Drying ratchet screwdrivers

[dancrane]

Yesterday both my Stanley ratcheting screwdrivers were required to resolve a bathroom malfunction. Ask not, please.

I left both screwdivers in a bucket of bleach for an hour afterwards. I'm content that they are now clean, but I wonder about how best to thoroughly dry their sealed ratcheting insides.

I suppose 3-in-1 or a silicone lube can be sprayed into the gaps, but is there a way (post-dunking) to get them really dry and avoid corrosion?

I've no idea whether the parts are stainless - I doubt it given the price.

Thanks!

 

[Gustywinds]

Airing cupboard ( if you have one) with a bowl/box of rice

 

[Poignard]

Immerse them in alcohol

 

[thinwater]

Why not just a warm oven or similar for an hour or so? Then you have to relube.

 

[dancrane]

Thanks, these all sound smart.

I suppose modest heat is the easiest to arrange. But will it really get the drips/dampness out of the pawl and spring mechanisms inside?

 

[Freebee]

wd 40 was developed as a water dispersant

 

[penberth3]

wd 40 was developed as a water dispersant

Yes, that's what I'd do. A few good squirts, work the ratchet both ways, then let them drain.

OP doesn't mention dilution, but I wouldn't have used bleach!

 

[dancrane]

Using bleach wasn't really a matter of choice, after the work the tools had done. Fire might have substituted but wouldn't have done the plastic handles much good.

But I have WD40, I'll start there and let them rest somewhere warm and airy for a few weeks.

Thanks again.

 

[rotrax]

I think the OP is being coy. Instead of 'Bathroom Malfunction' he perhaps should have been more honest and said @$H1thouse Malfunction'. The bleach, no doubt, was used as a disinfectant.

Been There, done that!

 

[Rappey]

A wind has a better drying effect than heat alone. I've had ratchets that have got a little salty but 3in1 oil and lots of spinning have returned them to their pre immersion state.

 

[rogerthebodger]

If you propose wind and heat use a heat gun to dry the ratchet.

In steed of using Bleach, you should use Dettol as a disinfectant.

 

[lustyd]

Don't forget to lube after the WD40, which isn't a lube

 

[PCUK]

WD40 is named War Department 40 and was developed by the Rootes Group (Humber, Hillman, Sunbeam, Singer) to lubricate guided missiles. There are a lot of lies about it being American!

 

[thinwater]

Thanks, these all sound smart.

I suppose modest heat is the easiest to arrange. But will it really get the drips/dampness out of the pawl and spring mechanisms inside?

Yes, given some time. Hours.

 

[penberth3]

If you propose wind and heat use a heat gun to dry the ratchet.

In steed of using Bleach, you should use Dettol as a disinfectant.

Yes, I don't get this fascination with bleach in the home. Evil stuff, and not necessary.

 

[lustyd]

WD40 is named War Department 40

Water Displacement 40th formula, it just happened to be the 40th recipe they tried.

 

[dancrane]

WD40 is named War Department 40

Not "Water Dispersant"?

I'm generally very sparing with bleach, for every good reason. But as Rotrax infers, yesterday wasn't a day to be sparing.

I mustn't buy a heatgun to save my inexpensive screwdrivers.

I bought a Bosch cordless circular saw just to carve up the Osprey. It paid for itself (saved me this year's club fees by making the boat small enough to put in ordinary garbage bags) and is a great tool, but really, I'll try gentler domestic ambient warmth first.

Good point about WD not being a lube.

 

[lustyd]

Good point about WD not being a lube.

To be fair in this instance I might not add other lube as it may be messy. This forum has a proud tradition of saying wd40 isn’t lube though so I couldn’t help myself

 

[penberth3]

To be fair in this instance I might not add other lube as it may be messy. This forum has a proud tradition of saying wd40 isn’t lube though so I couldn’t help myself

It's a good enough lube for ratchet screwdrivers

 

[dancrane]

Immerse them in alcohol

Given what Scotch costs now, it would be cheaper to buy new screwdrivers.