Hello!

I'll admit to being badly guilty of getting grease, dirt, grime, oil, diesel fuel, etc all over my tools. It'd be nice if I could clean the tools (wiping them off isn't enough, believe me), but I've been told that solvents such as WD-40 and carburetor cleaner will eventually strip the protective coating from the tools and allow them to rust.

So, does anyone here by chance know of any cleaner that will do a good job of cleaning the tools without risking long-term damage? It'd be nice to not get dirty each time I touch the tools... (yes, my next step is to try and clean up the underside of both my car and my truck in an effort to reduce the level of dirt, grease, etc present in the first place)...

Thanks in advance!

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2001 VW Jetta TDI, 5 speed, daily driver
1991 Ford F-350, work in progress
1984 Ford F-250 4x4, 6.9l turbo diesel, 5 speed manual
Previous oilburners: 1980 IH Scout, 1984 E-350, 1985 M-B 300D, 1979 M-B 300SD, 1983 M-B 300D
Spark-free since 1999

I seriously doubt that carb cleaner or WD will take chrome off of tools...unless you're buying those plastic mechanic tool sets from WalMart or something. ;-P

Really, when I'm done with a project, I wipe the obviously nasty tools down with a clean shop towel. Obviously, valve wreches or anything covered with diesel lube oil are gonna get a better cleaning than the others.

Periodically, I 'get religion' (as I say) and go on a cleaning binge which usually results in pulling tools out of the roll-around and dumping them into a bucket of diesel. This, a brass wire brush and couple of gin martinis seem to work pretty well for getting the packed-in greasy crud out of sockets and the grooves and creases of wrenches. After a soak and a scrub, I'll wipe 'em down and let them sit out for a while. Another wipe with a shop-grade paper towel and they go back into the tool chest. Needless to say, this doesn't happen all that often.

Plastic coated tools (the grips of pliers etc) don't go in the diesel, I use 'Greased Lightning' or Simple Green on those.

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Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

Chrome hand tools should be wiped down with a rag after use. Good QUALITY chrome hand tools will not need any solvents to remove the grease. Impact & black industrial finish hand tools should be wiped down in the same manner, but it helps if there is a tiny minuscule amount of light oil on there to prevent rust.

If you do not use your tools on a regular basis or store your hand tools in a high humidity environment, you may want to put a block of camphor in each drawer to absorb the moisture. Camphor is a fairly volatile solid and water-repellent. What happens is that the camphor slowly vaporizes, so that the air inside the closed toolbox contains low levels of the vapor. The vapor settles out on all surfaces inside the container, making a thin covering on everything. Since camphor repels water, it protects metal parts from corrosion in the same way that oil and wax do. Your tools will smell like Vicks Vapo-rub, but they will be safe from rust.

Always inspect your tools regularly and always use the right tool for the right job.

Super double top secret:

Put em in the dishwasher...wait until wife or sig. other isn't paying attention. You'll be pleasantly surprised. Good luck.

We never had this discussion.

I work on my restoration project daily, and I never, ever clean my tools. Hell, if a wrench or pair of pliars doesnt fit, I will take it to the grinder and MAKE IT FIT.

I use craftsment tools and other junk. They treat me badly,so I treat them badly. Its an abusive relationship.

Step one: Open a pint, preferebly an english or an IPA. Begin Consumption.

Step two: Drop tools into ultrasonic cleaner.

Step Three: Open and consume 2nd pint.

Step Four: Turn cleaner on.

Step Five: Open Third pint.

Step Six: Stumble upstairs to take a p*ss.

Step Seven: Stumble downstairs, missing the parts boxes, tools scattered about, antlers, beadblast cabinet, etc.

Step Eight: Open and consume Fourth pint.

Step Nine: Forget about tools sitting in cleaner and open fifth pint.

Step Ten: cRaWL BaCK upStAirS, pASs oUt iN fROnt oF WooD StoVE.

Step Eleven: Cuss and scream the next morning over where the hell your tools dis-appeared to!

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1984 300D Turbo - 4-speed manual conversion, mid-level resto

1983 300D - parts car

1979 300TD Auto - Parts car.

1985 300D Auto - Wrecked/Parts.


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"If you don't know where you are going, any road will get you there". Lewis Carrol

My tools are always clean. I budget time after every job to clean up, including tools.

I also keep a jug of reusable solvent, pan, and toothbrush for cleaning parts or tools.

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95 E320 Cabriolet, 159K