Cleaning sockets

[stickshift]

How do you guys clean sockets, when you have a lot of them to clean? The WD40 spray and wipe works well enough for tools, but can't really get to the grit inside sockets that way and to get into each socket with a qtip or something similar is too time consuming.

I'm thinking of dumping them into a pail of soapy water, stirring and letting sit for a bit. Rinse, quickly hand dry with a rag and allow to air dry. My tools are stored in my apartment, so rust is not as big a concern as if they were kept in non-climate controlled storage.

 

[98TJ]

I've got some that a friend left at the house YEARS ago. He left them out in the rain and they got some rust on them. We've both since moved and I could never re-establish contact. Tried many times - even asked all of our old friends. It's like he fell off the face of the Earth.

I've been going through them with WD40, a bore cleaning brush, and a DeWalt drill for the inside. 0000 steel wool and WD40 on the outside.

Blow out with the air compressor and wipe down.

Works for me.

 

[HandyManny]

Nothing special here. I just wipe them down with a clean cotton shop rag. Hard to reach crud gets picked out with a Q-tip when needed. If they really get gritty and grimey you can take some degreaser or carb cleaner and hose them off then wipe them dry or even a wash in Simple Green. Beyond that I don't get too finiky about it. Usually just wipe them off and leave it at that.

 

[tcsalvage]

when my sockets get too greased up i drop them in a bucket of gas and shake, let them set for awhile and shake again, then let them set for a day or so take them out and wipe them dry.

 

[HandyManny]

I'm sure gas works great. Just a word of caution - gasoline vapors can cause you severe grief if they combust and they do (will) combust pretty darn easily, just make sure you cap the container or have plenty of ventelation with nothing to cause a spark, even static. Just a friendly word of caution, that's all.

 

[DARKSCOPE001]

Spray em down with WD-40. If they are too gritty put em in a parts washer dunk or swim in some solvent (Kerosene, Gas, Paint thinner, Alcohol, Whatever) Dry them off. Then spray em down with a light oil WD-40 or Marvel mystery oil made "Protestant spray" for a while that I have some left of and it seems to work great, and your box will smell like menthol! lol

 

[adamsredlines]

Carb cleaner then oil 'em to prevent rust.

Carb cleaner is the best stuff ever

 

[bobcatdan]

If you are talking rust on an impact socket, I would just hit with some PB. Otherwise my chrome sockets, I just leave the protechive layer of flith on them. I will wipe the grease of a socket from taking a zerk out. Who cleans the inside of socket? You have OCD or somethng?

 

[Scout Driver]

Brake cleaner or carb cleaner. Any used sockets that I buy get a soaking in gas if they are really grimy.

Scott

 

[Benji]

Brake or carb cleaner here ATF will take light rust off and leave a nice film on impacts ect.

 

[cglasgow]

Swish 'em around in mineral spirits. Don't use gas -- too much risk of fire and potentially carcinogenic.

 

[SpiderGearsMan]

Lol ................

 

[JASTECH]

Marvel mystery oil made "Protestant spray"? So yous sain thems sockets will "protest" for da greese no b there? j/k

I always wiped all my tools down, corded drills all wrapped in OR rag so they still look new after 20+ years of use.

 

[DARKSCOPE001]

Marvel mystery oil made "Protestant spray"? So yous sain thems sockets will "protest" for da greese no b there? j/k

I always wiped all my tools down, corded drills all wrapped in OR rag so they still look new after 20+ years of use.

Spellcheck FAIL

 

[05CarbonDRZ]

Brake parts cleaner and a dremel with a wire wheel for the inside grime.

 

[BloodySinner]

Just use isopropyl alcohol to wipe them down...

 

[stickshift]

Who cleans the inside of socket? You have OCD or somethng?

LOL. Have you seen some of the responses?

Swish 'em around in mineral spirits. Don't use gas -- too much risk of fire and potentially carcinogenic.

Thanks, this is a reasonably simple solution. Some of the suggested solutions are too much trouble IMO. I like clean tools, but not that obsessed about it.

 

[ajchien]

I just wipe with a cloth when I'm done.

 

[tomshep]

If you are talking rust on an impact socket, I would just hit with some PB. Otherwise my chrome sockets, I just leave the protechive layer of flith on them. I will wipe the grease of a socket from taking a zerk out. Who cleans the inside of socket? You have OCD or somethng?

+1.

Tom

 

[JSBriggs]

Brake cleaner and a mini bottle brush. Like these.

-Jeff

 

[98TJ]

LOL. Have you seen some of the responses?

Thanks, this is a reasonably simple solution. Some of the suggested solutions are too much trouble IMO. I like clean tools, but not that obsessed about it.

I will wipe down a socket but cleaning the inside is a rarity.

The only ones where I've actually had to clean the insides are the ones that were left in the weather and needed the surface rust removed.

 

[dwm]

L.A.'s Totally Awesome cleaner is a pretty good degreaser, and if you're in an apartment, it's probably easier to justify having around versus strong solvents. It's also cheap; I bought 2 12-pack cases of 32 oz. bottles from the dollar store for $24 last year. Throw all the sockets in the sink, fill it with hot water, dump a whole bottle of Totally Awesome in, stir, and bottle brush if needed. Rinse, set 'em all on paper towel or if you want 'em dry fast, put 'em on paper towel on a cookie sheet and put 'em in the oven at 200F for 30 minutes.

This is my process once a year to clean my Grey Pneumatic Duo-Sockets and impact sockets before I spray 'em with a new coat of EEZOX to prevent rust. Chrome... I just spray 'em out with brake cleaner if needed (fairly rare).

 

[bagsanthony]

i embrace the rust and grease... clean tools are for noobs!

 

[HandyManny]

If you are talking rust on an impact socket, I would just hit with some PB. Otherwise my chrome sockets, I just leave the protechive layer of flith on them. I will wipe the grease of a socket from taking a zerk out. Who cleans the inside of socket? You have OCD or somethng?

I generally do the same. But when you use tools enough, there comes a time when you may eventually get enough grit, grease, and other build-up inside some sockets. Generally you don't have to go over-the-top with cleaning them or get too OCD about it. But often times when the socket isn't fitting well on a fastener due to grit and grime, then it's time to hose them off with a carb cleaner or degreaser. It's something that may have to be done from time to time, not often, but only as needed. Generally a good wipe down after using a tool is all I do with mine.

 

[Soon2AdjustYou]

IF and I say IF I choose to clean them up, I use GooGone and a rag.

I'm shocked at how many of us keep our tools clean. If my wife knew how tidy I was in the shop, she'd have me doing MORE housework.

 

[05CarbonDRZ]

When you spend thousands of dollars on tools it is stupid to not clean them.Is that how you treat other large investments? Ie house and car?

 

[HandyManny]

When you spend thousands of dollars on tools it is stupid to not clean them.Is that how you treat other large investments? Ie house and car?

Most time hand tools will be fine if you neglect to clean them sometimes. Trust me, been using tools for years. To me tools are what you use to keep your large investments maintained and working. But true, tools are an investment worthy of the owners respect.

 

[toolmiser]

Hey your better half must leave the house sometime, give them a lap in the dishwasher.

 

[HandyManny]

Hey your better half must leave the house sometime, give them a lap in the dishwasher.

Oh, that's just wrong.....

 

[Outlawmws]

Hey your better half must leave the house sometime, give them a lap in the dishwasher.

Oh, that's just wrong.....

Not really, I have an older Maytag in a portable roll around case, and it has become my primary parts cleaner when I have a lot to to. I tap it to the hot water spigot by the washing machine, and use a 5 gallon bucket for the drain hose. (until I clear a spot in the corner of the garage and plump in for real to the drain)

Most Dishwashers I would have never considered, but we got one of these Maytag Jetclean washers for the house, and damn if it doesn't wash 10X better than any other washer we have ever had! Powerful spray and very hot too.

My next step is to carefully experiment with Simple Green to see hos much is "too much" as far as sudsing. (Dishwasher soap is non sudsing, Simple Green is low, and Joy practicably explodes suds...

 

[Paco Pena]

Varsol with a little ATF if they are really crappy. Otherwise wd40 on a rag.

Paco

 

[k9american]

Hoppes and Breakfree CLP.

 

[lowbucktruck]

L.A.'s Totally Awesome cleaner is a pretty good degreaser, and if you're in an apartment, it's probably easier to justify having around versus strong solvents. It's also cheap; I bought 2 12-pack cases of 32 oz. bottles from the dollar store for $24 last year. Throw all the sockets in the sink, fill it with hot water, dump a whole bottle of Totally Awesome in, stir, and bottle brush if needed. Rinse, set 'em all on paper towel or if you want 'em dry fast, put 'em on paper towel on a cookie sheet and put 'em in the oven at 200F for 30 minutes.

This is my process once a year to clean my Grey Pneumatic Duo-Sockets and impact sockets before I spray 'em with a new coat of EEZOX to prevent rust. Chrome... I just spray 'em out with brake cleaner if needed (fairly rare).

Yup, ditto on the L.A.'s Totally Awesome Orange cleaner/degreaser! I use it all the time, mainly on used tools I've found at flea market/estate sales and on cleaning car parts. I buy it at the local dollar store by the gallon. Can't beat it for a buck!
Just soak your sockets in Totally Awesome Orange and use an old toothbrush to get gunk out of the inside.

 

[pcpro15]

When I bought some used impact sockets, some had a lot of gunk in them. I took a mini flat head and did a quick scrape of the edges to get the majority out. Tossed them in a bin and shot some foam engine bright (I like gel better). Went on about my business and came back 5-10 minutes later and hit them with the garden hose. I sprayed the insides down once more and let the sit while I was doing something else. Came back and hit them with the hose again. They were nice and clean. After they dried, I got the 3-in-1 oil and put some in a rag. Then wiped each of them down to put a coat of oil on, and bring back that dark color of the socket.