FiendFX
Well-known member
What do you guys use to clean your soft/comfortable grip ratchets without damaging it?
Grease on soft grip ratchet
- Thread starter FiendFX
- Start date
Conductor562
Well-known member
I promise I'm not being a smart ***, but this is the primary reason I don't buy them.
ash95608
Well-known member
Wd-40
davesnothere
Well-known member
I clean damn near everything with brake cleaner.
Conductor562
Well-known member
^ Will someday acquire hand cancer ^
V70R
Well-known member
WD-40. Doesn't "soften" the handle or detereate the rubber.
mercman86
Well-known member
All of the above. If your concerend about cancer, dish detergent and water works great too. If you dont mind dishpan hands!
Ronsonol lighter fluid is my number one choice for cleaning tools. Very mild and safe product, but amazingly effective. Brake cleaner is sometimes a bit harsh for some plastics, and almost all printed labels. I will resort to brake cleaner sometimes, but only if the Ronsonal doesn't work. And WD-40 if there's some sort of gummy stuff or adhesive on there. Then Ronsonal to take the oily WD-40 film off.
Some tools you want an oily film, (ie impact sockets), but certainly not on a ratchet handle.
Some tools you want an oily film, (ie impact sockets), but certainly not on a ratchet handle.
shanker
Well-known member
as long as the Analine point is above 140,, most petrol based products shouldnt damage the rubber
cgv69
Well-known member
+1 - Same here.
I would try Simply Green which is my "go to" cleaner for anything that brake cleaner is too aggressive for (such as plastic handles). Brake cleaner will eat most types of plastic, nylon and polymer.
Stuart in MN
Well-known member
People make this sort of thing more complicated than they have to - regular old soap and water should work just fine.
Since we are nit-picking...........the heavy duty Simple Green Pro HD formula available at Home Depot is supposedly (web site/email correspondence) the same formulation as their aviation formula. This formulation is supposed to be metal safe AND safe for plastic/rubber components associated with vehicles/planes. And, a good grease cutter.
Always something new to learn! From their FAQ:
"Simple Green has also developed break-through water based cleaners that are safe for use on metals, plastics, rubber and high tech alloys. Extreme Simple Green® Aircraft & Precision Cleaner and Simple Green® Pro HD are available on both the industrial and retail markets, respectively. These products were initially developed for the aircraft industry and extensive testing shows that they are safe and effective on a variety of metals and other sensitive surfaces even in the most extreme circumstances. "
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sometoyotaguy
Well-known member
I don't buy them because they take up more room, and you know how much room there is in Toyotas. I also know that they would get gummed up with grease and dirt. I like to wipe my tools down before putting them away.
Todd.Brock
Well-known member
Buy the gallon jug of WD and the spray bottle. It's about 15 bucks? I clean all my tools with it. Soft grips included. Doesn't leave a residue and won't make it spongy. Been doing it for years with the soft grip screwdrivers. For a ratchet, I have replaced the handle for bring beat to hell before being eaten by WD.
gluckmysock
Well-known member
I just use the parts washer (safety-kleen). But DO NOT soak them. Just use a shop rag dampened with it. Don't know if matters, but i have managed to pull the handles off ALL my ratchets. Had them replaced by the dealer several times. Gave up and now I just buy the normal chrome handles. Makes it much easier to clean.
Conductor562
Well-known member
I was just kidding about the cancer. I grew up around chemical plants (several of them), I live just down wind from a power plant, and I'm a pack a day smoker. I'm checking out early boys
shampoop
Well-known member
They're not for everybody. Once you accept the fact that they will get ugly pretty quickly but will still work perfect for a long time, they're great. Every once and a while you can replace the handle for super cheap once it gets too worn out for your taste.
Use penetrating oil to clean just about all of my tools, except I prefer brake clean for my comfort grip ratchet handle. Zero oil residue and a dryer grippier finish.
Exactly what I use.
bustdknuckle
Well-known member
i've got a couple of rachets and my screwdrivers are the soft grip snap ons all i do is wipe with a rag and put em back found that ATF will clean'em good when they get some on them. i would prefer the hard handle or the chrome rachets but the snappy guy says no one likes them so he doesnt keep on the truck.
I usually use starting fluid Ive found its not harsh on paint or plastics like brake cleaner and works great for sensors to! I even use it on grease stains on paint, carpet, etc no lie it works amazing and is cheap plus my shop pays for it! Works great with a driver and a sprayer to drive the daily towed in GM in the shop with a bad fuel pump to lol. But honestly I hate the soft grips because of that ive switched all my dual 80s to the hard screwdriver style handle and its way better.
There's nothing more repulsive than old, worn, filthy, tacky soft-grip tools. I always seek out tools with hard handles.
If the soft grip is black, it's a little better, but if it's in some kind of color it will just be perpetually filthy. Sooner or later, you'll get sick of wasting your WD40 or whatever.
I just love the old Snap-On hard handle tools with the old logo. I wish they still made them.
If the soft grip is black, it's a little better, but if it's in some kind of color it will just be perpetually filthy. Sooner or later, you'll get sick of wasting your WD40 or whatever.
I just love the old Snap-On hard handle tools with the old logo. I wish they still made them.
This is what I use on ALL my tools and never had any problems.
I dont dilute with water, just use it straight.
JKady
Well-known member
I throw em in the parts washer at work or a little laundry detergent and water works wonders. ATF will too but I don't set out to coat em in it, and it'll soften them up, my Cornwell prybars are looking pretty rough after a year of use and the rubber is starting to go.
shampoop
Well-known member
Pretty tools are great. But you pay a heftt price in the grip department.
transittech
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- Joined
- Feb 27, 2012
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- 299
gluckmysock
Well-known member
i have to say i agree... the feel of the soft grip handles are nice, but if i know i'm going to work on something really filthy with a lot of caked on dried oil, i'll just reach for an all metal ratchet.
sometimes i also wish they would stop putting those rubbery stuff around the grip of power tools. when your greasy hands get on those, it's a pain to clean up afterwards and it's not like yon can drop those in a bucket of degreaser or soapy water.
4x4gearhead
Well-known member
I just wipe them with a rag. Though I bet wd-40 would do you right, I also use wd in the winter time out in my shed, I just coat my tools so they dont rust with all the condensation out there. In the spring I just go through and wipe it all down, it surprisingly leaves a decent shine on my toolbox/drawers.
crewchief888
Well-known member
GSMotorrad
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- Mar 8, 2012
- Messages
- 420
You know that plasti-dip or similar stuff that you dip metal tool handles into to "rubberize" them? I need some "hard plastic dip" or something that I can dip my soft-grip handles into to harden them into hard plastic. Is there anything like this out there?
I also need to learn the art of replacing handles - is there a tutorial on here somewhere? I can't find the information, and I've tried soaking them in hot water, but they didn't slide off. I would love to replace the handles on my H.F. Roto-Ratchets with some Wiha MicroFinish or ProTurn Handles or something.
I also need to learn the art of replacing handles - is there a tutorial on here somewhere? I can't find the information, and I've tried soaking them in hot water, but they didn't slide off. I would love to replace the handles on my H.F. Roto-Ratchets with some Wiha MicroFinish or ProTurn Handles or something.