but I find it hard to believe that a $30 Harbor Freight cleaner will compare to the $1200 L&R.
I was very pleasantly surprised. My total was $111 on E-Bay.
Search "heated ultrasonic cleaner" It looks exactly like the 2.5qt $99.95 at Harbor Freight. The $30 one is pretty small (1 pt capacity).
My cases come out very clean and my AR bolt and carrier come out like new. I mixed up some Ed's Red for the final lube, wipe them dry and blow out any residual liquid with 40psi compressed air. They look dry when I am done and do not seem to be dirt magnets.
I use a glass rectangular bowl for my cleaning and lube solutions that sets in the heated water. That makes changing solutions very easy and there is virtually no clean up of the cleaner either
Thanks to all of you for your excellent suggestions. I tried many of them and all worked. This sure takes the time, mess and drudgery out of cleaning.