Cleaning Hand Tools

[HPRifleman]

I have some hand-me-down tools (screwdrivers, ratchets, sockets, wrenches, etc.) that I now want to add to my "regular" tools. These older tools are in pretty good shape but could use some simple cleaning as their storage has allowed some mildew and the mice have used them as a toilet.

There's a toolbox full so I would prefer to soak a bunch of them rather than wiping down each one individually. Any suggestions?

 

[danielbuck]

you now have an excuse to get an ultrasonic cleaner

 

[Shiftless]

Watch out for old screwdriver handles containing cellulose acetate butyrate. As that old plastic deteriorates, it starts to smell like vomit.

 

[nadogail]

I would use ordinary materials and methods to clean them, Soap and Water.

 

[four.cycle]

scroll down to the FOURTH post in this thread - down toward the bottom of post #4

 

[Pinemarten]

Fill the kitchen sink with very hot soapy water, soak the tools in the sink for a while and then hand wash each one. Kinda like washing dishes in the pre-dishwasher era.

Note: This is best done while "She" isn't around.

 

[steel 35]

Post a ad on craigslist (Wanted Tool Polisher)

 

[Rockable]

Watch out for old screwdriver handles containing cellulose acetate butyrate. As that old plastic deteriorates, it starts to smell like vomit.

I have some of those! Didn't know why they smelled so bad.

 

[johnre]

Mineral spirits - in a well ventilated area, of course. Good degreaser, leaves no aquaeus residue that would lead to rust, and available in low-odor version if you don't like the smell.

 

[JeepYJ]

To avoid getting into hot water, so to speak, use a bucket filled with dish soap and hot water to soak the tools. Then just hand wash them as you take them out of the bucket. If they’re clean enough after that point wipe them down with an oily rag and put them to use. If there still greasy and grimy you will need to move up to a stronger cleaner than dish soap and repeat the process.

 

[AEAdam]

Dont hesitate to run them thru the dishwasher. People seem to think you can’t put stuff like this in the DW because it will, not sure, damage it? Think about the greasy stuff and bits of food you put in there now. Maybe a quick rinse first in the sink. It will not hurt your dishwasher. The temperature and detergent are effective at removing dirt and grease from metal and plastic.

 

[Fatboyslim95]

I like to use Tub of towels on all my plastic/rubber tools. Works great on everything from ratchet/screwdriver handles to power tools.

It does not leave the rubber sticky, like other more aggressive chemicals can be.

For pliers, I like to wire brush them and then do a light wipe down with 3-1 oil or Boeshield T9. Keeps them looking brand new.

 

[four.cycle]

I spent all of maybe 20 minutes last night with a small brass brush and a few shots of WD40 on these - they were black and covered with some sort of goo on the jaws when I started. (sorry no "before" photo.)


Diamond "Diamalloy" 10-inch pliers

 

[Bryan Burns]

I like trisodium phosphate in hot water for jobs like that. Make sure you use the real stuff.

 

[ChefRex]

Put them to use, they'll clean right up.

 

[HPRifleman]

To avoid getting into hot water, so to speak, use a bucket filled with dish soap and hot water to soak the tools. Then just hand wash them as you take them out of the bucket. If they’re clean enough after that point wipe them down with an oily rag and put them to use. If there still greasy and grimy you will need to move up to a stronger cleaner than dish soap and repeat the process.

This is the method I'm leaning towards. I think it will let me cycle through a lot of tools in the minimum time.

 

[four.cycle]

This old Erie was a deep dark brown from the rust, although fortunately not pitted anywhere. I think I spent maybe half an hour wearing out a small brass brush and using maybe a dozen shots of WD40. I had to use one of my little "pick" tools to get the paint splotches off. The WD40 seems to loosen the paint - or maybe I'm imagining things.

Quite a different effect than simply resorting to 120V wire wheel, as I did on what I thought at the time was a hopeless-beyond-salvation Diamond.

 

[four.cycle]

I spent about half an hour on this "Lawson" 10-inch pipe wrench earlier this morning with a small brass brush and WD40. It looks like it was painted black at some point. I've got a "before" and an "after" here.

I have a horribly rusty MDF auto wrench I might tackle later this afternoon.

 

[CJM8515]

for metal tools a good metal/chrome polish like meguires or similar works well once you have cleaned them. wd40 and a brass or steel brush also works wonder on tougher stuff.

me, i put hot water in a bucket and a 1/2 cup of pinesol or simple green and let soak over night then just wash and dry them off. hasnt failed me yet.

 

[ChefRex]

This old Erie was a deep dark brown from the rust, although fortunately not pitted anywhere. I think I spent maybe half an hour wearing out a small brass brush and using maybe a dozen shots of WD40. I had to use one of my little "pick" tools to get the paint splotches off. The WD40 seems to loosen the paint - or maybe I'm imagining things.

Quite a different effect than simply resorting to 120V wire wheel, as I did on what I thought at the time was a hopeless-beyond-salvation Diamond.

That's where I left that wrench! I too use "Orion's belt" as a discreet marking, lol.

 

[four.cycle]

^ so both that Erie and the Diamond are yours?

... this Moore took about 45 minutes earlier....


Moore Drop Forging 12-inch auto wrench

Moore Drop Forging 12-inch auto wrench

 

[four.cycle]

I would not have fiddled around with these, but these are actually "users" and I really don't want to put rusty greasy stuff in my new box (if and when I can get the thing moved into the garage at some point.) I can see where this technique will work wonders on a few other items I have laying about. Certainly not for everything.

 

[CGarage]

Dawn dish soap is an amazing cleaner

 

[four.cycle]

two upper photos taken @ 12:54 PST. two lower photos taken @ 13:24 PST. WD-40 and brass brush + #2 steel wool on head of wrench:


Utica 90-10 10-inch adjustable wrench (Triangle era)

 

[Renegade1LI]

I would sell the vintage tools and go buy some new ones, unless there are some really cool one of a kind tools.

 

[four.cycle]

^ I have been shopping for a good 10-inch adjustable for a few months and that one finally showed up on ebay. I'm a bit disappointed that it's Triangle, but hopefully it will be of better quality than the Triangle Herbrand I own.

And.... if I was going to buy a new adjustable... I'd have to find a source for an Irega .... we don't make adjustables in this country any more. Ergo: old rusty U.S. made stuff.

 

[four.cycle]

I wasn't completely satisfied with the results of the cleaning on the Utica adjustable, so I liberally coated it with MMO, put it on an old cookie sheet, and put it into the oven @ 225° for about half an hour, then wiped it down. Definitely got closer to what I wanted. Photo for some reason doesn't look much different than the image above, but it did darken it significantly. YMMV


Utica 90-10 10-inch adjustable wrench 12/07/23

 

[four.cycle]

This one took over an hour because the chain was rusted. Started with the brass brush and WD40, but that didn't remove the tiny rust spots all over the wrench handle, so I removed those with #1 steel wool, followed by #0000 steel wool.

Diamond Calk & Horseshoe CW15 chain wrench (patent 3304817)

 

[brandonsmash]

Just don't go too far and over-polish them; you'll end up with tools too slippery to use with greasy hands!

 

[four.cycle]

^ I wasn't going for "polish" - I just wanted to take all the freckles off the thing - they were everywhere.
Actually somewhat puzzled by that design - that type of tool is generally only dragged out of a tool box as a "last resort" type of thing. Why they would put a handle on it with a nice, smooth surface is something of a mystery to me.

 

[four.cycle]

Hedstrom Industries Larc-O-Matic Wrench (patent 1830033 2351821)

Hedstrom Industries Larc-O-Matic Wrench (patent 1830033 2351821)

Hedstrom Industries Larc-O-Matic Wrench (patent 1830033 2351821)

Hedstrom Industries Larc-O-Matic Wrench (patent 1830033 2351821)

cleaned up with WD40, brass brush, #2 steel wool, and MMO.

 

[Loga_3]

Hedström Industries, is that yet another tool company founded by a Swedish immigrant perhaps?

 

[Junker]

I have some hand-me-down tools (screwdrivers, ratchets, sockets, wrenches, etc.) that I now want to add to my "regular" tools. These older tools are in pretty good shape but could use some simple cleaning as their storage has allowed some mildew and the mice have used them as a toilet.

There's a toolbox full so I would prefer to soak a bunch of them rather than wiping down each one individually. Any suggestions?

Muriatic acid, dilute by eye something like a decent size splash th a Rubbermaid container (always add acid to the water and not the other way) and throw them all in overnigh. It's my go to.

If they're not very rusty at all then use a much more dilute mix, I never measure but to give an idea I soaked upper and lower control arms and springs from my 1500 in 2 Rubbermaids and used maybe a cup each and I should have doubled it

 

[AEAdam]

(always add water to the acid and not the other way)

opposite. Start with water, add acid to it so the concentration of acid increases slowly.

 

[yhprum]

After reading about it here, I soaked my vomit smelling screwdrivers in diluted Australian version of pinesol for a few days and the smell hasn’t come back after a few months. Prob would dissolve grease and grime pretty good too.

 

[Junker]

opposite. Start with water, add acid to it so the concentration of acid increases slowly.

Yes, my mistake. I've edited that. Idk why I can never remember that until I fog myself....

 

[AEAdam]

Yes, my mistake. I've edited that. Idk why I can never remember that until I fog myself....

Yeah just remember a little bit of water added to a lot of acid could react because the acid to water ratio is high…you start with water and add acid slowly until you have the mixture you want.

 

[four.cycle]

Indestro 3578 10 inch adjustable wrench 12/21/23

Indestro 3578 10 inch adjustable wrench 01/08/24

WD40, brass brush, #2 steel wool, MMO @ 350° F for 20 minutes*

(* be sure to do this final step when wife/girlfriend is out of the house for several hours *)

 

[Bubba Fett]

Watch out for old screwdriver handles containing cellulose acetate butyrate. As that old plastic deteriorates, it starts to smell like vomit.

I have a feeling if that's the case, he's already noticed.

 

[Houdini5150]

Dawn Soap and water in a bucket.. wipe in hand as needed. Use Tub of Towels in between to keep them up.