tool care
- Thread starter tweety652
- Start date
Detroit Diesel Man
Well-known member
Your not the only one..I always wipe off my tools before they go back in my box..including my trouble light and creeper before they get hung..once/wk I try and clean my box as well..a good wipe down with 409 to get all the grime off from Diesel smoke etc...then once/mo I try and wax it..usually just carnuba wax...along with that the drawer slides get a shot of lube and the casters get greased..(love the zerks on those)..My box rarely stays in one place at work..we have a pretty big shop at work and through the nite on average I bet I move that thing at least 2 times.
DDM
DDM
pl_silverado
Well-known member
i wipe the dirt off my tools when i use em before i put them back in the box. i clean the toolbox when it gets dusty, but other than that i dont do much else. Snappy man warranties everything i have, so im not as inclined to spend time cleaning and lubing them. I bought them to make money with, and their doing just fine.
Uncle Buck
Banned
I try to wipe excess oil and grease off of stuff when done with a job so I do not start out dirty next time but that is really all I do.
boiler7904
Well-known member
Wrenches, ratchets, sockets, etc. get wiped down before being put away. Tool box gets wiped down every few weeks. Woodworking tools get vacuumed or blown with compressed before being put away.
klswvu
Well-known member
Polish tools... No, I don't... and Yes, you may be the only one...
jimvannoy
Well-known member
I clean mine when I am done using them. I do clean them real good though. I clean along edges and inside sockets and wrenches but that's because I use them to put clean, fresh painted, fresh chromed parts back together as well as take apart the 50 year old dirt/grease encrusted stuff first. I also oil my air tools every week.
I keep my tools clean and very well maintained, and I load up a cart rather than working from my toolbox, so that's spotless, but polish them when they're not dirty ? 
That's God's way of telling you to find a new project to use them on
That's God's way of telling you to find a new project to use them on
Canadian Charlie
Banned
I received a used Mac air ratchet yesterday in the mail, it was a little dirty and YES i polished it
I don't always wipe my tools clean after every use, I'm not perfect. I try to keep my boxes clean and my tools put away after i use them dirty or not
I don't always wipe my tools clean after every use, I'm not perfect. I try to keep my boxes clean and my tools put away after i use them dirty or not
again ... you need a hobby ... or a girlfriend ... maybe both
I wiped down all my tools with WD40 prior to putting them away; not sure I would go as far as polishing them; I just make sure no dirt/grime of any kind is on them ...
eschoendorff
Well-known member
Charles (in GA)
Well-known member
I wipe them free of crud and oil and such. Pull a rag thru the box ends and open ends, every couple or five years I might tear down a ratchet and grease it, if it seems to need it, but spit shine or polish them, no, I don't do that. I treat my tools at home about like the ones at work. I have way too many things to do (either at work or at home) to be standing around "polishing" tools.
Charles
Charles
if you want to polish your tools, go for it. dont listen to these guys. i use neverdull on my tools once and a while or brillo if they are really bad. then i wipe them down with brake cleaner and apply some rust preventer. this is usually a once a year thing. i also grease all my ratchets when i first buy them because usually there isnt enough grease in them. after a im done using my tools for the day i just wipe them down with a rag before they go back in the box. i totally understand what you mean when you say cleaning your tools is a getaway from the family life.
I keep a clean shop towel with me all the time, replace it when it starts to get messy (goes in the dirty job pile next), and sort of reflexively clean as I go or as I spill. When I am thinking about what to do next, chances are good I'm going over whatever tool I last used with the shop towel.
I've got two shop towels and a small pile of new to me tools next to the PC right now, and every once in a while I pick one up and mess with it while I read posts.
WD40 evaporates, I have a tray I drain the dregs of quarts of oil into, and just use that. Sometimes I use Marvel Mystery oil since it has that wintergreen smell.
I can't really picture myself actually polishing a tool though, just getting the crud off.
I've got two shop towels and a small pile of new to me tools next to the PC right now, and every once in a while I pick one up and mess with it while I read posts.
WD40 evaporates, I have a tray I drain the dregs of quarts of oil into, and just use that. Sometimes I use Marvel Mystery oil since it has that wintergreen smell.
I can't really picture myself actually polishing a tool though, just getting the crud off.
Junkman
Well-known member
I send my dirty tools out to the laundramat once a month, and they come back sparkling clean, folded and pressed to perfection.... 
eschoendorff
Well-known member
I simply wipe my tools down with a rag soaked with CorrosionX. Works well and my tools are always ready to go....
I send my dirty tools out to the laundramat once a month, and they come back sparkling clean, folded and pressed to perfection....
I used to do that, but they kept starching my shorts....sockets, that is....
MAD
Well-known member
I used to do that, but they kept starching my shorts....sockets, that is....
Light starch for the old flex sockets but never for my ratchets please.
Helpful hint:
Try throwing those stretched out spread Craftsman raised panel line wrenches in a hot dryer to shrink them back to spec.
gotmud13613
Well-known member
Nothing special here, wipe them down after using and if i notice any rust I tackle it with some fine steel wool and a light coat of Jig A Loo.
gotmud13613
Well-known member
Jig - a - What???
I found this stuff at HD it works great plus it doesn't smell like a skunk just left the area !!!
http://www.jigaloo.com/en/
I found this stuff at HD it works great plus it doesn't smell like a skunk just left the area !!!
http://www.jigaloo.com/en/
Never heard of it; sounds interesting ... just what does it smell like?
gotmud13613
Well-known member
Never heard of it; sounds interesting ... just what does it smell like?
It doesnt really have a smell, works great for inside the house for hinges & car door hinges, etc. Where the others tend to stink.
edl
Well-known member
we are talking about the same "tool" when you say "polishing your tool..." right??
First light a candle and allow your mind to calm itself. Place the tool on a clean shop towel and contemplate the great value the tool has in the snap on catalog. Place one drop of oil of clove from the ritual container on to the tool and wait for it spread on the surface (you did warm the tool first didn't you?).
You may chant for a moment.
Pick up the tool with a second clean shop towel and carefully wipe the excess without allowing your skin to contact the tool. Place the tool among its brothers in the holy place known as Snapon tool chest.
You may chant for a moment.
Pick up the tool with a second clean shop towel and carefully wipe the excess without allowing your skin to contact the tool. Place the tool among its brothers in the holy place known as Snapon tool chest.
jhn9840
Well-known member
I use a little 3 in 1 oil on a clean rag wipe down the tool then wipe back off with a clean dry rag. Blow compressed air or shop vac to clean anything else off after every use. Got a box of stuff from a fleamarket a couple of weeks ago just waiting for my attention. I also give the garage floor a good scrubbing about once a month. My family thinks I'm overboard but I find it very relaxing.
jhn9840
John
jhn9840
John
I found this stuff at HD it works great plus it doesn't smell like a skunk just left the area !!!
http://www.jigaloo.com/en/
I saw that at Wally World a couple of weeks ago. I was like
redbarron57
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 14, 2015
- Messages
- 124
Oil tools with 3 n 1 frequently. I pay a couple hundred dollars for a wrench or socket set I'm not just throwing them around.