Cleaning Plastic Power Tool Housings?

wilbilt · Sep 1, 2006

I am a believer that electric power tools (cordless or corded) are a must-have, even if you own every air tool ever made.

Using an air drill for any length of time leaves your numb hands longing for the warmth of a good old electric drill, etc.

Gone are the days that electric tools came encased in durable metal housings. This can be a good thing, as it reduces the chances of getting lit up should the tool have a shorted cord, or you forget about the old "Don't stand in a puddle of water while using an electric tool" warning. :shocking:

The colorful plastic housings of modern tools are comfortable and nicely textured. This brings me to the actual question (almost).

While browsing my favorite pawn shop today (the cheap one), I came across a DeWalt electric impact wrench and a Milwaukee 1/2" HoleShooter.

I have a B&D impact (identical to the DeWalt) that recently gave up the ghost in reverse (the important direction). I have been in need of a 1/2" portable drill motor as well. I snatched them up...$60 for both.

The only problem is that they are both a little grubby. Not too bad, but dirtier than I like. Is there any way to clean that pretty red or yellow plastic without removing the texture or melting it into a blob?

Will

kartracer55 · Sep 1, 2006

mr clean magic eraser is great for textured surfaces. The commercial doesnt lie, I use them all over on my kart, id imagine they would work well for you. Make sure you wring it out well though.

Jim

eschoendorff · Sep 1, 2006

WD-40 (applied to a rag) will clean them up and it won't leave the plastic too slippery if you wipe them down with a dry shop cloth afterward.

wilbilt · Sep 1, 2006

I'm not familiar with the magic erasers (I don't watch much TV), but will pick some up at Mao Mart.

I do have a gallon of WD-40 and some rags, too. I often use it to wipe down air hoses and power cords, but I don't know how it will deal with the texture on the tools. I guess I might use a stiff-bristled brush on those parts.

I have a 3-day weekend to find out!

The neighbors might get a kick out of watching me scrub my impact, but God knows, they've seen worse!

Will

the intimidator · Sep 2, 2006

if they are really bad you could take some rubbing compound and a rag to it then take some polishing compound then you gota put a coat of wax onto it to protect the surface from further intrusions of dirt and grease lol :pimpflash

you could also use the mr clean thing they work well lol

wilbilt · Sep 3, 2006

Well, I tried the "Magic Eraser", with mixed results. It did a good job removing the surface grime, but wouldn't touch the embedded dirt. It also quickly removed some spots of hardened mortar on the drill motor (I suspect it was used by tilesetters to spin their thinset whip), but wore out quickly rubbing on that stuff.

It also removed the gloss from the plastic, which is not good, IMHO.

I also tried some polishing compound, which restored some of the gloss, but also would not get the embedded stuff. It also left a lot of residue in the texture that was difficult to remove.

The WD-40 worked fairly well on embedded grease, etc. and left a somewhat shiny finish, which I'm sure will disappear, since it is a solvent and will evaporate.

The bottom line, I guess, is that used tools are going to look like...used tools.

Will

GShelton · Sep 3, 2006

Greased Lightning. The stuff is amazing!

neptunesrevenge · Sep 3, 2006

waterless hand cleaner.

dboat · Sep 3, 2006

I have used Simple Green on a rag or use that Orange Stuff they sell at Autozone.. the orange stuff has worked absolutely great for me.. it smells good too..
Dana

wilbilt · Sep 3, 2006

I use Simple Green quite a bit. It doesn't bother me like a lot of degreasers do.

I'll try it and see what it does.

I guess I'm sensitized, becuase the citrus-based solvents cause my fingers to go numb after about 30 seconds of exposure.

dboat · Sep 3, 2006

wilbilt said:
I use Simple Green quite a bit. It doesn't bother me like a lot of degreasers do.

I'll try it and see what it does.

I guess I'm sensitized, becuase the citrus-based solvents cause my fingers to go numb after about 30 seconds of exposure.

wow, didnt know that and its the first I have heard of someone being that sensitive to the orange products..

good luck and post up the Simple Green results.
Dana

wilbilt · Sep 3, 2006

dboat said:
wow, didnt know that and its the first I have heard of someone being that sensitive to the orange products..

good luck and post up the Simple Green results.
Dana

It seems pretty strange to me, too. I worked for many years exposed to the standard solvents, acetone, lacquer thinner, brake parts cleaner, etc.

I never wore gloves and none of the chemicals ever bothered me. I have always been sensitive to strong odors (i.e., perfumes), though.

One day the parts cleaner service company...you know who I mean...showed up and announced we were moving to a new "safe and organic" solvent. Two days of that citrus-based stuff and I was wearing gloves. The alternative was to have no feeling in my fingers for 12 hours or so.

It doesn't work nearly as well as the "old stuff" for cleaning parts, either.

BQuicksilver · Sep 3, 2006

I have this same issue with grime on my Dewalt Electric Impact. Most likely you're dealing with brake dust, as you see a lot of these out at tracks as we try to get wheels off for a quick brake bleed. Mine is always dirty after a weekend at the track.

Unfortunately CRC brake cleaner didn't get the embedded grime out of mine either. I'm open to ideas.

On the wimpy hands discussion, i've noticed that brake cleaner causes my nails to split apart easily the next week after exposure, and no longer do brakes with bare hands.

wilbilt · Sep 3, 2006

BQuicksilver said:
On the wimpy hands discussion, i've noticed that brake cleaner causes my nails to split apart easily the next week after exposure, and no longer do brakes with bare hands.

Brake cleaner doesn't bother me. I could take a bath in it.

It seems to be limited ot citrus-based solvents and heavy perfume (i.e., Tide laundry detegent).

dboat · Sep 4, 2006

Even with the newer "safer" chemicals out these days, I have started to use gloves whenever I am working on anything on the car that is more than just washing it.. better safe than sorry, although I admit its more of a pain too..

Dana

D-Cal · Sep 4, 2006

I use hand cleaner. Gentle on plastics and rubber. For shiny surfaces, avoid the pumace.

Rickster · Sep 5, 2006

Bug and Tar Remover. I use this stuff all the time for plastic and it cleans it right up. Found in the car wash & wax section.

kartracer55 · Sep 5, 2006

So is it bad that I "wash" my hands with whatever aerosol I grab first at the track? lol

Carb cleaner burns like you wouldnt believe! None of these solvents really irritate my hands other than open cuts (duh). Simple-Green on a rag is great for cleaning hands and alot cheaper than brakleen.

BUT Resolve carpet cleaner screws up my hands! I think its called a de-fatter, but whatever it does, it turns my skin white where its been exposed long enough. Its crazy I have no idea why or whats happening. It doesnt hurt or feel dried out and its back to normal a few hours later.

JIm

wilbilt · Sep 6, 2006

More good ideas...I'll try them (except the carpet cleaner LOL).

As for grabbing the closest aerosol can for the task at hand....can be hazardous. Remember when deoderant came in aerosol cans? Remember when hairspray did too? 'nuff said....

As for the gloves, I never cared for latex, but haven't yet tried the blue nitrile ones.

motorheadjohn · Sep 6, 2006

Another vote for Simple Green...I spray it on a clean towel or rag until it's damp then use it to wipe the crud off the tools.

409 and 409 Auto formula also work pretty good.

Cleaning Plastic Power Tool Housings?

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