Review: Hornady Hot Tub Sonic Cleaner

I've been wanting a sonic cleaner for awhile now, but wanted one for my guns, too. I've been eyeing this one, and finally found a good price for it

[@horscategorie]

One more trick: You can use plastic bags with solution in the bag. Suspend the bags with solvent in them in the ultrasonic cleaner filled with water. You can use much less solvent this way, especially if you are only cleaning a small part or 2. I have never used distilled water... plain tap for me... and it has always worked fine... with a Harbor Freight cleaner...

[@horscategorie]

A quick tip to remove moisture: Use an air compressor. Rinse the part, then blast with compressed air. I use it for my bike parts. Now I will use it for my Sig! Never thought about using my ultrasonic cleaner for my guns... Good point about the need to re-coat everything! Lube... lube... lube...

[@dgd947a15fl]

This would be especially good for cleaning surfaces you can't really get to manually, or are difficult to get to. Inside the chamber, inside of free floated rails, or certain suppressors that can't br disassembled.

[@TMS5100]

@9:11 "ar bolt" lulz

[@Random-rt5ec]

Excellent video. I was hoping ultrasonic was a one stop cleaning but it looks like manual labor is still required.

[@ProfessionalPilot]

Funny looking AR bolt, but good review lol

[@metallbaustamm3838]

i own the same sonic cleaner, used it for my Carburator (Dirt Bike) and it works very, very well. Next Time i try my HK USP Expert in this. Thx for your Video from Germany

[@762x51n8o]

Yes, it works very well. Then I have a Lyman Cyclone that I use to dry it. It's like a food dehydrator, but you don't want to use food in it obviously. The think I like best about it after the sonic cleaner, is it will dry all moisture from your gun, even places you can't reach. I love Germany, where are you at? Waidmanns heil!

[@heatseeker1828]

When you first picked up your clean brass I was thinking that’s a suction canister no way. Then the other one you grabbed still has the suction top on it. FD? Thanks for the great review.

[@MrVideoyoulike]

would anodized aluminum be ok in the cleaner

[@MURFBAYER]

Have you ever just dumped a bunch of brass right in the main tub instead of using the SS containers? If so how much 9mm, .223, 308 brass would this hold? I realize you would have to throw out the Brass solution, but I think I could handle that. Whats your opinion?

[@eltenda]

i had a coomercial one...smaller...a gallon size...works great indeed..i use simple grinn

[@dukehoffman124]

If a Red dot optic is suspended above the solution will the vibration ruin it ?

[@TheCrewchief01]

Good vid I was wondering how well they worked .Looks to me like it does a great job on firearms.

[@bernardhernandez2396]

i dont order from midway usa every time i try to the item is always out of stock & they dont notify you when it comes back in stock i gave up

[@kellylimplusultrasonicclea9268]

maybe smaller capacity is much more cost-effective for brass shells clean?

[@dustindavis4922]

That's one weird looking ar bolt lol

[@mperich003]

What paint? Do you mean cerakoted, durakoted, spray painted

[@AlexEckelberry]

Great video, very helpful. Looks like AR uppers will fit fine, but what about my Mini-14 (standard 18.5" barrel) Do I just dissasemble the upper and barrel from the wood stock and put it in?

[@762x51n8o]

Anything that you can disassemble and fit in the tub will work. I've taken some rifles that were too long, and I'll put the receiver in the water, with the barrel sticking out, run it through a cycle, then flip it and run it again. It doesn't get everything, and probably not as effective, but still easier than just cleaning it by hand.

[@AlexEckelberry]

762x51n8o Cool. Your video (and other research) convinced me to take the next step and I've bought on of these. Fantastic device! Money well worth it if you want to keep your equipment in excellent condition. I have only worked with small parts right now, but getting ready to clean my Remington 870 and Mini-14 in it. So far I'm really happy with this purchase. Thanks again for the vid.

[@762x51n8o]

Alex Eckelberry Good, glad you like it. I love mine. It's a big investment in cleaning, compared to just buying some solution and bore punch, but if you shoot a lot, I think this thing pays for itself in time saved. Plus, if you reload, the brass that comes out of this is as clean as you can get, the only thing left to do is buff (if you want it really shiny. I don't buff mine, this gets it shiny enough).

[@nodieusa]

I have optics mounted on my AR-15 and lasers on some of my pistols. I'm assuming you can't submerge the optics in the cleaning solution. Do you know if I could "hang" my weapons so that the solution wouldn't touch the optics/laser?

[@762x51n8o]

The rifles you can, it comes with the rubber hangers that I showed in the Video. A pistol would be a bit more difficult, especially if the laser is mounted on the frame (though with polymer frames, I don't feel a need to clean them in this, they normally just get a wipe down.

[@nickoloes]

Is it difficult to remove the water from inside the bolt by the firing pin? Seems like you would have to be completely disassemble it to remove any remaining water effectively.

[@762x51n8o]

You don't have to dissemble it any further than you would any other type of maintenance. Remove the ejector. Then just use a wooden q-tip or pipe cleaner to get the water out.

[@horscategorie]

762x51n8o An air compressor will get more out... another worthy appliance every shop should have...

[@NRAdude]

Mike Goyette Or just a keyboard duster. That's what I use in place of an air compressor.

[@hughjorgan1071]

Is this unit not compatible with lubricating solution?. I was looking at buying a unit (from L&R Ultrasonics) for my 1911's that I can clean with first, then follow up with a lube-bath. From what I've researched, it works FANTASTIC!! The Hornady is significantly cheaper than the one I was looking to purchase...but I wont buy a unit that can only clean. So...can you lube with the Hornady if you use the proper solution?

[@matt-ts8cx]

Hugh Jorgan ..you could always put lube in one of the smaller metal trays to lube.

[@steelmilkjug]

Whats another medium (besides water) that cleans as well, but won't rust the parts? Alcohol? etc?

[@marlboroman71818]

high detergent motor oil and grease, not sure if it works with ultrasonics

[@tonecontrol3271]

Does it do french fries and chicken wings as well? If so, I'm buying one for sure! ;)

[@SavageTactical]

Have you noticed any pitting on your Beretta fame or AR upper receivers, particularly around areas where the bare aluminum is showing? I'd be afraid to put aluminum parts in it because sonic cleaners are suppose to damage aluminum. They say anodized aluminum is ok, but any wear spots where the bare aluminum is showing might be susceptible to damage.

[@762x51n8o]

SavageTactical I haven't noticed any issues so far, but I don't use it all the time on the uppers (never had my Beretta in there). I mostly like it for the gun innards (BCG, etc). The biggest thing that I noticed on the uppers, is that it sucks ALL the moisture out of the rifle. Sometimes it cleans it a little too well. But all I do is coat the whole AR in some CLP or protectant and it's good to go.

[@Mo-yf9us]

U can by a gallon of froglube made for ultrasonic machines u don't need to worry about water mixing.solutions...cleaning a 3 to 5000 gun what's 160 a gallon.plus as u clean it's being lubed

[@scottowens8835]

Have you tried any non hornady solutions in it? I'm just curious about that. I haven't used any non hornady in mine bu I have been curious since I bought it.

[@762x51n8o]

+Scott Owens No, I haven't, but I'm sure it would work great

[@avmatters]

Make sure you use a solvent or cleaner that is aluminum safe. Many are not. I use the Simple Green HD, not regular Simple Green. It is aluminum safe. NEVER use the various purple cleaner/degreasers as they will etch aluminum.

[@mperich003]

I would buy one of these today...but cant get a legit answer if its safe or not on cerakoted parts

[@julianjyrus]

Raider 818r f

[@julianjyrus]

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[@julianjyrus]

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[@jimguelde4068]

I bought one of those Hornady "Magnum ultrasonic case cleaners as shown in the video. Never got around to unboxing it until today. Dead on arrival. It was "Made in china", so I'm not too surprised. Shame on me.

[@500SWMAGOPERATOR]

Don't try to clean nickle plated brass it will come out black.

[@Nobody-xh5qe]

How do you dry then after🤔

[@762x51n8o]

You're supposed to rinse it off with clean water, to get the chemicals off of it, so I use steaming hot water, and once it's rinsed, I wipe it off with a towel, and then the hot water evaporates pretty quickly. The smaller parts I put in a Lyman air dryer (like a food dehydrator.)

[@Nobody-xh5qe]

@@762x51n8o thank you