Cleaning your hand tools

[Alphax]

Good evening gents!

I wanted to ask what everyone prefers for cleaning your hand tools? SimpleGreen, soap and water, J&J Baby Shampoo etc...

What have you found works best, worst -- share you stories!

Chrome Tools (Sockets/Wrenchs etc.) -
Impacts -
Screwdrivers -
Wood/Handles -
Mechanical (Ratchets) -

Thanks in advance,

Alphax

 

[KAOTIK Motorsports]

I use brake cleaner to get the nasty nasty stuff off then use simple green to shine

 

[gtermini]

GoJo Fast Wipes for everything.

Greyson

 

[autonaut]

A rag.. Often the rag is dirty already

 

[ihrescue]

Brake cleaner or other parts solvent does work well for the grease that you may have missed if you didn't clean them right away. I use a tooth brush for a little scrubbing actions then follow up with an all purpose cleaner like Greased Lightening or 409 and wipe to dry. Rust may require some heavy scouring with an abrasive pad or a wire brush then a coat of oil.

 

[jim1987]

Rag. Usually one thats soaked in (insert automotive fluid) to leave a nice protective film. (Usually the fluid that was on the rag just came off my hands)

 

[Buckgnarly]

Wd40

 

[kams1973]

A rag.. Often the rag is dirty already

^^^this^^^

 

[Danguitarman]

I just spray a rag with WD40 and wipe off anything filthy real quick.

 

[tgb]

Jeans or shirtail

 

[e_d]

With my hands the next time I pick one up.

 

[Hpozzuoli]

I use wd40. Sometimes a tooth brush for things with teeth. I spray everything with wd40 in the winter.

 

[deter]

With my hands the next time I pick one up.

this

 

[Rico.]

I generally use Unicorn Horn Oil on a fresh Egyptian Cotton Towel...
Unlss they're very dirty then I'll throw them away and buy a new one.














Or a quick squirt of WD-40....

 

[autonaut]

Keep it real(dirty)

 

[cotjocky]

A buddy of mine uses glass cleaner. Keeps his tools clean. Always doing interior work on newer cars. Rarely see real dirt or grease.

If real dirty, I put them in the parts washer or brake cleaner. Normal oil and grease (not excessively gunky), I just use one of the rags I was using on the job "dirty rag".

 

[espyking83]

Mineral spirits for chrome and Aero Kroil for everything else.

 

[Ruger_556]

Brakleen or PB Blaster for the plastic handled tools and air hoses.

 

[the gypsy]

Thank you for this thread. You ask why, because my tools are clean and many people who know me think I don't use them. I must admit I`m not a mechanic or a contractor with deadlines so I have time to clean my tools before putting them away. What does this have to do with your thread, well now I don`t feel the "OCD" knowing there are people out there cleaning their tools.

 

[ZRX61]

Rag for metal. Plastic handles get lacquer thinner if filthy followed by Pledge.

 

[djjsr]

Mineral spirits. Effective and cheap.

 

[jefferyb_2]

Dawn dish soap and water and an old toothbrush. Then a rag and WD40.

 

[bobcatdan]

I leave the oil and dirt to evaporate naturally.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

Mineral spirit bath in the parts washer or a wipe off with WD40..

 

[refried]

Rag with lacquer thinner or acetone, whatever is closer.

 

[Coolguy83]

Goo gone learned it from mechanicenamedjohn.

 

[Alphax]

Thank you for this thread. You ask why, because my tools are clean and many people who know me think I don't use them. I must admit I`m not a mechanic or a contractor with deadlines so I have time to clean my tools before putting them away. What does this have to do with your thread, well now I don`t feel the "OCD" knowing there are people out there cleaning their tools.

I'm with you. I'm just a weekend warrior and a ******** DIY'r. However, I do like to take good care of my tools, I was just brought up that way. It may be a bit of OCD but after a job my tools go in the top of my 5drawer cart, if I can't wipe them down right away. Then when things settle I'll wipe them down and put them back in their drawers etc.... it's actually a bit therapeutic.

The purpose of the thread was just to see what works for others and pick up some good advice along the way.

Great stuff everyone!! keep them coming.

-Alphax

 

[1950mercury]

Snap on tools are self cleaning. Thats why they cost so much..

J/k a rag and wd40

 

[Nephronracing]

Brake cleaner or mineral spirits. I never wipe them down with water based solutions. Too much risk of rust IMHO.

Again, not a pro here so I have time to be OCD.

 

[d.mcfarland]

wd-40 on a clean rag. Just like others I usually use a rag from the job and do a quick wipe down to get the major stuff off, then once in a while clean them decently, just to keep them in a usable form.

 

[chiz1180]

I use brake parts cleaner or simple green if stuff get really covered in oil or dirt. Most times though i just use a rag and just wipe stuff down. Though I have noticed that brake parts cleaner does not always agree with everything.

chiz1180

 

[Outlawmws]

Wd40

^^^this^^^

I just spray a rag with WD40 and wipe off anything filthy real quick.

Mostly this for common car gunge. Stronger solvents when its nasty tar crud, Simple green for ordinary dirt...

 

[AndrewV]

At work, i just wipe them down with used motor oil, and a clean rag, puts a protective film on it, and helps prevent rust.

Goo gone learned it from mechanicenamedjohn.

Was waiting for this one lol.

 

[Haveblue]

I just wipe em down with a rag and move on. If they are really bad, I throw em in the parts washer. I never use any protectant, because they will get a fresh coat of oil soon. My ratchets however get a little more attention, I like to disassemble, clean, and lube em up once or twice a year. This is a topic that some seem to overthink...just use common sense cleaning your tools. Anything that sits unused for a long period of time may need extra attention, but it is not rocket science!

 

[Junkman]

About 60 years ago, a mechanic told me that you can tell how good a mechanic is by the way that he treats his tools. If he puts that away clean every time after using them, then you know that this person is methodical in his diagnosis, and repair. I learned a lot from him, and his parting words when he moved away, were ........ "you should be able to take any tool out of your box, and wipe it across your Sunday best white shirt, and it will not leave a mark.". I have never forgotten those words, and I wipe my tools down with a clean cloth after use. Now that I am older than he was when I was young, I no longer am as fanatical about doing this cleaning, but I do try to keep all my tools clean and ready for the next job. I only wish that he had told me the secret about not misplacing a tool.

 

[zkling]

Paper towel with 90% rubbing alcohol. Mild to not hurt most paint, plastics or your skin, yet strong enough to cut the grease and oil. Fast drying, economical and very easy to find.

 

[brownbagg]

i have never cleaned mine, jet throw back into the box

 

[trpearcy]

About 60 years ago, a mechanic told me that you can tell how good a mechanic is by the way that he treats his tools. If he puts that away clean every time after using them, then you know that this person is methodical in his diagnosis, and repair. I learned a lot from him, and his parting words when he moved away, were ........ "you should be able to take any tool out of your box, and wipe it across your Sunday best white shirt, and it will not leave a mark.". I have never forgotten those words, and I wipe my tools down with a clean cloth after use. Now that I am older than he was when I was young, I no longer am as fanatical about doing this cleaning, but I do try to keep all my tools clean and ready for the next job. I only wish that he had told me the secret about not misplacing a tool.

I've heard similar things and I totally agree

As far as misplacing tools, I'm a heavy duty diesel mechanic so I have lots of places to misplace and leave tools when I'm working on stuff. I've made a rule for myself that even if i think I got everything back in my box, if I'm finishing up something, I look through my tool box to see if anything is missing before I officially finish the job and let the driver take the vehicle out of the garage.

 

[Talidog]

I avoid brake cleaner and other solvents when not necessary because of health reasons. I do however like to keep my tools clean and found dish soap and a green scotch brite to be extremely effective. Works perfect on soft handles everyone says are so hard to clean.

 

[sparksftball69]

I just spray a rag with WD40 and wipe off anything filthy real quick.

what he said.