What do you use to clean your tools and boxes?

[tlowery04]

I know somebody on here I read used a wire wheel to clean up rusty tools, but I can't seem to find it now. Also I had some questions, once the tool is cleaned up how do you keep the exposed metal from just rusting up again? oil? Does anyone have any recommendations for degreasing and cleaning or polishing a tool box?

 

[bibman]

Simple Green and WD40

 

[Outlawmws]

Rusty tools:

Electrolysis or a fine wire, wire wheel.

Rust on Chromed tools; SOS, pad or oil and 000 steel wool.
If any water was used, WD-40 to displace any water I might have not been able to get out.

Greasy tools:

Simple green, if that didn't cut it carb cleaner,


Tool box:

Simple green,

If ground in; rubbing compound.

Rust preventative on non chromed tools: Gun oil (made for the job...)

 

[Eric Commarato]

Kennedy Tool Box Company recommends WD-40 for cleaning their tool boxes.

 

[maven]

Impact sockets and non chromed wrenches, Spray Nine followed by a spray of silicone. Unplated pliers get the silicone spray too.

Greasy tools always cleaned with SprayNine. Sometimes BrakeClean

Box wiped down with Honda Polish. (now known as Original Bike Spirits spray cleaner)

 

[crewchief888]

every couple years i pull all my tools out of my service truck for cleaning/degreasing.

clean mineral spirits in the parts washer,
brake cleaner,
the box gets pressure washed inside and out.

2 months later it pretty much looks like i didnt clean at all.


in the garage all i need to worry about is dust on my boxes, tools get cleaned up with brake cleaner

 

[LSU]

Someone on here posted "Pimp Juice"

It is 1/2 WD40 and 1/2 Automatic Transmission Fluid.

I made some up and clean up a whole bunch of tools and boxes with it.

I was happy. Doesn't smell bad and wasn't tough on the hands.

 

[DRhodes]

Simple Green and WD40

+1

I normally use the Simple Green

 

[Reality Sucks]

windex..then i flitz it..

 

[RHD 4 LIFE]

http://www.ecomade.com/ainfo.php/lid/16/products_id/28

 

[86k10]

I use lemon Pledge for my KRL761. It sure does look pretty when done. I got the idea from an old co-worker who use to use that on his tool box.

 

[smogtech]

wd40 and simple green

 

[slob]

At work we have this concentrated purple soap, possibly from Zep. Then everything gets a thin coat of Trizol penetrating solvent.

 

[greasemonkey44]

Car wax for the box and brake clean for everything else

 

[OilyRascal]

At work we have this concentrated purple soap, possibly from Zep. Then everything gets a thin coat of Trizol penetrating solvent.

ZEP sells an Industrial Heavy Duty Degreaser that my local big box hardware store sells in 5 gallon cans. I use it with extreme caution (absolutely no skin contact) for heavy oils/grease on SOLID STEEL tools only. It WILL remove paint from painted surfaces, it will react with certain metals, it will affect the appearance of woods, and it will degrade plastics.

 

[vga]

I use tri flow chain lube to both clean and wipe down each tool. Tri Flow keeps corrosion away also as I get a lot of rain( not this yr) combined with low temps where I live during winter months.

 

[Honda guy]

Box wiped down with Honda Polish. (now known as Original Bike Spirits spray cleaner)

Same here.

 

[juniork5]

I use awesome from 99cent store works great

 

[BWS]

Our bxs are so old,I'd be affraid of cleaning them?You know,that whole....antique-patina-don't F**K with it...notion.

But posted a thanks on the "pimp juice".BW

 

[slob]

ZEP sells an Industrial Heavy Duty Degreaser that my local big box hardware store sells in 5 gallon cans. I use it with extreme caution (absolutely no skin contact) for heavy oils/grease on SOLID STEEL tools only. It WILL remove paint from painted surfaces, it will react with certain metals, it will affect the appearance of woods, and it will degrade plastics.

Yeah. Turns out it's some other company's version of that, diluted. We use it on plastics all the time with no effect. Didn't do anything to my hands that a little cocoa butter couldn't fix, either.

 

[lowbucktruck]

I use awesome from 99cent store works great

Ditto! I also use "LA's Totally Awesome Orange cleaner/degreaser" from the dollar store. You can dilute it just like Simple Green, but its more gentle (will not remove/damage paint finishes) like Green will. And you can buy it in the gallon refill jugs for a buck! Simple Green is a bit too strong for wiping down your toolbox, hard on the paint job.

 

[GRX]

I use lemon Pledge for my KRL761. It sure does look pretty when done. I got the idea from an old co-worker who use to use that on his tool box.

Spray on furniture polish works very well. There are many high priced products out there, simple is often best. I wipe my tools with it and use as a rust preventative on engine parts often. Sold an old Pontiac 389 crankshaft a couple months back. We opened it and the crank still looked new as the day I polished and bagged it over 10 years ago. Good old Lemon Pledge.