Cleaning Tools off

[Rob in Vancouver]

Hi Folks----please be advised that I will likely come across a bit anal with my question

I would like to keep my soft plastic/hard plastic handles clean --- especially from that fine dust.  The tools I'm most referring to is the drill, TS75 and the RO90

I have tried a soft micro fiber cloth but no luck.

 

[bkharman]

Have you used your vac with a brush attachment?

Works great.

 

[Rob in Vancouver]

Good idea---Will try it.

Does anyone know if cleaning them with some alcohol or other liquid would be ok?

 

[peter halle]

Alcohol is a harsh but rapidly drying fluid.  I imagine that it MIGHT help with grease fingerprints, etc but I might suggest that you try a detergent route versus a solvent route in cleaning your tools. 

Peter

 

[AlexThePalex]

Does anyone know if cleaning them with some alcohol or other liquid would be ok?

The tools can stand a lot, they're made from a very high quality chemical resistant plastic. If needed, I even use paint thinner to clean Festools. Works like a charm and doesn't harm them at all, while it can melt your systainers because those are ABS.

Alcohol is just fine, and for normal dust and dirt a soap or ammonia solution suffices.

 

[Scott in Bend Oregon]

I like these Armor-All Cleaning Wipes for plastic and rubber.  They don't contain any of the shiny Armor-All protectant, just a cleaning solution.  Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA) works great, too.  I don't use any petroleum solvent based cleaners on plastics..

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0006Z9SQQ?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00

 

[Birdhunter]

Thank you so much for this post. I vacuum every tool at the end of the woodworking day. Hand tools, big power tools, Festools, everything goes to bed clean. My guns get cleaned after every use. My dog gets bathed after each hunt. Maybe I'm anal or maybe I appreciate fine tools, fine guns, and fine dogs. At least there are two of us.

 

[Corwin]

Thank you so much for this post. I vacuum every tool at the end of the woodworking day. Hand tools, big power tools, Festools, everything goes to bed clean. My guns get cleaned after every use. My dog gets bathed after each hunt. Maybe I'm anal or maybe I appreciate fine tools, fine guns, and fine dogs. At least there are two of us.

Nothing 'anal' about taking care of the things you use. I've always taken care of my things. Heck, my wristwatch will turn 35 this Christmas. Really. Oh, wait... maybe you we are anal after all.  [blink]

 

[nclemmons]

I wipe mine down with Boeshield - great lubricant and protection for tools.  Works great on a paper towel or a rag.

http://www.amazon.com/Boeshield-T-9-Waterproof-Lubrication-aerosol

Helps to cover any scratches and, dries and does not harm the plastic or rubber. 

 

[Staniam]

Nice post, I like to clean my tools after use as well and I'm a bit OCD about keeping my work place decluttered at the same time. Armor-All wipes are a good idea; to this point I just use a rag and vacuum to clean the tools.

Does anyone have advice on how to keep blades clean between the routine trips to the dealer for resharpening?

 

[#Tee]

this is great for hands and tools.

http://www.amazon.com/SK-Hand-Tool-SKWIPES1-Wipes/dp/B00J7T0QN6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1449803204&sr=8-1&keywords=sk+wipes

 

[rst]

I use a combination of vac brush, compressed air, and grime...citrus based cleaners; these have no effect on plastics, I even use it to clean adhesives off acrylics and polycarbonates.

 

[Eagles21]

Nothing anal about it. I do mine quite regularly. I use the normal trade hand wipe / cleaners (wonder wipes is a brand by ever build here). Wiped mine over today after they were covered in greasy marks and dust from dry lining and they came up like new  [big grin]

 

[idratherplaytennis]

I personally get ocd about like.. one or two parts of my tools. The grips, or wherever my hands touch the tool for use. I'm super... particular, about keeping the surfaces I grab as nice and clean as possible, and while it's not always possible, I do my damnedest to keep them that way. The rest of the tool could be scraped, have paint on it, or whatever, but I need the areas I grab and touch to be as nice as possible. That said- I usually take a damp rag and wipe everything at the end of the day or so, when it's been pretty dirty and rough. Another thing I would consider is as someone else mentioned, a combo of warm water, detergent and a cheap soft bristle brush. While chemical resistant, I still feel better with Dawn than rubbing alcohol which I use as last resorts. Now- that's how I like my normal tools- i.e. Makita stuffs, Estwing hammer, rotohammers, tapes and stuff. My Festool stuff... purty all over because I'm a firm believer that if you treat the tool good- even if it's built to stand up to the roughest treatments, if you treat it good, it will treat you good for a LONG time.

 

[Birdhunter]

Most of the woodworking I do requires extreme accuracy. Sawdust on my tools can interfere with that accuracy. So, sawdust is vacuumed up as the work proceeds and after the last use. The tools are ready to go in the morning.

Maybe I am being foolish, but dust control works for me as does going to bed with my tools clean and ready for the next use.

 

[ear3]

Just to piggy-back and shift the conversation slightly -- does anyone put anti-corrosion/rust inhibitors in their systainers?  I was thinking of adding one to the OF1400, OF1010 and OF2200 systainers, since I have heard of rust developing on the plunge rods.

 

[Bob H]

You could try some Slipit Liquid. It is  supposed to be a rust  inhibitor and  lubricant I use on my table saw top  so far it's worked well.

 

[Brent Taylor]

Compressed air  or a paint brush is what I use to keep my tools  clean, keep a couple of brushes on hand to clean off both my portable and  stationary tools.  As for the piggyback rust question, I  saw a pad that I'm thinking about dropping into the bottom of my boxes, it's supposed to be a rust inhibitor, but I can't remember if it was at Woodcraft  or Rockler,  I have had a hard time with rust in the area that I'm at on the Gulf. 

 

[rvieceli]

I use these, good size for drill bit boxes etc.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00V8VY07Y?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00

Lots of options

 

[Cheese]

[member=37411]Edward A Reno III[/member]
Are you thinking about using those desiccant packs from Lee Valley that we discussed in an earlier thread?

If so, I would think they would work well, however if you try this I'd be very interested in your feedback.