Hand Tools
Keeping Your Hand-Tools Clean, And In Perfect Working Order.
Spending time to inspect and clean your automotive hand tools might not sound an exciting way to pass your time but it really does pay off. You'll get the best out of your tools by keeping them clean and lubricated where necessary.
Owning a clean, tidy, well cared-for toolkit is satisfying and also increases self-respect! It's good engineering practice and has a fundamental effect on the quality of your work.
If you're anything like me, when you're working on your engine you get right down and dirty with your tools. If you don't give them a good clean every so often, the grooves and fine-tooled parts get filled with grease, grit, dust, oil etc., reducing the efficiency of the tool. It happens bit by bit so it's not so noticeable until you do give them a good clean, as set out here, then you really notice the difference.
You want all your tools handy when you need them so follow the old adage: a place for everything ...and everything in its' place. Whenever you've finished a job, everything back in its' place!
To Lubricate Tools:
Spray tools with a fine mist of WD-40 penetrating oil
Easiest method to clean your tools:
You'll need:
A small bowl: plastic, metal or whatever you've got handy...
a litre or so of petrol...
a small clean paint brush...
a wire brush and...
plenty of clean dry cloths.
(Hint: I find the best source of clean rags is Charity shops. They usually have a lot of old T-shirts that don't get sold and they package them up and send them for re-cycling; if you go and ask them for a large bag of these, giving them several days notice, they usually come up trumps with a large bag for only $2 - $3) 
Anyway, back to cleaning ...follow the video with special attention on the last bit: using the wirebrush to clean the grooves. This lets them fit properly into the screw heads, reducing slipping and burring of the edges. If the grooves had a lot of muck, just clean the end with petrol again.
Thats it! ...and here's the short video:
