Stupid tool cleaning question... Please help!
- Thread starter JeffKeryk
- Start date
I would avoid brake cleaner, particularly those with acetone, or chlorinated chemicals, they will eat the plastic.
Honestly, I keep baby wipes in my shop. A habit I picked up when I lived in a tent, in a hot and dusty place, with minimal sanitary facilities.
If it won’t hurt a baby’s bottom, it won’t hurt your Makita….
Honestly, I keep baby wipes in my shop. A habit I picked up when I lived in a tent, in a hot and dusty place, with minimal sanitary facilities.
If it won’t hurt a baby’s bottom, it won’t hurt your Makita….
I don’t douse my tools in brake cleaner but I do spray it on a clean rag and wipe down my hand tools and my pneumatic tools as well.
I use brake cleaner on a rag as mentioned above. As long as you don't soak it down, the surface should be fine. Hell, I've straight up sprayed brake cleaner on the handle of my 1/2" without any ill effect. It sure did get rid of the grease!
When I was young and uneducated I used to clean off my hands with brake cleaner, or gas. It took me until the age of 22 for someone to tell me what I was doing to myself. I still use it on almost everything I have to clean grease off of (that it won't melt), I just wear thick nitrile gloves, control the footprint of the spray, and avoid inhaling the fumes.
If you're afraid of harming the surface of the plastic, you can use gas (bad, but not as harmful as brake cleaner) or WD-40. Dawn will work after some scrubbing and as mentioned baby wipes too. I've opened the container of baby wipes before and added some Dawn detergent to them. Seemed to work better, but who really knows.
When I was young and uneducated I used to clean off my hands with brake cleaner, or gas. It took me until the age of 22 for someone to tell me what I was doing to myself. I still use it on almost everything I have to clean grease off of (that it won't melt), I just wear thick nitrile gloves, control the footprint of the spray, and avoid inhaling the fumes.
If you're afraid of harming the surface of the plastic, you can use gas (bad, but not as harmful as brake cleaner) or WD-40. Dawn will work after some scrubbing and as mentioned baby wipes too. I've opened the container of baby wipes before and added some Dawn detergent to them. Seemed to work better, but who really knows.
Fantastic and a damp rag, done.
If you can avoid it, you really don't want brake cleaner or any petroleum solvents on your skin, including mineral spirits.
Now with proper gloves, do what you want.
If you can avoid it, you really don't want brake cleaner or any petroleum solvents on your skin, including mineral spirits.
Now with proper gloves, do what you want.
Just to add: Nitrile gloves should be used around oils and acetones and solvents, only. Latex or vinyl gloves will not protect you from the chems, I also, once again found out the hard way at work using xylene in an experiment..
So just buy nitrile gloves, as tear resistant (thick) as you can stand them.
So just buy nitrile gloves, as tear resistant (thick) as you can stand them.
I don't clean them, they will be dirty again real soon.
Jersey Discount Tool Company sells a cordless tool detailer that works well to clean them
So a cordless tool to clean a cordless tool? Doesn't that open a portal to hell when you do it?
Sam_Julier
$50 Site Donor 2023
I use whatever Meyers All Purpose Cleaner is under the kitchen sink. It works well and smells nice too.
Any tool with un-plated metal such as pliers gets a shot of WD-40 and wipe down.
Any tool with un-plated metal such as pliers gets a shot of WD-40 and wipe down.
I've started using Tub O Towels... they work reasonably well, with the primary caveat being the "detailing" aspect, ie difficult to get into knicks and crannies
Non-chlor brake cleaner will typically be ok, but of course test it first. Chlorinated tends to cloud and craze many plastics.
I never cared for the brake cleaner route, it just never seemed efficient. At least the Tub O Towels stay wet (vs rapid evap) and they work well(ish)
Non-chlor brake cleaner will typically be ok, but of course test it first. Chlorinated tends to cloud and craze many plastics.
I never cared for the brake cleaner route, it just never seemed efficient. At least the Tub O Towels stay wet (vs rapid evap) and they work well(ish)
That's the one use for WD-40. I wipe my tools down, i don't bother to wipe it off, it will evaporate soon enough.
WD-40
rags, dry, the less other use 1st the better.
Anything around (bed sheets destroyed from yrs of use, same w/old clothing, bath towels, I cook as hobby so plenty of 'dish' towels cut in 1/2, other cloth). Any kind of paper or bought stock is avoided...
At the end of each job or end of day it is more ofa thought gathering, early bill pre- bill prep (just like swep up, speedy dry, pan/pail drains) clean & put away (so as to find easily) sort of 'down time' thing for me. BUT...I take 2 'real breaks' and a long away from shop 'lunch' break too. I enjoy my self employ, food & shared timewith others~
Anything around (bed sheets destroyed from yrs of use, same w/old clothing, bath towels, I cook as hobby so plenty of 'dish' towels cut in 1/2, other cloth). Any kind of paper or bought stock is avoided...
At the end of each job or end of day it is more ofa thought gathering, early bill pre- bill prep (just like swep up, speedy dry, pan/pail drains) clean & put away (so as to find easily) sort of 'down time' thing for me. BUT...I take 2 'real breaks' and a long away from shop 'lunch' break too. I enjoy my self employ, food & shared timewith others~
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I use a little Simple Green on a damp rag, or WD40 depending on how dirty they are.
Cleaning cordless tools and comfort grips
My job involves many gross things, and I'm trying to make my electric tools a bit cleaner. Over time, my M12 tools especially, get caked in gunk/grime/filth which then transfers back to my hands when using the tools. Annoying. Today I got a new M12 hex impact, to replace my well worn non-fuel...
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