so we have one of these in the gunsmithing department of our store. Full size commercial unit, heated, etc....all $7k of it sits idle most of the time as our lead 'smith has had to refinish several guns that it has damaged the finish on. Doesnt clean very well either on the really tough carbon, grunge etc and you cannot soak in it. Manufacture warns up front that it damages anodized finishes but we have had it damage blued finishes, KG type finishes etc....all with the recommended water based soap the man. recommends. They say they have NEVER seen this. Having just seen a rust blued 28" barrel's finish ruined from end to end in (2) 4 minute runs I find this uh... unbelievable.

DO ANY SMITHS HERE RUN ONE OF THESE IN YOUR SHOP AND WHAT IS YOUR EXPERIENCE?

THANK YOU

There were some pistol sized units at the shot show last year pretty cheap so picked up a couple and they have been working fine. No damage to blue or anodising but will now watch out for that. It is easier to have the two so we don't have to change the liquid out every time. I thought it funny that each unit was issued with a nylon cleaning brush. I guess they can't do everything for us. Bummer on the "rust blue".

Had the same problem if I left in to long, say 3 or 4 hours usin a water base clean. I use simple green, using the simple green lemon really stripped the blue off of parts.

I don't put guns in mine, but mainly use it to clean up grungy trigger assemblies and such. I just run Simple Green in it, and it works great. If you're having problems with it removing finishes, you might try the stuff Brownells sells for use in ultrasonics.

Ultraman

Can you post pictures of the rust blued barrel? In what way was it damaged?

Sorry to hear about your trouble.

Shawn

Ours is full of Kroil.

LOL.

It's sort of a "scented" cleaner.

flaco

Had a Stainless Dan Wesson in the tank today and got sidetracked. After about 6 hours the trigger and hammer turned black. The rest is fine. Fortunately it was my own gun.

Actually I'm kinda cheap so i;m attempting to come up with one made from an old vibrating sander.
-Josh