Eighteen brass coupons, three per soil per cleaner, were weighed to record their initial weights. The coupons were then soiled with their respective soils; LMKT lapping compound, Honing oil, and slide gel lubricant. About 0.5 grams of each soil was spread on the bottom third of each coupon with a swab. The dirty weights of the coupons were then recorded. The coupons were then subjected to 15 minutes of unheated ultrasonics in their respective cleaners. Once cleaned, each coupon was dried with the heat gun at high heat for about 30-45 seconds. After drying, the clean weights of the coupons were recorded.
Both Sta Sol ESS 159 and Propylene Glycol Ether are effective in removing all soils from brass. Although they were effective on all soils, Sta Sol did not remove the slide gel soil to the same efficacy as the other two soils and the Propylene Glycol Ether did not remove the honing oil to the same efficacy as the other two soils. Future testing should include heated immersion to see if the addition of heat will improve the performance of both cleaners on those particular soils.