Cleaning your hand tools

[ryan t]

SD-20 cleaner for all the tools and working surfaces in my garage. It works great.

 

[BK13]

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....

Do they need to be wiped down by an unspoiled virgin?

Nicely done, sir!

 

[dankicksass]

Windex, engine degreaser, Goo-Gone type stuff, Brakleen. Depends on the material, if there's rubber or plastic the Brakleen stays away.

 

[impactsocket]

wd40

 

[3baygarage]

A little scrub bath with grit hand cleaner makes most plastic and soft handles look nice again.

 

[MechanicNamedJohn]

Goo gone learned it from mechanicenamedjohn.

I changed it now... All chrome gets soaked in WD40 (I buy it buy the gallon.) Sometimes, use toothbrush for knurling or engraved letters,etc.

I use Zep All Purpose (like Simple Green, but without the smell) on plastics; handles, cases,etc. And, finish off with with Turtle Wax F21 Protectant. Some rubber pieces I only use the F21, the Zep will take off or fade the logos; i.e. my Mac 100 roto ratchet handles.

It may be excessive, but I like my tools to look a new/clean as possible. I run a clean shop and my box is no exception. Every drawer of my box and carts are immaculate at any given time of day.

 

[snippits]

I use Stoddard solvent when they need to be soaked. Otherwise, WD-40 and a shop rag does the trick.

 

[espyking83]

Some of you guys should really try mineral spirits. Just spray them with it and let the metal soak it in for a minute or 2, then wipe it off. Make sure to re-lube it after with some type of lubricant. I've found the Aero Kroil works best for me, also, WD 40 was initially designed as a tool cleaning product, so it works great as well.


Good to see that other people take care of their tools, for some of us they are our livelihoods , jokes are frequent around my hanger because of my 'tool OCD;, haha.

 

[skyking]

When mine get dirty ,I throw them out and purchase new ones off of the truck !

WD 40 and a rag.

 

[Fretters]

A rag. Oily is optional depending on previous use, though if it is oily, it's clean oil. Rarely need anything stronger than a wipe down with a rag, though I'd likely use either paraffin or white spirit if needed.

I use Stoddard solvent when they need to be soaked.

Some of you guys should really try mineral spirits.

Some already do. The stuff snippets mentioned is also the same, AKA: white spirit, (this one is the one you call mineral spirit), and turpentine substitute. I assume there must be some slight difference between turp's sub and white spirit, but I'll be damned if I can tell the difference. They look the same, smell the same and behave the same, hence they're the same in my book.

 

[cjn1014]

91% Isopropyl Alcohol

 

[espyking83]

91% Isopropyl Alcohol

That works very good on metal too, but on plastics it dries them out like crazy. Aero Kroil works amazingly well on both hard and soft plastics, wood as well. I love it.

 

[espyking83]

A rag. Oily is optional depending on previous use, though if it is oily, it's clean oil. Rarely need anything stronger than a wipe down with a rag, though I'd likely use either paraffin or white spirit if needed.






Some already do. The stuff snippets mentioned is also the same, AKA: white spirit, (this one is the one you call mineral spirit), and turpentine substitute. I assume there must be some slight difference between turp's sub and white spirit, but I'll be damned if I can tell the difference. They look the same, smell the same and behave the same, hence they're the same in my book.

I believe the white spirit has less of an odor and is more 'environmentally friendly', but yes, they are essentially one in the same.

 

[Cap'n]

Whatever is available. Rag, brake cleaner, windex...anything. As long as I don't grab a tool and get a big glob of grease with it I'm happy. Certainly not a clean freak by any stretch.

 

[Alphax]

I changed it now... All chrome gets soaked in WD40 (I buy it buy the gallon.) Sometimes, use toothbrush for knurling or engraved letters,etc.

I use Zep All Purpose (like Simple Green, but without the smell) on plastics; handles, cases,etc. And, finish off with with Turtle Wax F21 Protectant. Some rubber pieces I only use the F21, the Zep will take off or fade the logos; i.e. my Mac 100 roto ratchet handles.

It may be excessive, but I like my tools to look a new/clean as possible. I run a clean shop and my box is no exception. Every drawer of my box and carts are immaculate at any given time of day.

I must try this F21 stuff !

 

[Hammell]

wd40 and rag. if its really dirty a shot of air and or brake clean. tthw brake clean works best for cleaning knurled handles

 

[Davefr]

Zaino AIO followed by 2 applications of Poorboy's Ex.

 

[Gregg33]

For used tools I buy that are often filthy I use brake clean and a small round "pipe cleaner" brush with course bristles. It works good for getting grime out of grooves lettering etc. That brush cleans up everything, other than the most grimey sockets, which I use a small screwdriver to carefully scrape the gunk out.

To clean up tools after regular use I use a rag or paper towel, dry for hard plastic, silicone spray for rubber (I try to avoid any painted on logos etc.) and WD40 for anything chrome/ metal.

 

[crewchief888]

brake cleaner

or a quick wipedown the get any heavy grease off

 

[GrayFox]

Outsourced to China.


Clean rag. Wd-40 if it looks a little rusty.

 

[JSharp]

I just use a rag

 

[Shadowdog500]

I wipe them with a rag and put them away. I put mobil 1 on the rag every now and again to keep stuff from rusting. I also put floor wax on my flat metal surfaces like my drill press a few times a year.

I live near the ocean where a clean tool means a rusty tool. The guys who work on salt water boats sometimes let their tools stay really greasy to deter rust. If you live near the ocean, the tool guys know that rust is neglect and your lifetime warranty goes out the window. If you have a rusty c-man wrench you have to go inland, and find a kid working the tool department to get a replacement.

Chris

 

[vga]

Tri flow spray chain lube and a rag

 

[Gus_Mahn]

Throw the tools in a pile. Spray them with penetrating oil: Kroil, 3-36, WD-40. Wipe them down with a surgical towel.

 

[Steinmetz]

"...WD 40 was initially designed as a tool cleaning product…"

No. It was developed at Convair to prevent corrosion on Atlas missile skins.

 

[wafrederick]

Any tool that has automatic transmission fluid on it,to the solvent tank cleaned off with it.Can't just wipe it off.Grease and oil,a simple wipe with a rag.Brake fluid,sink rinsing it off with water or spray down with brake clean and wipe it off.

 

[torqueman2002]

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)

^^^^ This.

 

[Tinner]

I use whatever is handy and appropriate to clean and apply a light film of oil.

If Snap-on made a professional tool cleaner and polish, I'd buy some and display it prominently just so the cheapskates would have something else to whine about.

 

[joedodge]

Holy cow man some of you guys are OCD! But I get it I guess for some of the DIY guys. I'm a pro mechanic wiped off with a dirty rag or what ever and on to the next job. There clean enough to be safe. But by no means a tool polisher lol they make money and do there job

 

[stang6768]

I use lacquer thinner in a plastic coffee container, put all sockets that are dirty in, let them sit for a while swoosh them around with lid on container. Take them out and let them air dry (lacquer thinner evaporates) and then spray with WD40 and then let them sit on a rag to drain then put them away. Ratchets I clean with the used lacquer cleaner using a rag and hand clean them, I never put them to soak, then wipe them--WD40 and put away. Plastic, rubber handle tools, I just use Simple Green sprayed on a clean rag, wipe and put away..

 

[joedodge]

Why bother using them........

 

[stang6768]

Why bother using them........

Because I can :

 

[joedodge]

Haha that's a hell of an answer well done! I guess I just don't see scrubbing tools perfectly show quality clean

 

[Conductor562]

I use Brakleen if they're real nasty, WD-40 if they aren't. Once a year a bath all my drive tools in Brakleen, dip them in LiquidWrench Silicone spray, and wipe them off. Seems to work well.

 

[Adam.C]

Brake Kleen is really nasty stuff. Unsafe for us, it will also melt Snap On hard handles. Damhikt

Your house house hold dishwasher does a good job of cleaning tools including instinct soft grips.

Environmentally safe cleaners like purple power do a great job dissolving grease and grime.

Most petrochemicals leave stuff behind on surfaces that can attract dust a dirt or telegraph onto other surfaces. Good old household ammonia is an excellent alternative. Awesome degreaser and leaves nothing behind.

Chrome can be polished effectively with aluminum foil and water. Try it.

I clean new purchases of used tools with purple power or ammonia (including ratchet guts I am re greasing). After that, for stuff that needs cleaning, I use drug store mineral oil. It's basically 3 in 1 oil. I use that to lube and protect all of my machinist tools and typically apply it to threaded fasteners. It works well and won't give any of us cancer.

 

[dankicksass]

Don't get Purple Power on your skin undiluted. Nasty stuff.

 

[joedodge]

So none of you guys dump them in the parts washer and dry them off with a rag and move on to the next job?

 

[Requin6]

Just a DIY guy but I always seem to be wrenching on something. I usually just wipe them down with a rag. I bring out the goo gone if neccesary.

 

[Mastermind]

What about channel lock handles? I got a large pair that absorb everything, seem dry... wd doesnt seem to help

 

[Farmall450]

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

Same, or PB50, or if I won't use it again soon LPS 3