How To: Clean Sockets

[Boiler]

Lately I've been picking up lots of sockets at various types of places. Often used sockets are grimy, somewhat rusty, lightly scratched, etc. I'm sure this is not a new idea, but for one's that are heavily rusted/pitted I've been doing this method to clean them up really nicely and very quickly:

Put a 3" 1/4" socket extension in the chuck of a 3/8" drill. Add or remove adapters to suit whatever size socket you're cleaning. Put the socket on and switch the drill to high speed. Spray WD-40 on some fine steel wool and surround the socket with it, gripping relatively tightly. Hit the trigger. In somewhere between 3 and 30 seconds of spinning and a wipe with a towel, you'll swear you have a different socket in your hand.

 

[Bull]

That sounds like a neat trick!

The tough part is when there is grease in the broaching and packed into the drive end. That *****.

 

[Boiler]

Yeah, the grease in the broaching is tough. Baby bottle (and ******) brush can help with some of the sized, but I haven't found a series of graduated brushes to use yet. Haven't looked but a few places though.

 

[Brad54]

I've had two stiff-bristled bottle brushes in my tool box for years and years. One is about 1-inch in diameter, the other is probably 3/8-inch diameter. Course black bristles.

I use them for inside the socket and the broach.

I'm lazy... I drop them in the parts cleaner or a bucket of Simple Green/Purple Dragon/whatever for a few days or a week or completely forget about them, then pull them out and run the bottle brushes through them. It gets all the crud out relatively easily.

I like your idea of burnishing them with the drill and steel wool. I'll have to try that if I ever get any more vintage sockets... I'm pretty well stocked-up on sockets these days and rarely bring any more home.

-Brad

 

[Krokodil]

That is a good idea. Thanks!

 

[6768rogues]

I recently cleaned up a bunch of old sockets that were not chrome plated. I soaked them in solvent to remove the oil and grease. Then I glass bead blasted them, followed by polishing on a wire wheel. Then I sprayed them with WD 40 and wiped them down. They look like new.

 

[GTVi]

This method sounds good. Do you have any before and after photos of the results?

 

[e-tek]

This method sounds good. Do you have any before and after photos of the results?

Use your imagination.....

 

[Jononon]

I'm lazy... I drop them in the parts cleaner or a bucket of Simple Green/Purple Dragon/whatever for a few days or a week or completely forget about them, then pull them out and run the bottle brushes through them. It gets all the crud out relatively easily.

Poor man's solvent parts washer:

Half fill a can (Mine had candy in it. Eat the candy before proceeding.) with kerosene.
Add a handful of rice (uncooked).
Drop in parts.
Firmly replace lid.
Go somewhere that won't be too adversely affected if the lid comes off. (This applies doubly if you're married)
Shake until your arm hurts.

The metal of the can isn't hard enough to mar your parts, the kerosene dissolves almost anything and the rice bashes grease out of small openings.

 

[z28snksknr]

Check out homebrew supply stores for bottle brushes- some handy cheap kits. I have purchased a set of 7-8 brushes in a kit that have served me very well.

http://www.northernbrewer.com works.

Pic:

cut off the end, and stick it in a drill:

 

[z28toz06]

Check aquarium stores also. they sell brushes for cleaning tubing impellers etc. any one on here that reloads and has a vibratory tumbler has the best socket cleaning tool made. I have teaken sockets and run them in there for a few hours and they come out like new. Rust, grime, whatever is gone. It won't fix peeling chrome but it sure does shine them up.

 

[GTVi]

Use your imagination.....

Just trying to stir some encouragement, thats all...my imagination has not failed me yet, even in your Avatar...let me guess, "wife has run out of work in the kitchen, and is lending you a hand with the dipstick"...you see pictures do work as supporting evidence.