Man o man I went out to the garage this last week and I am embarrassed, my nail guns have developed a small coat of rust in areas, alot of humidity around here.
What is the best way to clean these up, I got yelled at by my tool rep for using wd-40, I hate to blow $6 a can on Paslode gun cleaner (smells like carb cleaner).
Im looking at dusting the bags off part time in about 2 weeks, hopefully back to full time in a month. Ive got an apartment complex to rebuild that burnt so Ill be supervising mos of it. But I am not a great spectator.
Any advice would be great. thanks
Woods favorite carpenter
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Not sure If its good for your tools or not but I just got all the rust off my framing square with CLR - let it sit for few mins scour pad took it right off
WD-40 is a product that brings up all manner of passions.
While often chided as another 'duct tape' type thing for handymen, I've tried a multitude of other products ... and WD-40 hasn't been eliminated from my inventory as yet.
Despite all the hyperbola spouted by many sales reps, WD-40 has often outperformed "superior" products. In preventing rust, over the short term (under 90 days), it's pretty hard to beat. In displacing moisture, it's hard to beat. In penetrating into every pore, it's hard to beat.
As a 'test,' I once treated two shovels, both freshly cleaned from the same day's digging.
One shovel got sprayed with LPS-1 (a light 'moisture displacing' oil comparable to WD-40), then coated with LPS-3 (a very soft wax-based rust protectant).
The other got sprayed with WD-40, then sealed with LPS-3
After but a few days in dry storage, the WD-40 shovel still looked clean. The LPS-1 shovel had bright flowers of fresh rust under the protective coating.
That said, WD-40 isn't for everything. While often derided as not being a 'real' penetrating oil, it is certainly capable of penetrating into ammunition, and making your gun go 'click' rather than 'bang.'
As for the rep screaming at you, though .... I do hope he has a more civil reason he can explain to you for his position - apart fro, a general snobbery against WD-40. It is possible that the seals and gaskets within are incompatible with WD-40, or that WD-40 has a bad effect on the lubricant used. It is possible that the rep has a good reason - apart from his product to sell - for his position.
if that's what ya think of WD, try TriFlow w/ teflon and move up in the world....
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TriFlow is a great lubricant (I'm a big fan), but not a very good moisture displacer or rust inhibitor.I'd use gun oil or bicycle chain lube. But do avoid contact with rubber parts unless you know for sure the lube is compatible.
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Oh, I'm quite familiar with Tri-flo. And Break-Free. And Amsoil. And ... well, you get the idea. I'll readily agree that these others are better lubricants. But, for displacing moisture, and stopping rust from getting started, WD-40 works extremely well.
For me, I wouldn't worry about it... maybe rub them with a scotch brite... but when you start using them again, they'll straighten up.That said, I use Bostick Dri-Coat on a lot of my stuff... not greasy, no silicone, low build up, doesn't accumulate ####. If I have to clean something WD works fine as long as I clean it off. I put Boeshield on stuff that may sit around for a while, but I've got to clean it off before I use the stuff again cause it's a #### attractant If dogs run free, then what must be,
Must be, and that is all.
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Pretty sure the Paslode cleaner is only for the impulse type gun and then only in firing cyl, not to control rust. WD-40 should not hurt the outside of anything, agree with gun guy if you were using it inside impulse gun.
To my understanding, WD40 is more solvent than lubricant. It might knock down the rust a little and loosen any frozen or sticky parts, but then it goes away pretty quickly.
Tri-Flow, ok.
Heavier, spray lithium grease. It's a bit gummy but seems to work pretty well down at the nose of a framing nailer, with its nail-cycling mechanisms...
(glad to hear you're up and about. Feeling good?)
Pat
This is just some surface rust on the noses of the guns, I was looking for a cleaner then a lubricant for them. Sorry I have a hard time being clear on the computer.
Anyway they probably work great still, but I dont like it on my tools so I was looking for what works for you guys, i was scolded by my repairman for using wd-40 because it collects grime over time clogging it up.
Anywho things are moving well for me, I am walking again, on a cane and cant wait to get running again. Diesels thread doesnt help either if you dont want to make sawdust after going through any of his threads turn in your man cards now. ;)
Woods favorite carpenter
For some thing like that spray then with some WD-40. Then scrub them a bit with a scotch bright pad and then wipe with a clean rag..
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A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
Matt if you want to use wd40, use it. When framing we always used it to clean the parts tha seem to get clogged with iol and grime. After using we always used an air nossel on them to dry and remove any traces. We never had a problem with it getting up into the o rings, which would have dissolved with it.
I used to laugh when I'd pull out a tool that was so rusty that it would embarass most carpenters. It never embarrassed me...all my tools got wet all the time. I'd normally have to dig around in snow to find my saw and nail gun LOL!
I know you guys have more pride but if it really bothers you, soak the nose piece in oil and brush it off with a wire brush. WD 40 won't hurt the exterior of the gun but you dont want it on your seals. I regularly sprayed the nosepiece with silicone or wd 40 and never had seal failure.
You'd hate to see what's left of my tools now.
Bob's next test date: 12/10/07
You know like I do the weather here, well more than I do. Rain and humidity and lots of them at times. SO needless to say this 3 month "vacation" has left them with a thin skin of it.
I like to keep them clean, and ready to go, especially the trim and finish nailers. The skin they have now just bugs me.
Maybe a little ocd but I hate to see it.
Woods favorite carpenter
I don't think any of my trim tools ever got rusty but they were never exposed to the weather. Steel wool and light oil will polish them up and make them look new. My biggest problem was dirt and oil gunked up on everything. The oil would keep the rust down but attrack sawdust and dirt. It's a viscous cycle. Bob's next test date: 12/10/07
I figured as much, thats why I had hoped one of you more experienced guys had stumbled onto something. But I think I will wire brush and steel wool them clean, with the paslode gun cleaner.
THanksWoods favorite carpenter
I keep most of my unused tools in my basement, there is a dehumidifier running so tools are rust free.
My garage is about 200 yrds from the ocean so any tools I leave in there are temporary. Doesn't seem to bother the weed whacker or lawnmower though.
Lee Valley has some corrosion inhibitors that use silica gel, the same stuff in the small bags packed with electronics.
http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=1&p=53828&cat=1,43326
http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=1&p=58755&cat=1,43326
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