Doing the Dishes

[blackbrandt]

After seeing a post on here about cleaning your motor casings when you get home from the launch, "doing the dishes", I was wondering, can you clean cases just by sticking them in the dishwasher? I haven't done it yet, just want to know if it will ruin the case or not.

[H_Rocket]

only if you have a death wish and the desire to do lots of dishes by hand...

[GregGleason]

No.

You don't want any chemical residue being transferred to anything you eat off of. While that risk is small, it is not worth your health. It's really NOT worth the broken peace of mind with your significant others.

Gun owners clean their hardware after firing, and so do we. And of lot of the cleaning agents that work with guns works well with our hardware, also.

Greg

[cavecentral]

I might be trying the dishwasher method, that is only because I do not use my dishwasher. It is a tiny one that doesn't hold enough to be worth running. If I do try it, it will be in the 'not for food' category like my mixer, several coffee grinders, spatulas, measuring cups, etc.

[CarVac]

If I am not mistaken then all of those are used for food...

[cavecentral]

They are no longer used for food. They have been re-purposed.

[JPVegh]

I wash "nasty" things in my dishwasher all the time. I'd be more worried about etching the motor casings in the dishwasher than contaminating the dishwasher from dirty casings. So I guess I agree with everyone else about not using the dishwasher but not for the same reasons.

[cwbullet]

I know my wife would have me on the couch or in the dog house.

[cavecentral]

I don't think the traditional dish detergent would work. I think the dawn detergent would cause a soapy flood like in the old cartoons / sit coms.

[rockets4kids]

I am pretty sure that regular dishwashing detergent is *not* going to be good for your anodized casings. If for some reason you do attempt this, I would strongly suggest using a detergent safe for anodized aluminum cookware.

I would seriously suggest getting a plastic bucket or tub large enough to soak your casings in. A good soak in a mild detergent followed by a high-pressure hose should clean them up with little effort.

[cavecentral]

I am pretty sure that regular dishwashing detergent is *not* going to be good for your anodized casings. If for some reason you do attempt this, I would strongly suggest using a detergent safe for anodized aluminum cookware.

I would seriously suggest getting a plastic bucket or tub large enough to soak your casings in. A good soak in a mild detergent followed by a high-pressure hose should clean them up with little effort.

I do the bucket soak now - dawn and hot water. Often have to scrub with a brass brush. Some of the research cases are beyond normal cleaning methods.

[rockets4kids]

I can't imagine how a dishwasher is going to do a better job than a brass brush.

Do you grease your casings? Have you experimented with different liner types?

[cavecentral]

I don't grease the smaller liners - most that I greased seemed messier after.. Liners are mainly loki liner sets. Some char through, some don't I few used ones are bought are pretty bad with some real coorosion. Tried a soda blaster on it, break cleaner, etc. I'll use it as is. If it gets too bad, I'll try a cylinder hone on it and take off a couple thousandths.

Either way, after having a launch and getting 7-10 cases to clean 24-54mm (soon adding 76mm), a quick and easy way would be nice.

[blackbrandt]

I have never cleaned a casing, I was just wondering if it would work. I would just wash all of the casings in one cycle.

[cavecentral]

I have never cleaned a casing, I was just wondering if it would work. I would just wash all of the casings in one cycle.

Ruining the dishwasher for food, and proper chems to not ruin the cases aside, it could do as well as hot water and soap. For the nasty stuff I have in the trouble spots on mine, I doubt it will help. I may try for morbid curiousity's sake (I have an otherwise useless dishwasher), but there seems to be better ideas.

[rockets4kids]

I don't grease the smaller liners - most that I greased seemed messier after.. Liners are mainly loki liner sets. Some char through, some don't I few used ones are bought are pretty bad with some real coorosion. Tried a soda blaster on it, break cleaner, etc. I'll use it as is. If it gets too bad, I'll try a cylinder hone on it and take off a couple thousandths.

Either way, after having a launch and getting 7-10 cases to clean 24-54mm (soon adding 76mm), a quick and easy way would be nice.

Messier after *may* be easier to clean. I guess you are going need to experiment if you haven't already.

But I can definitely see how corroded areas are going to be difficult to clean. I'd suggest having them re-anodized immediately after sanding.

[bill2654]

I keep baby wipes in my field box and clean them at the field. I tried the "wait till I get home to do it" thing ONCE. I forgot about it till a week later and it's a PAIN then, so I Always do it right after my recovery. Baby wipes are the way to go.

[troj]

First, regular dish soap works great for cleaning cases. It's all I use, other than baby wipes.

That said, considering your age, putting a motor case in the dishwasher is a good way to be mowing lots of lawns, so you can buy mom a new dishwasher.

-Kevin

[rockets4kids]

First, regular dish soap works great for cleaning cases. It's all I use, other than baby wipes.

You should probably clarify that you mean the "regular hand wash dish soap" and not "regular machine wash dish soap" as the two are completely different things.

I have heard of many stories of anodized aluminum cookware being damaged when run through the dishwasher using regular machine wash dish soap. There is a good likelihood that the same thing could occur with an anodized aluminum motor casing. Supposedly, it is possible to wash anodized aluminum cookware in the dishwasher, but only with a special dishwasher soap.

Needless to say, you do not want to use dish soap designed for hand washing in your dishwasher. Not even a tiny amount. You might think that a tiny amount would be ok, but you would be wrong.

[Disaster_Guy]

Needless to say, you do not want to use dish soap designed for hand washing in your dishwasher. Not even a tiny amount. You might think that a tiny amount would be ok, but you would be wrong.

Oh how did I learn that lesson the hard way many years ago... Chased bubbles all the way to the basement...

Back to the topic at hand, when I get home from a launch I put some hot water in the utility sink, add a little bit of dawn, toss the cases in, let them soak for an hour or so, pull them out, rinse, sit 24hrs to dry, and pack them back up. No scrubbing or brushing... They come out looking new.

[CarVac]

I don't see why anodized aluminum would be attacked by dishwasher detergent... it uses enzymes to attack food particles, rather than harsh chemicals.

[Chevis]

Hoppes Elite gun cleaner, it works like a charm. Comes in spray bottles, just spray, let it soak, and wipe it down. It doesn't smell nasty or burn your hands. It also helps prevent fouling from sticking to the casing the next time you use it. Since I started using that it only takes a couple of minutes to clean my guns or casings.

[troj]

You should probably clarify that you mean the "regular hand wash dish soap" and not "regular machine wash dish soap" as the two are completely different things.

I have heard of many stories of anodized aluminum cookware being damaged when run through the dishwasher using regular machine wash dish soap. There is a good likelihood that the same thing could occur with an anodized aluminum motor casing. Supposedly, it is possible to wash anodized aluminum cookware in the dishwasher, but only with a special dishwasher soap.

Needless to say, you do not want to use dish soap designed for hand washing in your dishwasher. Not even a tiny amount. You might think that a tiny amount would be ok, but you would be wrong.

The trick is dish soap versus dishwasher detergent. They even have different names, and dish soap in the dishwasher is a disaster.

[Barracuda]

First, regular dish soap works great for cleaning cases. It's all I use, other than baby wipes.

That said, considering your age, putting a motor case in the dishwasher is a good way to be mowing lots of lawns, so you can buy mom a new dishwasher.

-Kevin

I totally concur

[neond7]

The trick is dish soap versus dishwasher detergent. They even have different names, and dish soap in the dishwasher is a disaster.

I find that sometimes after an overnight soak in hot water and Dawn dishwashing liquid, some residue will remain if the liner burned through (as they often do). I use a few squirts of simple green and hit it with a toothbrush until its clean. Seems to work great, I worried the simple green would be rough on the anodized aluminum. I only squirt it on the stuff inside the motor case, so if it does affect it, it won't be visible.....

[Aksrockets]

Really, casings dont take that long to clean (even though the biggest casing Ive cleaned is 38mm). I just wipe it down with a damp paper towel or wet wipe and walk along the flight line. The trick is using enough motor lube so that the liner slides out without further clean up.
Or, just invest in CTI cases.

Alex

[cwbullet]

The trick is dish soap versus dishwasher detergent. They even have different names, and dish soap in the dishwasher is a disaster.

You will only make that mistake once. Also, for point of reference, don't use either in the clothes washer.

[CarVac]

@aksrockets: The CTI cases are no easier to clean than AeroTech cases. Both experience burn-through and the lip on CTI cases is not helpful when trying to clean them out such as with a bottle brush. The main difference is that the CTI cases have no forward closures to clean and that is the most annoying part.

[Aksrockets]

@aksrockets: The CTI cases are no easier to clean than AeroTech cases. Both experience burn-through and the lip on CTI cases is not helpful when trying to clean them out such as with a bottle brush. The main difference is that the CTI cases have no forward closures to clean and that is the most annoying part.

All of the CTI motors ive used have been the easiest clean up ever. Without a burn through, it's simply a matter of unscrewing the liner and throwing the whole thing in the garbage. I was talking about that, not the occasional burn through.

Alex

[Pantherjon]

You will only make that mistake once. Also, for point of reference, don't use either in the clothes washer.

Unless you REALLY want to wade through soap bubbles!