Oiling your hand tool..

[gren_t]

Hi All,
what do you guys to to clean your hand tools after use?


I like to wipe off my tools before returning them to their place in my toolbox, however I live in a wet part of the UK and inevitably I need to oil them to stop them corroding, after a series of oily rags I come up with a better idea.

I found a sponge for money counting on Amazon:

I covered the sponge with an off cut of the used hand towels I use as rags to protect the sponge.

I cut a piece of sheet magnet and stuck it to the base I can then stick it out of the way.


I tend to use ACF 50 to protect my bikes and tools and found a small amount on the pad lets me wipe over the tools easy, and if the cloth or sponge rots it's easy to replace and I no longer have oily rags hanging around.

and its easy to store..
.


Cheers guys..

 

[Uncle murph]

Hi All,
what do you guys to to clean your hand tools after use?


I like to wipe off my tools before returning them to their place in my toolbox, however I live in a wet part of the UK and inevitably I need to oil them to stop them corroding, after a series of oily rags I come up with a better idea.

I found a sponge for money counting on Amazon:

I covered the sponge with an off cut of the used hand towels I use as rags to protect the sponge.

I cut a piece of sheet magnet and stuck it to the base I can then stick it out of the way.


I tend to use ACF 50 to protect my bikes and tools and found a small amount on the pad lets me wipe over the tools easy, and if the cloth or sponge rots it's easy to replace and I no longer have oily rags hanging around.

and its easy to store..
.


Cheers guys..

Interesting.

 

[ycgoat]

I was taught not to oil my pliers / side cutters because it tended to cause dirt to stick and wear them out, the solution was to use them, so I do not treat my tools and just wile them off. Maybe a dry lubricant

 

[fsae0607]

CRC Tool Guard (smells great BTW!) or WD-40. Spray a clean rag, wipe tools down then store in toolbox.

 

[dfiler2]

Great idea, taking care of your tools that way will help them last a long time for you.

 

[Nutria]

Nothing other than leftover oil from some project, but I live in a dry climate. When I lived in a really wet area, I used Casey-Birchfield Barricade as a rust preventative.

 

[nadogail]

I put corrugated paper, (Cardboard) in the drawers of my tool box and squirted some oil on it. No rust problems.

 

[sgrammel]

some hand cream works on my 'hand tool'...oh wait...wrong forum

 

[Prospecter]

That's a great idea. I also live in a damp location, and use Fluid Film to wipe down my tools from time to time.

 

[Shadowdog500]

I live near salt water. I used to be a tool polisher until I worked with a marine mechanic in a shop on salt water marshes. His tools were greasy as hell, but they never rusted! If my tools get greasy dirty i just wipe the grease off with a cloth, but don’t do much more. otherwise they just go back in the drawer.

I do wax my vice, drill press table, and other items, with floor wax a few times a year, and coat my lathe and mill with boshield when not in use.

 

[alfadan]

Usually there is enough oil and grease on my hands after I'm done, I just fondle my tool (snort). wd40 wipe down if they're real grimey.

 

[rockettauto]

I use them daily so they get oily enough on their own. They usually only ever get wiped down.

I got a new pair of snap on needle nose recently. It's interesting every time seeing them get "seasoned". My old slip joints sit beside them.

Many tools do it but snappys in particular seem to flash rust easily but only to a degree...combine that with the grease and oil over the years and they end up black and in a way it almost seems like they came that way you definitely can't clean it off. They sort of make their own protective coating.

 

[dchawk81]

some hand cream works on my 'hand tool'...oh wait...wrong forum

@PelicanPines

 

[dchawk81]

I wipe the goops of grease off with Tub O Towels and that's about it.

 

[LWB]

When I'm done working on something I will have a pile of dirty tools. I spray the whole pile down with WD40 and wipe them down before putting them away.

Occasionally I will open drawers up and lightly spray the whole drawer. Files and whatnot.

 

[racecougar]

I have the mini-split kick on in dry mode if the humidity in the shop goes above 50%.

 

[Zeus36]

Cleaning tools mostly involves removing grease and oils. There is a product called Trust Me Citrus Swipes that are hand cleaning towels. These work great for degreasing tools. Following that, I have a spray bottle of Denatured Alcohol and one with Isopropyl. This is followed with WD-40 from a spray bottle if needed. I've also tossed tools into my ultrasonic cleaner with bulk WD-40 that gets filtered and reused.

As to storing tools and oiling them to keep them from rusting and corroding...for my collection of special tools that aren't used daily or weekly, I use Boeshield T-9. A little goes a long, long, long way. T-9 also goes on my saws, vises, and drill press tables. Isopropyl alcohol takes it right off if working with wood. Screwdrivers with Cellulose Acetate handles get a wipe down with WD-40 from a non-aerosol pump sprayer to prevent the "stink".

Precision tools and folding knives at my electronics/tech bench get a wipe and light lube with Hawaiian Tropic dark suntan oil. Smells great!

 

[Houdini5150]

I keep them in the toolbox... If I get oil or something dirty on them I wipe them down with tub o towels or shop rag. If I get them wet I wipe down and add a little 3 in 1 oil.

 

[juddspaintballs]

I use WD-40 on occasion. It helps clean the dirt off of the tools, seems to keep the rust away, and it doesn't leave me with an oily tool after it sits a day or two.

 

[dchawk81]

I keep them in the toolbox... If I get oil or something dirty on them I wipe them down with tub o towels or shop rag. If I get them wet I wipe down and add a little 3 in 1 oil.

Can I get an amen on tub o towels being the greatest thing since the history of ever?

My discovery of these things was a life changing sun from the clouds moment.

 

[Zeke]

Living in SoCal has its benefits. No rust if garaged. If I do a dirty job I put my tools in a pan and brush them with solvent and lay them out to dry or blow them dry. Put them away, no worries about rust. I have used WD40. It's OK.

 

[scooby074]

If you really want to do it right get some emiters or sheets from Cortec and line your toolbox https://www.cortecvci.com/products/vpci-water-treatment-products/vpci-111-emitter-patented/