Clean up after a project

[TXNinAZ]

I'm wondering what others do when you're finished with a project and need to clean tools and parts. I have a parts washer and big sink, but don't always feel like dumping all the tools I've gotten greasy into the washer, so I end up spraying everything down with degreaser, wiping with shop towels, rinsing in the sink and then dry/put away. I refuse to put a greasy wrench back into my toolbox, so if I'm not able to clean it right then, I can get a backlog of cleaning up that needs to be done from engine work, or whatever. That ends up frustrating me, since I hate for anything to sit on my bench that doesn't belong there...What works for you?

 

[nine4gmc]

I just use a shop rag(aka old shirt) to wipe my tools before putting away. Greasy parts get a dawn bath before going back on. I use a lot of ratcheting wrenches and tools with moving parts so no water/degreaser on them.

 

[TXNinAZ]

Here's why I'm asking now [emoji16]

 

[TXNinAZ]

I just use a shop rag(aka old shirt) to wipe my tools before putting away. Greasy parts get a dawn bath before going back on. I use a lot of ratcheting wrenches and tools with moving parts so no water/degreaser on them.

Yeah I guess if your wrenches or ratchets aren't sealed, degreaser is a baaad idea, isn't it?

 

[nine4gmc]

Nothing looks to dirty on that table, just needs a wipe down and put away. BTW, that's my bench on any given day...

 

[DonPowers]

Here's why I'm asking now [emoji16]

That looks like my bench.

 

[larry_g]

At the end of a project and before another starts clean and put away. It sounds like your way to fussy on what is clean. Most tools a wipe should do, your not eating with this stuff. I find that I do best cleaning and putting away in the morning, before any work starts. For me if I try to do it at the end of the day and project I'm to tired to do a good job. So next time your in the shop start putting stuff away before the project work starts.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[Slowgsr]

I clean up as i go. Prevents that.

 

[TXNinAZ]

It sounds like your way to fussy on what is clean. Most tools a wipe should do, your not eating with this stuff. I find that I do best cleaning and putting away in the morning, before any work starts.
lg
no neat sig line

You are right on both counts. I like to start a new task (replace seals on an engine, whatever), with that bench 100% empty and wiped clean. Then when I set a part down, dust, crumbs, different oil doesn't get picked up on the part. I've tried to be less annoyed by clutter, but I can't seem to help it.

 

[TXNinAZ]

I clean up as i go. Prevents that.

I certainly try to do that when its a small thing, but tearing down an engine means I'll probably need the same tools again in a few minutes or in a few hours, so I don't want to put something away I'll need again soon. New toolbox will will help- replace part of the work surface, and the tool storage will be where the work is happening, not 20 ft away, like it is now.

 

[Thumper68]

I spray on some WD-40 and wipe with a shop towel

 

[LumpyMusic]

...tearing down an engine means I'll probably need the same tools again in a few minutes or in a few hours, so I don't want to put something away I'll need again soon...

I'm often tempted by that concept "I'll need these same tools tomorrow when I start again". But it usually bites me in the ****. For me at least, putting them back in their normal place at the end of the day means that when I come out tomorrow morning, I'll know where everything is, instead of trying to deal with the set of drivers or sockets split into two locations.

Also -

If I put tools I ANTICIPATE using on my cart, then go do the job, there's always a few that I really didn't need, I just brought them along "in case". Plus there's always a couple of tools that I had to "go back for" to add to the cart. If I put them all away, and start from zero the next day, I'm more likely to pull only the exact tools I'll need.

That's especially applicable if I need to use something like Torx tools to remove trim panels, then different tools to do the work on the actual gizmo behind the panel. I only need the Torx at the very beginning and very end.

On jobs where I'm not intimately familiar with the fasteners, I might bring an entire rack of sockets, small to large. Once I get working, I might find that I only need a 10 and a 13, or whatever.


Sgt Lumpy

 

[mrpizza]

Grease and oil keeps the rust at bay. I just wipe my tools down well and put em up.

 

[jlipsky14]

I like having a coat of light oil on them, just wipe them down as well as I can with a clean and dry rag.

 

[fireguy]

I often wipe down my tools, depending on how dirty they got. If I have time, and am so inclined, I may use the dishmachine. But only if it is a hot water machine, low temps are **** and do not clean tools very well. A bit of spray degreaser and the tools come clean. The hot water quickly evaporates and there is no rust problem.

Hi temp dishmachine also clean your hat nicely.

 

[TXNinAZ]

Much better!!

 

[TXNinAZ]

Grease and oil keeps the rust at bay. I just wipe my tools down well and put em up.

In Phoenix you have to do a lot of work to get something to rust! [emoji38]

 

[rharman]

Lately, I've started using these. Seem to work good on hands, tools, whatever....

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001B0AFMQ/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[G-force]

I try and clean throughout the day like right before taking breaks to eat and such. If I get going heavy or I'm running behind I always try to dedicate some time Monday to cleaning and reorganizing tools. Otherwise I spend most my time looking for the tool I need that did not get put back.

I also have found that when I have misplaced a tool or item, that is a good time to do a quick clean up weather it's needed or not because more times than not, when I'm cleaning up tools I find what I was looking for.

 

[cdestuck]

You're wasting too much valuable wall space with those license plates. I'd put so nice cabinets and shelving in that wall

 

[TauntDevil]

I am similar. I will wipe down each tool and have tons of cans of goo-be-gone grease version (smells like acetone) just for cleaning the tools with rubber or grease on them. Never does a tool get put away dirty. When friends come over to work on their stuff or I am too tired/busy to clean them and put them away, I put them in a plastic container that sits on the top of my toolbox so I can clean them later and grease doesnt get all over the place. Also most of my friends have short term memory and forget where the tool goes even though its all labeled... -_- so it makes it easier for them to put the tools into the box as well.

 

[Dennis Leigh Henry]

Ditto on the cleaning with shop towel, etc. Good practice to do. I have peg boards around most of my work benches so I can use the tool and put it back in its place as I go.. Doesn't always work but makes for a quicker clean up and keeps the bench fairly straightened up most of the time.

Nice license plate collection.. Have you seen / shared on the license plate thread? I don't recall seeing it there..

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123962

 

[TXNinAZ]

Nice license plate collection.. Have you seen / shared on the license plate thread? I don't recall seeing it there..



http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123962

No I haven't posted there- I should! I've got the rest of my plates in a cabinets to finish the rest of the wall. Good excuse to get it done.

 

[Dennis Leigh Henry]

No I haven't posted there- I should! I've got the rest of my plates in a cabinets to finish the rest of the wall. Good excuse to get it done.

Good deal!!

 

[pablo94sc]

I clean up as i go. Prevents that.

Ditto. I'll leave tools out mid project if I stop for a night or take a break, but generally speaking I'm tossing scraps in the bin and cleaning up as I go so when I'm done it's just a matter of a couple more wipes and putting stuff away. It's not as efficient perhaps, but my garage never gets as messy as my buddies who will clean up after a job... aka it piles up until it becomes an all day or weekend cleaning project. Lol

 

[pablo94sc]

No I haven't posted there- I should! I've got the rest of my plates in a cabinets to finish the rest of the wall. Good excuse to get it done.

I love the wall of plates. Makes me want to finalize my shelving in the garage so I can hang the ones from my cars up again.

 

[Megadodo]

I've got much better as I get older about putting my tools away after a job or even at night, mid job, and I try and use 5S principles. The initial effort in setting up known locations for you stuff can be significant the long term time saved is much more so! As for cleaning "wet" & "sticky" stuff gets wiped down with paper towelling, then everything gets a quick wipe with a microfibre cloth before it gets put away. Stuff that needs oiling as part of the maintenance routine will get done after the paper towelling then get the microfibre wipe down with a well used cloth.
Do I still scream and shout when the tool fairy hides stuff? Yes, but she struggles to find as many tools to hide as she used to!

 

[WWShop]

I always clean up thoroughly after a project, even when i don't feel like it. I always appreciate it when i start something new. BTW, i like how your sink is part of your workbench...wish i had that.

 

[brycez28]

I try to wipe my tools off after a project, but often it is getting late or I am finishing up just as I have to leave for somewhere. If I don't wipe my tools off and put them away right away, I put them in a tool tray. I like getting up early in the morning before work and spending 30-60 minutes in the garage listening to the radio and I'll clean up and put tools away at that time. I've found that I have to put my tools in a tray otherwise if I leave them out to be put away later, I can't find them if I need them before I get them cleaned up. At least now they are contained in one place to look.

I just use a shop rag to wipe off my tools before they get put away.

 

[sometoyotaguy]

I try to wipe my tools off after I get done with a project. They can get dumped into a bucket or whatever before getting put away, but at least the dirt and grime is off them.

No garage here, so tools get hauled up from the basement as needed. If something is really nasty, I'll hit it with brake cleaner, but most of the time, a decent paper towel or rag will clean it up.

 

[TXNinAZ]

I always clean up thoroughly after a project, even when i don't feel like it. I always appreciate it when i start something new. BTW, i like how your sink is part of your workbench...wish i had that.

Yeah that was a wonderful attribute of my house. Now that I'll have to redesign the bench to accommodate my new Snap On box, I may do a bowling lane top and an under mount sink, so I can wipe directly into it. We'll see.