Washing hand tools - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Vgkid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 07, 2023, 05:57:56 am
content: Backstory:An opossum(Virginia Opossum, not surprisingly) decided to use the open drawer of my tool chest as a toilet, in which urine managed to get on a whole bunch of tools. Mainly several drawers with wrenches, pliers, and hammers. Didn't notice any rust, but it did leave an oily film.Plan:Wash them with soap, and water. Dry with a towel, and let them air dry in the sun. Followed with a light oiling.Other comments/ideas/concerns.

author: Ian.M
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 07, 2023, 06:58:50 am
content: Washing with soapy water will remove any protective oil film and followed by air drying without any corrosion protection, may cause flash rusting.I'd start off by taking the whole draw outside and hosing it down to remove the worst of the contamination, so you dont have to change your wash water so often, then immediately wash as you proposed with the water as hot as you can stand, rinse off in even hotter water, towel dry, then use an anti-corrosion spray *before* putting them out in the sun.This is one of the few occasions where WD40 is appropriate and beneficial due to its original intended purpose and formulation as water displacing light corrosion protection for missile skins! When fully dry, wipe off with kitchen paper and properly lubricate joints etc. *NOT* with WD40!

author: jonpaul
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 07, 2023, 07:11:27 am
content: outside thrologly wash with strong jet and dish soapDry, with fine steel wool or fine sandpaper, burnish off rust or corrosionfinal clean with isopropyl alcoholOpen all box joints, apply Vaseline with Q tip to joints.Use gentil heater, oven or heat gun, to get the Vaseline flowing through the joints.Exercise joints.Remove excess Vaseline with paper towelsThis has worked on decades old rusted tools, even precision electronic pliers and cutters.Jon

author: Shock
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 07, 2023, 12:38:48 pm
content: Scrub thoroughly with a detergent and warm water a couple of times. Rinse and scrub in demineralised water, quick dry off. Leave to soak in some IPA for a few mins and move them a bit to displace any left over water and sterilize. Well lubricate the moving parts while manipulating them, wipe excess off. Buff bare or treated metal surfaces with a light oil such as machine/white mineral oil to prevent surface rust forming.Obviously clean the drawer, rinse it also with demineralised water and dry. Put a few humidity packs with a scent or something in the drawer. Check on the tools periodically and give them another buff with oil if required.

author: Krotow
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2023, 05:29:05 pm
content: Urine should not left oily film, I guess. Seems tools got some grease on them before, but soap dissolved it and make oily bits visible.About cleaning - more or less all cleaning variants above with toolbox oiling too are correct

author: helius
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 10, 2023, 06:48:22 am
content: There are waterborne corrosion inhibitors that might help during the drying phase before the tools can be oiled.I wonder if some industrial wash agents like Alconox would work better? Some might already be corrosion inhibited.

author: Deepak
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 11, 2023, 06:01:38 am
content: Quote from: helius on April 10, 2023, 06:48:22 amSomething like Ballistol mixed with water as a final rinse after cleaning will be the best way to get all the nooks & crannies. A spray like WD40 is the next best option, but it’s still possible it may not get on all the surface if there are tight joints.Another option would be to fume with oil, either in a heated pan, or by soaking a square of cardboard with light oil and putting it, along with the tools, in a cardboard box in a place that stays above room temperature.