer for 5 to 10 minutes and let it fly! Generally most parts will be more than clean after this time, but for stubborn deposits an additional 1 to 5 minutes can be added. After the cleaning cycle, hold the basket of parts over the tank to allow excess cleaning solution to drain. Next, rinse your parts with hot water to remove any remaining cleaning residue, then dry with a fine cloth towel, compressed air, or simply air drying on a rack.

NOTE: Certain common parts can be damaged by ultrasonic cavitation. These parts include but are not limited to, electronic and telescopic sights, wood grips, and any parts with a weak finish. Ultrasonics doesn’t know the difference between a soil on your gun, and a poorly applied finish or lens coating.

Re-Lubricating Your Guns

Just as it removes all soils from your guns, even at a microscopic level, ultrasonic cleaning also removes all traces of old lubricant. That is why re-lubrication is so important, and also why the HG575 cleaning system lubricates as well! Your system includes a full gallon of CC400 gun lubricant, so you have everything you need. First, place the solid “lube pan” on top of your HG575’s tank. You’ll notice two flanges on either side hold the lube pan suspended out of the water, with only the bottom of the pan submerged. This allows for a phenomenon known as “retransmission”, where the sonification passes through the bottom of the pan into the lubricant inside.

Next, place your parts in the “lube basket” as you would during cleaning, and lower them into the filled lube pan. Once settled into the lubricant, run your ultrasonic bath for 3 to 5 minutes. Just as it does during cleaning, ultrasonic cavitation forces the solution (lubricant) into the tiniest nooks and crannies, resulting in an unparalleled level of lubrication. After the cycle is complete, lift the basket from the lube pan and allow as much lube as possible to drain back into the lube pan. Remove excess oil from your weapons with a soft cloth or compressed air, which ever is available.

NOTE: The pan of lubricant can be used time and again! Since only clean parts are placed in the lubrication pan, the only thing to worry about is the oil becoming over saturated. When this happens, simply set the lube pan aside for up to a week. The heavier water and soils will settle to the bottom, allowing the clean lubricant to be poured off and re-used!

Gun Cleaning FAQ

What is the best chemistry to use to clean handguns and parts – anything from polymer to aluminum and some stainless?

Harry

This is a common question. The real answer is that there cannot be a single chemistry that is the best at removing all soils from all parts. What we look for is one that does a good job on a variety of soils – in this case, those produced by firing a gun, – without harming the material being cleaned. We have settled on the ChemCrest 235 as the best solution. If you are careful to follow the cleaning solution and ultrasonic system instructions carefully, you should have no problem.

Should I be concerned about the metal baskets in ultrasonic cleaners damaging my hand guns? Do you offer baskets made of some sort of plastic that would not scratch handgun surfaces. I am interested in the Crest line of cleaners.

Clarence

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