Duct Tape Man
Well-known member
So, what would you guys recommend for cleaning old grease and oil off of old tools and especially vises - engine degreaser or brake cleaner? One sprays on and wipes off quickly, one you leave sit for a while....
cleaning greasy vises/tools - engine degreaser or brake cleaner?
- Thread starter Duct Tape Man
- Start date
scaron
Well-known member
i always use carb cleaner for stuff that's really grotty. i'd stay away from brake cleaner, that stuff is nasty.
alpinewhite
Well-known member
SpiderGearsMan
Banned
wipe tools maybe
crewchief888
Well-known member
of those 2 choices
brake cleaner every time.
myself
i'd hit it with a HOT water pressure washer.
brake cleaner every time.
myself
i'd hit it with a HOT water pressure washer.
alpinewhite
Well-known member
Depending on how much dirt/grease is on, I may skip a few of the earlier steps:
1. Laundry soap with a brush similar to the ones used for car wheels.
2. Rinse.
3. Liquid dish soap with brush from step 1.
4. Rinse.
5. Simple Green and brush from step 1.
6. Rinse.
7. If still dirty, pressure washer after soaking with Simple Green.
1. Laundry soap with a brush similar to the ones used for car wheels.
2. Rinse.
3. Liquid dish soap with brush from step 1.
4. Rinse.
5. Simple Green and brush from step 1.
6. Rinse.
7. If still dirty, pressure washer after soaking with Simple Green.
regguy1
Well-known member
I'd just use some kerosene and a parts brush. I never liked the toxic nature of brake kleen.
TennesseeZ
Well-known member
Oven cleaner. It'll strip paint, grease, most anything. Use it outside, and don't get it on any ID plates if you don't want the paint cleaned off them. Masking tape works there.
Then wash with a hose or pressure washer. Wear gloves & etc, it can hurt you but it'll strip most anything.
Then wash with a hose or pressure washer. Wear gloves & etc, it can hurt you but it'll strip most anything.
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I built a wand out of brass fittings and brake line that ***** kerosene, varsol, whatever solvent from a jug and sprays it at high air pressure. I find it works well for cleaning up leaky engines and stuff before I have to work on them. I do this for the bulk and then brake clean to finish.
I buy brake cleaner by the case.
It takes me a little while to go through it, but I use it for just about everything, including spray-bomb paint prep.
Effective, dries quickly, relatively cheap. (Go to a mom-n-pop store and buy a whole case, and you'll usually get a discount. Last time I got two cans free)
-Brad
It takes me a little while to go through it, but I use it for just about everything, including spray-bomb paint prep.
Effective, dries quickly, relatively cheap. (Go to a mom-n-pop store and buy a whole case, and you'll usually get a discount. Last time I got two cans free)
-Brad
I always thought it was the other way around, especially with the non-chlorinated versions. Gumout carb clean certainly has a 'knock you on your ***' odor to it if you get a good whiff compared to brake clean. Also keep in mind brake cleaner formulas evaporates much quicker than carb cleaner and is mostly residue free.
That said I wouldn't use either on tools. Huffing chemicals on a normal day to day basis is bad enough without creating more ways to do it. Besides there are many good water based grease cutters available like Grez Off. Between that stuff and WD40 I can get my freshly worked tools shining like new.
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greasemonkey44
Well-known member
i use isopropyl brake clean; advance gold or something
some of them contain acetone which is a big no no for me; paint and plastic go bye bye
resulting in really pissed customers or me feeling guilty
when i have used degreasers they tend to leave salts or acids on the surface when they dry and have to be rinsed many times to get them clean or they will rust
some of them contain acetone which is a big no no for me; paint and plastic go bye bye
resulting in really pissed customers or me feeling guilty
when i have used degreasers they tend to leave salts or acids on the surface when they dry and have to be rinsed many times to get them clean or they will rust
Okay, I've seen a couple guys post this, so I'm gonna ask: Who the **** REALLY uses a steam cleaner or pressure washer to clean up their tools and vise?!
Damn... and I caught **** for suggesting putting a load of stuff in the dishwasher.
Sometimes this place cracks me up.
-Brad
Damn... and I caught **** for suggesting putting a load of stuff in the dishwasher.
Sometimes this place cracks me up.
-Brad
The last vice I cleaned up I hosed it off when I had the p.w. out to clean my trailer. I wouldn't set it up to clean off a wrench but, you can't beat the heat for getting the grease off
Nick Danger
Well-known member
I have a 4-gallon jug of paint thinner leftover from another project. It's cheap, and it works. Paint thinner and a rag cleaned the chain lube off my swing arm in just a couple of minutes.