I have a ton of old tools that need cleaned up. Not so much rusty as kind of black grimy. Some of the tools have been in small metal tool boses for over 20 years. I was thinking about renting a small electric cement mixer and putting the tools in there with sand and let it run. Anyhbody have any expierience with bulk tool cleaning or suggestions of how to make this work or any other ideas? Thanks
Cleaning tools
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uniballer
Well-known member
Re: Ceaning tools
For rust I use evaporust, but for black grim? I would try dipping them in carb cleaner bucket for a few days.
For rust I use evaporust, but for black grim? I would try dipping them in carb cleaner bucket for a few days.
Re: Ceaning tools
Pinesol, seriously. I actually use it to clean my carb on my atv. You can dilute or use it full strength, just put it in a tub and let soak overnight. Dont put stuff with plastic in there tho.
If you need to clean things with plastic I suggest simple green.
Pinesol, seriously. I actually use it to clean my carb on my atv. You can dilute or use it full strength, just put it in a tub and let soak overnight. Dont put stuff with plastic in there tho.
If you need to clean things with plastic I suggest simple green.
Re: Ceaning tools
Aww, grime is the worst, mix in a little grease and
. Not sure what all tools you have, but for wrenches, screwdrivers, pliers, sockets?
I'd start with alcohol or acetone on a towel or if they won't hold water a good hot soapy bath of Dawn and a scrub brush followed by the leaf blower or blow gun to dry them off.
What you are talking about doing is media tumbling. I would not do that as you will end up rounding off all smooth edges and removing most finishes. Something besides sand yes, but oily grime and media tumbling can be a pain as it coats the media and causes it to stick together.
Aww, grime is the worst, mix in a little grease and
. Not sure what all tools you have, but for wrenches, screwdrivers, pliers, sockets?I'd start with alcohol or acetone on a towel or if they won't hold water a good hot soapy bath of Dawn and a scrub brush followed by the leaf blower or blow gun to dry them off.
What you are talking about doing is media tumbling. I would not do that as you will end up rounding off all smooth edges and removing most finishes. Something besides sand yes, but oily grime and media tumbling can be a pain as it coats the media and causes it to stick together.
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paulsomlo
Well-known member
Re: Ceaning tools
Simple Green, undiluted, soak overnight.
Or, dilute the Simple Green, maybe four parts SG, one part water, heat it close to boiling, soak tools until clean. I did this recently and heating the SG really took it up a notch. Any paint will probably be compromised.
Simple Green, undiluted, soak overnight.
Or, dilute the Simple Green, maybe four parts SG, one part water, heat it close to boiling, soak tools until clean. I did this recently and heating the SG really took it up a notch. Any paint will probably be compromised.
Vegaman_Dan
Well-known member
Re: Ceaning tools
I've had good luck with a vibration tumbler and walnut shells after I've already let them soak in my parts washer and dried.
I've had good luck with a vibration tumbler and walnut shells after I've already let them soak in my parts washer and dried.
Fretters
Well-known member
Re: Ceaning tools
Paraffin, (kerosene), or white spirit, (mineral spirit), are my usuals for grimy/greasy.
Paraffin, (kerosene), or white spirit, (mineral spirit), are my usuals for grimy/greasy.
Re: Ceaning tools
If there as nasty as you say...Carb Cleaner works well, then wash with soap and water then Evaporust...checking after 12 hrs and finally soap and water again. I did a bunch of stuff this way back in January and it all turned out very well. Oh yea forgot... a good brass brush.
If there as nasty as you say...Carb Cleaner works well, then wash with soap and water then Evaporust...checking after 12 hrs and finally soap and water again. I did a bunch of stuff this way back in January and it all turned out very well. Oh yea forgot... a good brass brush.
Re: Ceaning tools
By now I hope you're starting to see a trend in the replies. Any garden variety solvent will work, everyone uses what they think is the best, but it's really all the same.
Pinesol, Acetone, Mineral Spirits, WD-40, Simple Green, Carb Cleaner, Kerosene, Dawn, Orange Clean, Gasoline, etc.
Pick a solvent and soak them.
I personally use gasoline to cut grime and ****.
By now I hope you're starting to see a trend in the replies. Any garden variety solvent will work, everyone uses what they think is the best, but it's really all the same.
Pinesol, Acetone, Mineral Spirits, WD-40, Simple Green, Carb Cleaner, Kerosene, Dawn, Orange Clean, Gasoline, etc.
Pick a solvent and soak them.
I personally use gasoline to cut grime and ****.
d.mcfarland
Well-known member
Re: Ceaning tools
What's the plan to keep them from actually getting rusty if you clean them and expose the raw steel?
What's the plan to keep them from actually getting rusty if you clean them and expose the raw steel?
n8n
Well-known member
Re: Ceaning tools
dip in kerosene or Diesel fuel and let dry. will leave an undetectable wax coating.
dip in kerosene or Diesel fuel and let dry. will leave an undetectable wax coating.
For a quick cleaning, I use some Brakleen but for heavier grime, some Simple Green out of the spray bottle works for me.
Gregg33
Well-known member
For grime I use brake clean and a stiff brush. One of the round "pipe cleaner" types are great for getting into sockets and box ends on wrenches. Some sockets are so caked on though I've had to carefully scrape the inside edges with a dull flat screwdriver. For larger tools a power washer or even the coin wash can work good. Then I usually coat WD40 for chrome tools or with Fluid Film for bare metal.
I know you don't have much rust, but I found for that it depends on the tool. I use Evaporust, especially for non chrome surfaces (it can darken some kinds of chrome if you soak any longer than about 10 hrs). For minor rust on really fancy chrome "ocd" tools you can use metal polish. For dull/ satin chrome with minor rust, ultra fine steel wool and WD40 work wonders. For bare metal I have used wire wheels and on painted items like vises I've even had them sandblasted.
I know you don't have much rust, but I found for that it depends on the tool. I use Evaporust, especially for non chrome surfaces (it can darken some kinds of chrome if you soak any longer than about 10 hrs). For minor rust on really fancy chrome "ocd" tools you can use metal polish. For dull/ satin chrome with minor rust, ultra fine steel wool and WD40 work wonders. For bare metal I have used wire wheels and on painted items like vises I've even had them sandblasted.