What do you use to clean your hand tools?

[DENALIAKITAS]

Other than just wiping down with a rag what do you use to clean the more stubborn grease dirt and grime? Also what works best to clean the hard and soft handles of tools like screw drivers etc. I have a set of matco screw drivers with the green and black handles that just never seem to be clean. Thanks

 

[yasha32]

perfectly clean i've never tried for, so I've always used some WD40 on a rag. Seems to take grease out of knurled handles and such pretty well.

 

[Zrexxer]

If you want to get the Matco green handles clean, Simple Green and hot water.

Otherwise, really grungy greasy stuff gets a trip to the parts washer.

 

[wreckerman5357]

I rarely go past using a rag, but in the event of really nasty stuff like windshield urethane or butyl, I use laquer thinner or wax and grease removed.

 

[Fedwrench]

Brake clean, 409, a trip to the cuda (hot water/detergent parts cleaner) for nasty items.

 

[Pedro86]

Other than just wiping down with a rag what do you use to clean the more stubborn grease dirt and grime? Also what works best to clean the hard and soft handles of tools like screw drivers etc. I have a set of matco screw drivers with the green and black handles that just never seem to be clean. Thanks

parts washer
brake cleaner.

dont want to soak your ratchet in a pan of parts or brake cleaner obviously.
--

with screwdrivers (i have the same color- but snap on lol) i honestly have had a good bit of luck with just a regular rag- maybe i dont get mine as dirty

 

[Pedro86]

brake cleaner, parts washer, and goo gone all seem to harm paint on tool box- i tried on my old box in a hidden place, and the rag became red and the area on the box became light red.. im guessing just regular soap and water for a tool box? air gun?

 

[Jagmandave]

What kind of tool box?

None of mine are bothered by using parts washer solvent on them, but you could try Simple Green or 409 instead....

When my hand tools get too greasy for a red shop rag they go to the parts washer.

 

[Appleyard]

WD40 works great for those screwdrives. The only thing I noticed was that the grips start to lose there grit after a few cleanings, but that's also covered under the warranty. Also it will wipe off the Matco logos.

Brake clean works well, but eventually will fade the colors.

 

[ishiboo]

Is WD40 safe for use on plastic/rubber tools? I've been using it as I have a lot of fine gypsum dust on everything, but I'm not sure it's the best to be using on plastic/rubber.

 

[Jim85IROC]

Brake cleaner on a paper towels for me, though I just bought my first SO ratchet (yay!) with the comfort grip handle and I'm a little afraid to try the brake cleaner on it.

I also tend to wash my hands with brake cleaner too. It makes a wonderful moisturizer!

 

[Pedro86]

snap on tool box,- powder coated?

 

[buffalobill]

small wire brushes and whatever chemical sprays i have around for knurling. I have found that starting fluid cleans stuff suprisingly well, and drys up very quickly.

welding pics and junky whopped out small screwdrivers for scraping the insides of sockets clean. Call me ocd if you want, but if you don't get that stuff out, it can hold moisture and will cause problems.

 

[Kurn]

I generally use Xylene and/or brake cleaner.I've noticed some brands of mineral spirits leave a film or slightly oily residue.

 

[hammergodthor]

GoJo hand wipes. It'll delam your drawer liners if you don't wipe it off the tools before storing though.

 

[Steevo]

oily rags

 

[Outlawmws]

If you want to get the Matco green handles clean, Simple Green and hot water.

Otherwise, really grungy greasy stuff gets a trip to the parts washer.

Start with this; Simple Green is amazing.

 

[JMorrison4371]

Brake cleaner on a paper towels for me, though I just bought my first SO ratchet (yay!) with the comfort grip handle and I'm a little afraid to try the brake cleaner on it.

I have two of the new snap on ratchets w the comfort grip and brake cleaner doesnt hurt them at all it doesnt fade them or crack em open it just cleans all the **** off

 

[Mgraves235]

Simple Green or the like when the plastic handles get grungy. Metal parts just get a good wipe down before going in the box. As humid as it is here, a light oil coating helps keep the rust at bay.

 

[plinker]

Brake cleaner or for the stuff it would or might damage, Schaeffers citrol.

 

[Jim85IROC]

I have two of the new snap on ratchets w the comfort grip and brake cleaner doesnt hurt them at all it doesnt fade them or crack em open it just cleans all the **** off

That's good to know. Thanks

 

[twincam00]

paint thinner or wd-40

 

[luvmyhondas]

I use WD40 also. If a socket or something has crud crammed inside, I'll use brake cleaner & rag with screwdriver to clean it out.

 

[GoBlue]

WD40 for me

 

[adamsredlines]

Carb cleaner.

 

[Agent1320]

If mine get filthy, I drop them in the parts washer soak tank while I'm cleaning up the rest of the shop then wipe them down with a rag before putting them away. Right now my work cart is loaded with dirty tools because I've been either too lazy or too busy to get back on the project I'm working on.

 

[BloodySinner]

I have used the dishwasher when the wife wasn't home. Shhhhhhh.......

Hahahahaha....

 

[mayhemman]

gas on some items is the only way to dissovle the grease and oil. simple green for plastic stuff. sometimes carb cleaner if its metal and i don't have gas handy.

 

[shampoop]

For almost everything penetrating oil like wd40 on a rag. For the snap on soft handles, brake cleaner works great.

 

[Greatbear]

Grungy, grease-filled sockets go in the parts washer. Plastic stuff gets cleaned with Simple Green or dishwashing liquid. Wipe downs with WD-40 for just about everything.

 

[greasemonkey44]

whatever rag is in the bin on my cart; or if its really bad ill use brake clean

 

[vga]

I use T 9 or Tri flow to wipe them down . Cleans and coats then at the same time to prevent corrosion. Its cold and damp up here in the mountains in the winter months.

 

[Matt018]

Just wipe em with a rag... who cares if the green handle is a little dirty... Its just gonna look like that the next time you use them so just get any oil off.

 

[thesilverone]

Just wipe em with a rag... who cares if the green handle is a little dirty... Its just gonna look like that the next time you use them so just get any oil off.

you're going to upset the tool polishers

 

[e30bradley]

wd-40 and a rag

 

[HandyManny]

Red cotton shop rag, simply used to wipe off any oil or grease from tools after use. Just a simple wipe down, that's usually it.

 

[TrivQuad]

For a general wipe down nothing beats WD-40. It will remove light grease and prevent rust on oxide finished tools. For caked on grease I use brake cleaner followed by an ultrasound bath in Zep citrus cleaner. After blowing out residual moisture I follow up with a light coating of WD-40 or Kroil.

 

[Danglerb]

WD40, main reason I pick up a can when its cheap. I don't use it on rubber or plastic, usually I figure if I can get something off with a dry shop towel, its not coming off on me either so its clean enough, but maybe simple green on the towel sometimes.

I have a thick freezer type zip lock bag I keep a little Marvel Mystery Oil in to "soak" some items.

 

[Matt018]

you're going to upset the tool polishers

Well I mean pretty tools arnt gonna fix stuff any better than a dirty one... To be honest it feels pretty weird when I get some new screw drivers or pliers and they arnt all scratched or greasy.

 

[Lomotil]

Acetone, MEK, Naptha, carb cleaner, whatever's handy.

If I don't plan on needing a tool for a while after it's used, a rub down with some Remington gun oil before being put away.