Cleaning down your tools...

[Ashley Burton]

Anyone else clean down their tools after getting them covered in everything thrown at them?

I generally use brake cleaner, But occasionally use WD40 on some tools that need a little TLC

I even thought about cleaning sockets in a parts washer maybe? (I can never get them totally clean when covered in rust from old fasteners)

 

[arther dailey]

for oily /greasy rubber type screwdriver handles I found foaming oven cleaner brings them up like new, only by chance when I was de coking the l200 manifold, most of my metal tools use an old oil soaked(dirty oil) rag, as anything I touch rusts crazy if left.

 

[123hotchef]

i use brake cleaner on the leccie tools and a few hand tools too

 

[stuvy]

Brake cleaner and re grease with gt85 as I love the smell of it

Edit
Every single time I use them(uses up the last half hour of the day!!)

 

[cianh91]

Depends on what I’m doin but try keep them clean as I can but if the jobs goin on a long day and I’m tired they get three in the box to be cleaned at a later date.
Wd40 sprayed on a rag for most or the Draper hard graft towels as there handy and kept in the van most of the time . I hate tools covered in grease do so if it’s thick grease I’ll clean no matter how tired

 

[Parm]

In that case I must have tool OCD. Nothing worse than picking up some grit on dirty greasy tools and hands.

Rag to keep clean as you go

 

[8ob]

I like mirror finished tools for the ease of wipe down with just a rag/blue roll, tried to degunk the leccy grease gun with brake cleaner a while ago and it turned the plastic to mush and welded the switch in the on position.

Bob

 

[Ashley Burton]

I like mirror finished tools for the ease of wipe down with just a rag/blue roll, tried to degunk the leccy grease gun with brake cleaner a while ago and it turned the plastic to mush and welded the switch in the on position.

Bob

I cleaning my impact gun down with a light spray of brake cleaner all the time & not had an issue luckily!

 

[123hotchef]

it does soften the rubber/plastic a little bit I think

 

[maz0]

Cant wait to get a good parts washer. Always getting my tools covered in the likes of wheel bearing grease or grease from the digger, that stuff seems to spread from tool to tool on its own, take up half a roll of wipes to clean and then you realise its all over your gloves...

 

[Arc Tourist]

I clean my tools after the work is done, most of them are still in as good a shape as from when I started my apprenticeship over 45 years ago.

 

[stuvy]

Cant wait to get a good parts washer. Always getting my tools covered in the likes of wheel bearing grease or grease from the digger, that stuff seems to spread from tool to tool on its own, take up half a roll of wipes to clean and then you realise its all over your gloves...

Digger grease is awful stuff I hated working on them and try hard not to help my mate out any more even though I did do a fuel tank swap recently after a disgruntled ex employee filled it with concrete on one of the bank holidays recently

 

[mr migwire]

wd 40 on a cloth, i give the tool box a wash down with it too every once in a while.

 

[Ashley Burton]

Digger grease is awful stuff I hated working on them and try hard not to help my mate out any more even though I did do a fuel tank swap recently after a disgruntled ex employee filled it with concrete on one of the bank holidays recently

Sounds like they weren't best of friends

 

[Craig-SM]

Always! Spray some IPA on old rag and wipe down off the grease. I know it doesn’t affect the tools but I’ve spent enough money on them to look after them too.

 

[stuvy]

Sounds like they weren't best of friends

It’s not the first time they have had things like that happen! Diggers get a hard life on site hence why you rarely see old ones

 

[pedrobedro]

Tufanega wipes are good for cleaning hands and tools, Aldi Power Force wipes work as well and don't cost much.

 

[500e]

Any metal only tool goes in the parts washer, then hung on shadow boards, cant stand gloves or dirty hands (or overalls for that matter) for plastic a rag with WD then clean that off, did I say cant stand dirty hands.

 

[angellonewolf]

i dont use my tools as meny on here but a wipe over every time or if in a rush pile them on the toolbox and when i walk by later i cant leave them there then wipe and put away

 

[galooph]

I find Dettol wipes are great on screwdriver handles and the like. Shifts the dirt without softening the plastic.