Trusty cook hammer cleaning

[TheSasquatch]

Have a matco branded trusty cook hammer, was a warranty replacement for one of the older styled one that were a lot smoother. I wipe my tools down with wet wipes at the end of my shift every night. And with the older ones I could just wipe them clean pretty easily. But with the newer textured grip on this one it ends up staying dirty. I know this isn’t a big deal but it bugs me. Anyone have a way to easily clean them with out damaging the handle or cause int me to have to take it to the sink every time.


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[plinker]

Most of the time I'll just use brake cleaner. I usually will spray it down every couple weeks or so unless really filthy. No issues doing so since '15 when I got the hammers.

 

[Mohawk Dave]

1. Ultrasonic cleaner (when I buy used and filthy)

2. Awesome cleaner spray with plastic brush (when needed)

3. spray with degreaser and air/water blow off (normal stuff like you posted.)

 

[HaroRider]

Simple Green

 

[Wamsutta]

A toothbrush combined with Fast Orange hand cleaner will clean that texture like brand new. All the grime will rinse off with the water after scrubbing.

 

[HaroRider]

I sometimes use orange hand cleaner too, mostly on my soft handle stuff. Just reminded me of that. But usually Simple Green works.

 

[TheSasquatch]

Most of the time I'll just use brake cleaner. I usually will spray it down every couple weeks or so unless really filthy. No issues doing so since '15 when I got the hammers.

Yeah I thought about brake cleaner, didn’t want to find out the hard way it would ruin the handle.


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[Wamsutta]

I'm to cheap to use brake cleaner and my method is superior anyway.

If you want to take the time to fine the smooth Fast Orange instead of the pumice Fast Orange, that's even better because you won't have to worry about leaving abrasion marks.

 

[redwrench60]

You all clean your hammers?

 

[-OSIS-]

I get the girlfriend to clean my hammer for me

 

[4xdog]

Try one of the many varieties of the purple stuff. It's amazing. I use the original Superclean.

 

[WittHay]

I use WD40 on the Snap-on pliers and Instinct screwdrivers, also on the various Mac hard handles. Not sure if this is good or bad but it turns the handles and grips from dirty black to red again

 

[nelstomlinson]

WD40 gets oily dirt off. The stippling on my TC hammer is crudded up with mortar, and WD40 won't touch it.

 

[TheSasquatch]

You all clean your hammers?

I clean and put away every tool I used at the end of my shift. I spent to much money on this stuff to treat it poorly.


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[Tallpilot]

I use Grime Boss wipes on anything I am afraid brake clean will swell. It works great on ratchet soft grips and other handles. The wipes have a little texture that gets into stippling.

 

[Fly YX]

Over time wd4d will degrade plastic. When I worked on plcs for some reason the maintenance workers at a place by I was working at would spray it on everything all the plastic would fall apart.

 

[Millwrong]

I'm to cheap to use brake cleaner and my method is superior anyway.

If you want to take the time to fine the smooth Fast Orange instead of the pumice Fast Orange, that's even better because you won't have to worry about leaving abrasion marks.

I cant believe I actually just read that. Thats a little over the top, suggesting which hand cleaner won't leave marks on a damned hammer handle, isnt it...?

 

[Wamsutta]

I cant believe I actually just read that. Thats a little over the top, suggesting which hand cleaner won't leave marks on a damned hammer handle, isnt it...?

I just want to make sure the OP is fully informed of all the risks and other implications.

 

[Tallpilot]

I clean and put away every tool I used at the end of my shift. I spent to much money on this stuff to treat it poorly.


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That’s also the mark of a man who takes pride in his work. Don’t let anybody make fun of you for that. My old man was a hiring manager for mechanics and facilities maintenance later in life. He said the best trick he ever learned was to sneak a look at the guy’s car. If it was clean; he would most likely work out if it was dirty or full of trash he almost always wouldn’t.

 

[firworks]

I use a Zep spray degreaser. Seems to work on all but the Buddy Blasters. Those pure white hammers are never gonna come fully clean...

 

[Mohawk Dave]

That’s also the mark of a man who takes pride in his work. Don’t let anybody make fun of you for that. My old man was a hiring manager for mechanics and facilities maintenance later in life. He said the best trick he ever learned was to sneak a look at the guy’s car. If it was clean; he would most likely work out if it was dirty or full of trash he almost always wouldn’t.

There is so much truth to this!

 

[Wamsutta]

That’s also the mark of a man who takes pride in his work. Don’t let anybody make fun of you for that. My old man was a hiring manager for mechanics and facilities maintenance later in life. He said the best trick he ever learned was to sneak a look at the guy’s car. If it was clean; he would most likely work out if it was dirty or full of trash he almost always wouldn’t.

My car is missing all 4 hubcaps. You think maybe I should replace those before my next job interview?

 

[redwrench60]

Don’t get me wrong, it bugs me when my tools get just caked in slimy **** from a real nasty job or are literally dripping in oil or trans fluid from teardown bench duty. They get chucked in the parts washer with the dirty parts and scrubbed down, then get dragged through a dry rag. As tools get used and accumulate age, wear and battle damage it becomes a waste of time and energy to try to make them look like new. My tools serve me not the other way around.

 

[4x4gearhead]

You wouldnt like the looks of my hammers lol mine get wiped with a rag and thrown back in the box. Its only when i have to work on machines that handle trash do i use some Spray Nine on them. It actually degreases pretty well and disinfects/kills the hep c too!

 

[Wesley B]

I've ran into the same issue as you. I use CRC brake clean and a tooth brush to get into the crevices.

 

[4x4gearhead]

I've ran into the same issue as you. I use CRC brake clean and a tooth brush to get into the crevices.

If youre going to use brakleen you should use the red can that has chlorine or whatever chemical replaced it. It wont hurt the plastic as much where as the green can is the flammable acetone based stuff which will eat away at most plastic and poly. I use both types of brakleen for different things and have ruined plenty of screwdriver handles with the green stuff.

 

[TheSasquatch]

Don’t get me wrong, it bugs me when my tools get just caked in slimy **** from a real nasty job or are literally dripping in oil or trans fluid from teardown bench duty. They get chucked in the parts washer with the dirty parts and scrubbed down, then get dragged through a dry rag. As tools get used and accumulate age, wear and battle damage it becomes a waste of time and energy to try to make them look like new. My tools serve me not the other way around.

I have tools I have used daily for the last few years that still look nearly new. Yes they get scratches and beat up but it literally cost me about $10 a month for my wipes and just a few minutes a day to wipe everything down with the wipes. A few extra minutes to clean the whatever the wipes can’t. I have a 5 yo Milwaukee m18 set that I use daily that looks better than my coworkers 6mo old snapon set.


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[redwrench60]

I have tools I have used daily for the last few years that still look nearly new. Yes they get scratches and beat up but it literally cost me about $10 a month for my wipes and just a few minutes a day to wipe everything down with the wipes. A few extra minutes to clean the whatever the wipes can’t. I have a 5 yo Milwaukee m18 set that I use daily that looks better than my coworkers 6mo old snapon set.


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Yeah I’m with you on the cordless tool care. I do take extra care that my cordless stuff (mostly Milwaukee) doesn’t get slobbered down in nastiness and I do take time to wipe them and the batteries down periodically to keep the rubber from swelling and coming apart. Hand tools don’t get quite the same love but they don’t have sensitive electronic parts in them either.

I’ve been at it long enough that most of my tools won’t look pretty no matter what you rub on em. I don’t mind dirty as long as they’re not oily/slimy/slippery.

 

[AngryBeaver]

trusty cook hammers are a bear to keep clean. people that don't have them don't understand. its not like normal soft handled tools to clean.

I too am OCD about cleaning my hammers. I've also found as much as I love the Green, the blue ones don't show the dirt and grease near as bad.

the best thing I've found that isn't a harsh chemical is the simple green hand wipes. I've tried every brand of hand wipes and those are the only ones that seem to get the gunk out of the little dimples.

brake cleaner will eventually degrade the plastic/polyurethane.

 

[toolman9w]

That’s also the mark of a man who takes pride in his work. Don’t let anybody make fun of you for that. My old man was a hiring manager for mechanics and facilities maintenance later in life. He said the best trick he ever learned was to sneak a look at the guy’s car. If it was clean; he would most likely work out if it was dirty or full of trash he almost always wouldn’t.

Younger generation might not get this. But I did have a boss once that was going to start asking for a picture of your tools and box to go with the resume. Had too many say they had all the tools to do the job, show up with a hand box carrying it. And applying for a flat rate position.

 

[Parrothead]

That’s also the mark of a man who takes pride in his work. Don’t let anybody make fun of you for that. My old man was a hiring manager for mechanics and facilities maintenance later in life. He said the best trick he ever learned was to sneak a look at the guy’s car. If it was clean; he would most likely work out if it was dirty or full of trash he almost always wouldn’t.

I did this too. I wasn’t even hiring mechanics, but retail workers. There were other things I looked for too, but I won’t repeat what those were and they did impact my hiring decisions. The best worker is an available worker.

 

[bsaint]

I cant remember doing more than just wiping down tools with those bucket o wipes wipe.

 

[donpauli2]

Brake clean and choke cleaner spray will eventually cause those handles to peel off


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[Steiger9]

Around the shop I use high percentage rubbing alcohol when I don't need the aggressiveness of brake cleaner. Mostly because it's softer on my hands, but also easier on paint. I wonder if that would do for your hammers?

But Simple Green is safe for sure. I knew a gun guy who swore by Simple Green for cleaning his Glock tupperware.