How do you Keep your tools clean

[anaxagoras]

I'm just wondering what everyone else does to keep all their tools clean between uses.

Wipe 'em down? Throw 'em in the parts washer? Brake cleaner? etc.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

WD-40 and a cotton cloth.

 

[SpiderGearsMan]

clean ? they will just get dirty again !
and I don't wear surgical gloves
keeping the customers car clean

 

[MarkH]

You mean you are using them!!

You put them in an expensive box and look at them. Then you do not need to clean them.

Polish yes, clean no.

Never did anything more than use a rag to rub the obvious chunks that could hurt another job off. The tools have survived since my grandfather bought them.

 

[speed bump]

Generally I just wipe them down with a rag but if they are really dirty I grab the nearest can of solvent/cleaner and use that.

 

[DaytonFan]

Wd-40 the best!!!

 

[ImportTuner]

WD-40 and a cotton cloth.

Same here ... Brakleen if it is really dirty, then WD40 ...

 

[Steve_S]

I wipe them with a terry rag and if necessary, a bit of simple green. They don't go into the box unless they are 100% dry. Nothing dirty ever goes into the box.

 

[Merkava_4]

WD-40 for the most part.

You'll never see me use Simple Green on my tools!

 

[Danglerb]

Wipe them down with a shop towel.

I put out a throw away plastic tray and let oil bottles drain into it, or sometimes to soak stuff in Marvel Mystery oil since I like the wintergreen smell.

Clean tools is great gag at the shop where my car is right now, I'll pick up a wrench and give it a hard look then ask the mechanic where he keeps his Snapon Wrench Wax.

 

[Uncle Buck]

Not much normally. If they are really dirty I wipe the worst off with a rag. If they are flat out filthy I will use anything that will cut the grease that is readily available, Gas, Brake Clean, any solvent based product plus WD-40. Whatever is closest at the time gets used and I never swab, caress, or pick small bits and pieces from little grooves or lettering and the like. More of a lick and a promise guy myself!

 

[Danglerb]

I do use simple green sometimes, but make sure some kind of oil goes on before I put it away. Most of the time I have a shop towel around that is PLENTY oily, but not filthy dirty.

I'm hooked on blue nitrile gloves, but critters live in my cars.

 

[Merkava_4]

I don't use shop towels because I don't want that red lint on my tools; I use white Viva paper towels or cotton baby diaper clothes.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

Nice tools are like fast cars. They look good when they're immaculate and clean. But they look better when they're dirty. But you don't leave your fast car dirty in the garage.

 

[nissan_crawler]

I don't use shop towels because I don't want that red lint on my tools; I use white Viva paper towels or cotton baby diaper clothes.

If mine are dirty, they get wiped off with IPA, otherwise they go in the box as is. I'm like hholmberg, I'm not picking out the details.

 

[dxdexter]

I throw them all in a my cart until the job is finished and them I wipe them with a rag and put them in my box.

 

[lynx5]

Won't WD-40 makes your tools greasy?.... or does it dry eventually

 

[Junkman]

Over 50 years ago, a fellow that was my age now, said to me, that you can tell the quality of a shop and the mechanics by the way they keep the floor clean, and the tools clean and put away in there proper place. He also said that a good mechanics tools could be wiped across a white cotton shirt, and not leave a mark. I have always remembered that, and even though my shop floor is not cuttered with debris from a car that I am working on, and the tools are oily and dirty, when I am finished with the job, I will clean all the tools, put them all back into the boxes, and then sweep the floor. My garage is filled with lots of clutter, in an organized way. I know where everything is, and that is what is important. What I really need is a bigger shop, and less in it......

 

[Moose-LandTran]

Won't WD-40 makes your tools greasy?.... or does it dry eventually

Nope, once you wipe it off it leave a very fine layer that's not greasy. I never wipe this fine layer off, as it serves to prevent rust. This is also why none of my tools have a spot of rust on them, even the ones three times me age.

Over 50 years ago, a fellow that was my age now, said to me, that you can tell the quality of a shop and the mechanics by the way they keep the floor clean, and the tools clean and put away in there proper place. He also said that a good mechanics tools could be wiped across a white cotton shirt, and not leave a mark.

Very true. I don't like working in a messy environment. Even if it's packed with stuff, i don't care so long as it aint messy. I'll be blitzing the stockroom at work soon..

I have always remembered that, and even though my shop floor is not cuttered with debris from a car that I am working on, and the tools are oily and dirty, when I am finished with the job, I will clean all the tools, put them all back into the boxes, and then sweep the floor. My garage is filled with lots of clutter, in an organized way. I know where everything is, and that is what is important. What I really need is a bigger shop, and less in it......

Yeah, depending on the job, i sweep the floor a few times. Mostly because i'm working on the floor! In my toolbox, although it's small and packed full, everything has a place and i can always find what i'm looking for. If i'm working on a job for a few days, i put all the tools i'm using in a tote tray and they stay there overnight until the job is done. I've just ordered myself a toolbox, cart and of course a few tools to help with the organisation.

 

[TNToy]

Soak rag with carb cleaner. Wipe down tools. Put away.

 

[Sunrise]

how about those snap-on vinyl handles

 

[Moose-LandTran]

I spray them with WD-40 and wipe them over with a cotton cloth. All of mine have gotten filthy, and a quick once over with some WD-40 and they all look good as new.

 

[Stuey]

Disposable shop towels (blue paper towels).

 

[Merkava_4]

I spray WD-40 on a tooth brush and I brush the teeth on my pliers.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

Yeah, don't want them to get tooth decay. Or "rust" as it's more commonly known.

 

[Merkava_4]

I've got a small wire brush at the ready incase that happens.

 

[Fedwrench]

Usually it's a wipe down with a rag sprayed with brake clean. Plier handles just a wipe down with a clean rag. Non chromed tools like impact sockets get a light coat of WD40 or smiliar lube after cleaning. Really dirty stuff goes for a bath in the Cuda followed by a wipe down.

 

[Stanger]

When I'm finished for the day I clean my hands with waterless hand cleaner , dry them on a blue paper shop towel and then clean my tools with that. Works great for me.

 

[Stuey]

Yeah, don't want them to get tooth decay. Or "rust" as it's more commonly known.

Hmm, I've never heard rust on tools refer to as tooth decay.

 

[Merkava_4]

If mine are dirty, they get wiped off with IPA, otherwise they go in the box as is. I'm like hholmberg, I'm not picking out the details.

That's because you be da Macho Man Jared! Cue in that song from the Village People ...

 

[Moose-LandTran]

Hmm, I've never heard rust on tools refer to as tooth decay.

It was a joke referring to Merkava saying he uses a toothbrush to clean the teeth of his pliers.

 

[Stuey]

It was a joke referring to Merkava saying he uses a toothbrush to clean the teeth of his pliers.

Ah, okay - makes sense now.

 

[rsanter]

ratchets get a shot of brake kleen and wiped down
wrenches, sockets, extensions and similar stuff go to the parts washer

bob

 

[supra129]

ut9yhygoxiupuejbgduot.amzhjtu;gjfgu

 

[Stanger]

ut9yhygoxiupuejbgduot.amzhjtu;gjfgu

Never tried it but I'll give it a shot. Do you use it on a rag?

 

[Moose-LandTran]

ut9yhygoxiupuejbgduot.amzhjtu;gjfgu

That's good stuff. But last time i tried to get some over the counter, the guy didn't know what i was talking about.

 

[russlaferrera]

I clean my hand tools with "Snap-On tool cleaner spray" , followed by a gentle wiping with a "Snap-On micro-fiber cloth" All tools are buffed to a high gloss with.... you guessed it "Snap-On tool wax and rust preventer."

Each tool is carefully placed in a "Snap-On tool storage sock."

 

[Brandon_Lutz]

For shame! All of you are removing those protective coatings of grease and dust!

 

[stricht8]

I noticed that most use WD40 or brake cleaner or some other organic solvent that gets readily absorbed through the skin with ill health effects that I would rather not care to experience. How about simple green or a citrus degreaser? I understand that these products might not cut it for heavy grease and grime. I feel that the nasty stuff should be used sparingly and with latex or vinyl or whatever gloves.

 

[Merkava_4]

How about simple green or a citrus degreaser?

That's fine as long as you're willing to rinse it off with water. Those cleaners are very corrosive. Simple Green will remove the black oxide finish right off the tool if it's in contact too long; don't ask me how I know that.