making ugly tools pretty again

[jd_1138]

I bought this Makita impact driver off ebay for I think $15 plus $10 s/h a couple of years ago. It has performed great, but I am not sure how the previous owner got it so messed up. Exposed to chemicals, left in rain?

Any type of cheap spray I could use on it that won't come off? If it's not super cheap, I will just use it as-is. I have another Makita impact driver that looks new, but it's in the basement. I will just use this one until it dies. It's in my Makita box with a regular drill.

I drove about 200 Torx deck screws into a friend's deck yesterday, as the boards were all loose and popping up. It did the job well. I had a drill bit in the regular drill to pre-drill the holes, and a Torx bit in the impact driver to drive the 3-inch #8 screws.

I did a whole row of pre-drilling, then went back with a countersink bit for the top of the hole, then I followed up with the impact driver. I guess they make drill bits with countersink heads built-in? Would've been nice to have a set of those.

I ordered a Makita brushless 1/2 inch square drive for $65 (refurb) that has like 20 percent more torque than these 1/4 impact drivers. It hasn't arrived yet.

 

[Moosefire]

I know for dewalts you can buy new plastic casing, maybe making is the same... search the model number online and it might pop up

Sent from my SM-G991U1 using Tapatalk

 

[jives]

Armour-all?

 

[seber]

Hit it with some Simple Green or Goof Off.

 

[KnurledNut]

Ive seen some guys use creme developer from Sally Beauty Supply to whiten old electronics.
It has a high hydrogen peroxide concentration.
Donning gloves, it is applied, placed in a ziploc bag, and left in the sun or UV light for a few days, then washed off.
There are Youtube videos on it.

Salon Care 40 Volume Creme Developer
16 OZ | Item SBS-760680
$4.49
https://www.sallybeauty.com/hair-co...loper/40-volume-creme-developer/SLNCAR63.html

 

[Fedwrench]

Just need to buy power tool detailer from the hardest working tool dealer.

https://www.jerseydiscounttoolco.com/product-page/cordless-tool-detailer-by-jdtco

 

[macgee]

Hit it with some Simple Green or Goof Off.

+1

Try this and you'll be amazed how well it works, especially the Goof Off in spray bottle with amber color fluid. It's almost instant the difference. Then use rubbing alcohol to wipe off to any of the left over cleaners.

You cant bring back what is gone (contrary to what some think) but it will get rid off all that hand crud/grime and grease and bring out the color, improve grip and sanitize it.

 

[d.mcfarland]

That thing has been rode hard and put away wet.

Absolute waste of time to try and restore it, and that's the sad truth on a tools forum.

Use it and save your time and money for something else.

 

[Squankum]

I assume there are drill bits that make a countersink hole when they reach a certain depth -- my cheap dad was using one in the early 1970's during his boatbuilding phase!

(Which meant that in second grade or so, I was in my "sand fiberglass while laying on your back" phase.)



___

 

[KnurledNut]

That thing has been rode hard and put away wet.

Absolute waste of time to try and restore it, and that's the sad truth on a tools forum.

Use it and save your time and money for something else.

10 years ago or more, I got a BTD140, the first Li-18v model.
It was left in a mud puddle and quit working, written off as dead and given to me. It cost me less than $20 to repair and still works great to this day.
In the past few years, i have seen numerous complaints of dead/problematic red and yellow impacts on this forum and other sites.
Meanwhile, there are still a lot of those original Makitas out there kicking around. I fully support the OP in his endeavor. Elbow grease doesnt cost much.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Purple Power and a tooth brush will take a lot of the dirt off.

 

[seber]

I forgot to add hand cleaner.

 

[Bacon!]

Just clean it up some with a buffing wheel and compound (might need a toothbrush for some areas) then scrub the hardened surface off the rubber grip with a green 3M scrub pad and hot, strong detergent solution.

More important to me would be open it up and clean the insides out, and see how the grease and motor brushes are holding up... then while it's apart, clean up the casing.