Cleaning your hand tools

[Outlawmws]

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

Try Simple Green on plastic dipped handles; almost always works well.

 

[eddie_fl]

Formula 88 and a good rag for all my tool cleaning needs. Was given a pair of Klein cutters with muck and grime all over the handle, Formula 88 cleaned it up perfectly! There are some products we use for marine types like 3M 5200 which is like super silicone. When that thing cures the only product that seems to work is brake clean. Just be careful spraying that on plastic handles because it might melt it.

 

[pilotman81]

WD40 or brake clean, GOJO wipes, a rag, just depends on what I'm trying to get off of whichever tools.

 

[n8n]

I just wipe my tools down with a shop rag, Brakleen first if I've been working on something really nasty. Shop rags are used and washed (by Cintas) and even fresh out of the bag are slightly oily so I figure that protects everything.

 

[Mazdaspeed]

Usually they just get a wipe down with a rag...not really much else needed.

 

[ssentt]

WD40.....does great job and lubes all in one.

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

Mostly WD40, but when I'm lazy I will grab whatever is closest; WD40, Kroil, PB Blaster, Brake Cleaner (rarely).

 

[Deutschmann]

100% Isopropyl Alcohol on all of my tools. Have been working on airplanes for 13 years and never had a problem with it since the chemical is abundant in aviation. Hasn't dried any plastic material out and always leaves my tools streak free with a lint free rag. Lubricating I use LPS products.

 

[spacedoutbob]

I use a clean rag and just wipe my tools off, if there is grease trapped in areas I use a plastic brush and some simple green to get the grease out.

Bob

 

[brownbagg]

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

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

you both wrong, disigned as a water displacement agent

 

[MechanicNamedJohn]

you both wrong, disigned as a water displacement agent

This is true; at least this is what I was told. WD stands for water displacement... 40 is for the 40th attempt at creating it.

 

[gonefirefighting]

super clean and an ultra sonic cleaner

 

[tjmonsen5]

When I was 15 and got my first craftsman socket set, after a year they were pretty greasy so I washed them with soap and water in the kitchen sink. My dad just about cut my head off, told me to never do that again!

So, 90% of the time my tools just get thrown back in my box. If they are actually wet with oil or grease ill wipe them with whatever dirty shop rag i have laying around.

 

[gyromike]

The history of WD-40:

http://wd40.com/about-us/history/

Spray a little on a rag, wipe down the tools, and call it good.

 

[Dr.JohnnyFever]

WD-40, spray and wipe.

Sometimes I wipe them down again with a rag soaked with whatever motor oil is handy - usually Motorcraft 5W20 SynBlend. I especially do this with the impact sockets.

 

[splicer64]

I use a terri wipe with 409 on it while working...use on my hands and tools...before putting tools back in box I wipe em down with a rag I keep in a plastic bag thats lightly covered in rust breaker. I use Evaporust overnight sometimes...I live on the coast and because of the temperature changes the condensation is terrible. I used penetrating oil recently on some S.O. older soft grip drivers...it cleaned the grime perfectly off the handles but dried the red plastic out and changed the tint a bit...I'll use Simple Green next time...Thx

 

[d.mcfarland]

WD-40 is mostly a solvent so works well if you don't want a dedicated cleaning product.

That's why they developed the specialty line like rust inhibitor and penetrant.

 

[zakmartin]

Wd40

Ditto.

 

[Scottsdale10]

a rag sometimes with some dish soap and water

 

[Grimly]

Strikes me there are a lot of used and cheap/free dishwashers out there going begging, if you catch my drift.
Plenty of guys have discovered the ear-bending they cop when they boil-wash a cylinder head in the main domestic dishwasher, but a dedicated one in the workshop, now that's a different story.
Sparkly clean tools.

 

[Grimly]

you both wrong, disigned as a water displacement agent

You're all wrong - designed as a means of parting suckers from their cash, is all.