Cleaning Cartridges

Post by Gavin

could any one tell me the cleaning tecnique that i keep hearing about does anyone know where i can get some spare o rings and does any one have a link to the machine that cleans cartriges quick

Post by 8ace

I have two cleaning techniques.

1: At Home = boiling water + washing-up liquid soak, brushed with a small bottle brush, rinsed in cold water and dried with kitchen roll.

2: At Work + boiled in De-Ionised water + detergent and place in an ultrasonic bath, rinsed in clean DI water, rinsed in IPA (Isopropyl alcohol) and blow dry with an air gun.

Both work well but the work one is better as the ultrasonic cleans the hard to reach places also it's on company time

Not sure about the O rings as I haven’t had to replace them yet

Post by Gavin

actuly i ment marks way the ultra sonic bath is the machine that i was thinking of do you have a link of where to get the small ones i dont need to replace my o ring either due to damage but while disasembling them i must have droped one and cant find it

Post by Mark

8ace wrote:

2: At Work + boiled in De-Ionised water + detergent and place in an ultrasonic bath, rinsed in clean DI water, rinsed in IPA (Isopropyl alcohol) and blow dry with an air gun.

Hmm, do you shoot them there too?
Gavin, The method that I use is simply Hot water, vinegar and baking soda (sodium Bi-carbonate) just keep in mind that this solution will foam up when the baking soda is added so, have a fairly deep plastic bowl for this solution/cartridges.
The ultrasonic cleaners are nice but they can be expensive. I purchased my small ultra sonic cleaner from www.harborfreight.com they have at least three different models of ultra sonic cleaners.

Post by Gavin

i was just about to post that i saw it in garys reviews are te ultra sonic cleaners that good i would have to getone in the uk though to get the right type of plug i checked ebay and they go for as little as £20 is there a certain type of vineger that you use what propotins do you put them in

Post by Mark



The baking soda, water and vingar sloution isn't really a precise formula. I just add the Hot water and enough vinegar to cover the cartridges in the bowl. The amount of baking soda is up to you. But, I have noticed that very little is needed to properly clean the cartridges. The vingar isn't special its just normal store bought stuff. I use distilled white vingar that I get locally in a big plastic 1 gallon jug (3.79L) The baking soda that I use is made by "Arm&Hammer" and its a small box that has been around for a long time as I don't use much of it at a time.
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Wanted to buy: MGC Sten MK3....trades?(still)

MGC MP40 Marushin MP40 Nakata MP40 TRC MP40

Modelgun manufacturers, past and present:CMC,CAW,Hudson,HWS,LS,MGC(R.I.P. 1960's~2007) Marushin,Marui,Kokusai,Shoei,Tanaka and Western Arms

Post by Gavin

il try it tommorow when i get some baking soda and vinigar as i dont have any how clean does it get them because my non real look cartrideges are realy lookig scabby on the insides
how efective are the ultrasonic cleaners

Post by Mark



The Hot water/vinegar/baking soda formula cleans out most of the corrosion but, it won't affect older stains or corrosion. It works the best on "fresh" phosphorus residue. The sonic cleaners can be very effective if the water is changed regulary. There are some additives that are ment to be used in a sonic cleaner that will clean far better than plain water will.
_________________
Wanted to buy: MGC Sten MK3....trades?(still)

MGC MP40 Marushin MP40 Nakata MP40 TRC MP40

Modelgun manufacturers, past and present:CMC,CAW,Hudson,HWS,LS,MGC(R.I.P. 1960's~2007) Marushin,Marui,Kokusai,Shoei,Tanaka and Western Arms

Post by Gavin

i think i will invest in a sonic cleaner once i start to build up my colection a bit

Get onto e-Bay and search for Ultrasonic cleaner...
I paid less than £25 for mine (from a shop in Scotland if I remeber right)

For 0-rings, try www.altecweb.com
I've got the reference numbers here somewhere if you want 'em
I bought loads off them for the 7mm carts and 5's are available. Very inexpensive too!

I've got loads of info on cleaning etc which is on the forum somewhere!

John suggested clickng on the 'Search' toolbar, key in 'cleaning' or 'cartridge cleaning', try Ultrasonic cleaner' there too.

If you can't find what you're after, send me a PM, I'll give you all of what I've got rather than repeat it all here.

Cerwyn
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Hobby collector of mainly WW2 era uniforms, headgear, field equipment and replica weapons.

Post by Gavin

luckly i found the o ring that i lost so i dont need any more just now but thanks for the link i must have missed johns post i searched but could only find ultra sonic cleaning post i will search more thourly tommorow when i have time i tryed marks cleaning method and the carts came out realy clean and shiny but the water was realy dirty i could not find baking soda so i got bicarbonate soda i think they are the same thing but can anyone tell me if this true but it does not realy mater as it worked fine

Post by Mark



Yes, Bicarbonate Soda is the same as baking soda..The cartridges do come out of there clean don't they? And yes, the water does get very dirty. But at least the cartridges are clean!
_________________
Wanted to buy: MGC Sten MK3....trades?(still)

MGC MP40 Marushin MP40 Nakata MP40 TRC MP40

Modelgun manufacturers, past and present:CMC,CAW,Hudson,HWS,LS,MGC(R.I.P. 1960's~2007) Marushin,Marui,Kokusai,Shoei,Tanaka and Western Arms

Post by 8ace

These brushes are good for scrubbing the inside
http://www.pazyryk.co.uk/Hookah_Pipe_Cleaning_Brushes.html
I got the multi purpose pipe cleaning brush-style 1

Post by gavin


are the bruses soft or stiff plastic

Post by 8ace

They are softer than a tooth brush but harder than a paint brush