dodge610
Well-known member
I keep on getting a white chalky film on the handles of all my screwdrivers anyone know what i can get to clean this off and keep it off this is a real pain in the a## and it makes my screwdrivers look like hell
Clean Screwdriver Handles
- Thread starter dodge610
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Case IH
Well-known member
Brake cleaner? I've never heard of anything like what you are explaining
I still just wipe all my tools down with a light oil or CLP.
Handle's, especially Acetate, I'll clean off with just a soft rag. Some people really don't like everything having a film of oil on it, though, so you might not appreciate it. It's a requirement up here in the rust belt.
re: Brake cleaner is kinda rough on most plastics. For shame, they oughta toughen up and get with it! It's the real man's hand cleaner, after all. And after shave.
[edit] What you're describing might be the plastic degrading (seen it on stuff soaked in WAY too many solvents, it killed my Xcelites. Got any pictures?
Handle's, especially Acetate, I'll clean off with just a soft rag. Some people really don't like everything having a film of oil on it, though, so you might not appreciate it. It's a requirement up here in the rust belt.
re: Brake cleaner is kinda rough on most plastics. For shame, they oughta toughen up and get with it! It's the real man's hand cleaner, after all. And after shave.
[edit] What you're describing might be the plastic degrading (seen it on stuff soaked in WAY too many solvents, it killed my Xcelites. Got any pictures?
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american lockpicker
Banned
Its plastic breaking down. I had that happen on some Facom pozis I got once.
fordbroncodave
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just wipe with a rag when your done using your screwdriver. no cleaners or degreasers.
rsieracki
Well-known member
i like citrus degreaser... .got a good deal on ace hardware brand on clearance for $1 a can a while back, sadly im on my last can, did wonders on my snapon plier handle (whatever dipped coating the use) also use on my screwdrivers
Surprised me too they are all in my tool box in my tool barn i only heat it when im up there working but it is a white chalky film that makes the handles slick and hard to hold on to i have the moisture collection containers in three drawers of my tool box so that my tools wont sweat in the box but this filmy stuff is real annoying.
D9H 90V
Well-known member
What kind of screwdrivers are they?
Kirbot
Well-known member
I'm sure they would, but trust me, you don't wan't them to.
The newer standard Craftsman screwdrivers are awful.
The metal is WAY too soft.
Kirbot
Well-known member
I've cleaned mine in soap and water with a wire brush.
If it comes back that quickly, you might try spraying it with clear coat.
I don't know if it would work, but it would be worth a try.
If it comes back that quickly, you might try spraying it with clear coat.
I don't know if it would work, but it would be worth a try.
need more tools
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It is calcium build up.It is very hard to remove. Viniger and water will remove it.
need more tools
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your moisture collection containers could be causing this.Have you ever seen the white chalky rings that will devolpein tupper ware or plastic food storage containers? that is calcium.Ive seen it happen to fishing lures tools and many other things.
need more tools
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It could be from anything but Ibet that it is calcium because it it a b@!#h to get off and sounds like what I have seen many times and have been told was calcium.I have been told it is from moisture reacting with some other type of chemical. or cotaminated water good luck with it.I hadt to dump some old fishing lures my dad gave me becausce of it cotaminated my box.
Thanks so far that is the only thing it seems to be getting on so once i get it off ill oil the handles and get rid of the moisture collectors as a test i may just wipe everything down with a light oil to keep it from rusting from moisture see if that stops the problem.
Hammer1963
Well-known member
Clean them with soap and water, then use a plastic prep cleaner used for painting plastic body panels. Then spray them with adhesion promoter. This will remove the contaminants and open the pores of the plastic allowing the base product of the plastic to re-flow, thus creating a new brite surface. If you try this, show us the results
mikester
Well-known member
[edit] What you're describing might be the plastic degrading (seen it on stuff soaked in WAY too many solvents, it killed my Xcelites. Got any pictures?[/QUOTE]
Thats funny...I have the same on my Xcelite nut drivers too. Just them. And they have a strange smell to them. Almost like smoke. Everythings in the same box and theyre in with some cheap Husky metric drivers in the same drawer.
Thats funny...I have the same on my Xcelite nut drivers too. Just them. And they have a strange smell to them. Almost like smoke. Everythings in the same box and theyre in with some cheap Husky metric drivers in the same drawer.
Cleaner, Lubricant, Preservative ..cleans, lubes, protects! It's a fancy-shmancy mil-spec (MIL-L-63460) for lubricating guns with, but I've used it with my tools (used to use lanolin oil) with great success. Still no rust, even on the pock-marked chrome. It sticks on well and doesn't leave a nasty coating that things stick to.
Usually find it under the BreakFree brand, although there's plenty of other manufacturers that have something to the same spec. It doesn't wash off easily, though.
Yep, only the Xcelites seem to do it. My dad's collection from his Xerox days are the same way, they smell very peculiar - far back as I can remember. Some things react badly with the acetate, but a light wipe with acetone will leave them shiney and looking new again.
MrMark
Well-known member
Dodge, I'm afraid you'll just have to live with that white build up. I don't know what it is, it might be calcium, but I tend to doubt it. It appears on the older craftsman and xcelite drivers that I have. They usually stink like puke too. I've scraped it off, or even scotchbrited in off, and it comes back. Nothing safe chemical wise that I know of will touch it. I suppose lacquer thinner would get it off but it would probably eat the handle too. I think it has to be scraped off with a bondo spreader or your fingernail. The xcelites are from the early 80's.
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Underdog
Well-known member
I've seen it on old craftsman screwdrivers stored in my tool box. It looks like white mold buildup, and yea clean it off and it returns.
mickeyone
Well-known member
Hit them with a heat gun and wipe off. Works for me
Busted Bolts
Well-known member
Not only have I had this white stuff on some of my SO handles, but it shows up on certain grips of my mini electrical pliers (mostly rough texture handles) and this is in a climate controlled shop. I think it might have started after I wiped down some of them with WD 40 a while ago.
I ordered and recieved the plastic prep waiting on the adhesion promoter so i can post some before and after pics UPS sent me a e mail said the adhesion promoter was supposed to be delivered yesterday did not recieve they are usually right on maybe monday cant wait to see the before and after goin to have to give them there own drawer if they come out real nice just so i can show em off white chalky stuff loses i win i hope
Re: Clean Screwdriver Handles Up Date
Here are some before and after scrubbing the screwdriver handles still have to plastic prep them and adhesion promote them but so far so good thanks to Hammer1963 for this idea ill post pics after each step.
I keep on getting a white chalky film on the handles of all my screwdrivers anyone know what i can get to clean this off and keep it off this is a real pain in the a## and it makes my screwdrivers look like hell
Here are some before and after scrubbing the screwdriver handles still have to plastic prep them and adhesion promote them but so far so good thanks to Hammer1963 for this idea ill post pics after each step.
ZRX61
Well-known member
I use Pledge on mine, doesn't appear to make them slippery...
Hmm... nice lemony smell too?
Lump
Well-known member
This stuff is definitely plastic breaking down. That's why you get the odor. The original solvents are still migrating to the surface, and the plastic handles are simply deteriorating...albeit slowly.
I am an antique fishing lure collector, and we deal with a lot of this on lures...especially older lures. In the 1930's Heddon came out with their "Spook" series of lures, all made from a plastic called "Tenite". It was the new whiz-bang material for a while, until time began to reveal its weaknesses. It is not uncommon, when you find an old tackle box with some old Tenite-bodied lures still unused in the box, to open the boxes and get hit with a terrible stink.
And some of the stinkiest lures have literally disintegrated. Sometimes you'll find some new-looking metal hardware, screws, and hooks, in the box, but only plastic crumbs where the lure body used to be. And these extreme cases REALLY stink. 
Some newer plastics from the 1950's/60's which replaced Tenite also degrade, and when they do they "grow" a white film, which must be scrubbed off. And which will return again in time. Even if they are not exposed to further use, or calcium, etc. Some guys try various waxes to seal out oxygen, but with only mixed results.
But I'm pretty sure this white film is not calcium; at least as far as I know, because it happens to brand new unopened plastics still in their original boxes. I would think that calcium might build up if these plastics were often submerged in water or something (like it does on dinner ware and plumbing fixtures).
It's a PITA, but the only fix I know of is too keep cleaning them.
I am an antique fishing lure collector, and we deal with a lot of this on lures...especially older lures. In the 1930's Heddon came out with their "Spook" series of lures, all made from a plastic called "Tenite". It was the new whiz-bang material for a while, until time began to reveal its weaknesses. It is not uncommon, when you find an old tackle box with some old Tenite-bodied lures still unused in the box, to open the boxes and get hit with a terrible stink.
And some of the stinkiest lures have literally disintegrated. Sometimes you'll find some new-looking metal hardware, screws, and hooks, in the box, but only plastic crumbs where the lure body used to be. And these extreme cases REALLY stink. Some newer plastics from the 1950's/60's which replaced Tenite also degrade, and when they do they "grow" a white film, which must be scrubbed off. And which will return again in time. Even if they are not exposed to further use, or calcium, etc. Some guys try various waxes to seal out oxygen, but with only mixed results.
But I'm pretty sure this white film is not calcium; at least as far as I know, because it happens to brand new unopened plastics still in their original boxes. I would think that calcium might build up if these plastics were often submerged in water or something (like it does on dinner ware and plumbing fixtures).
It's a PITA, but the only fix I know of is too keep cleaning them.
Mr.Nutcase
Well-known member
I keep on getting a white chalky film on the handles of all my screwdrivers anyone know what i can get to clean this off and keep it off this is a real pain in the a## and it makes my screwdrivers look like hell
Stop playing with tool...........
jmh21586
Well-known member
This stuff is definitely plastic breaking down. That's why you get the odor. The original solvents are still migrating to the surface, and the plastic handles are simply deteriorating...albeit slowly.
I am an antique fishing lure collector, and we deal with a lot of this on lures...especially older lures. In the 1930's Heddon came out with their "Spook" series of lures, all made from a plastic called "Tenite". It was the new whiz-bang material for a while, until time began to reveal its weaknesses. It is not uncommon, when you find an old tackle box with some old Tenite-bodied lures still unused in the box, to open the boxes and get hit with a terrible stink.
Some newer plastics from the 1950's/60's which replaced Tenite also degrade, and when they do they "grow" a white film, which must be scrubbed off. And which will return again in time. Even if they are not exposed to further use, or calcium, etc. Some guys try various waxes to seal out oxygen, but with only mixed results.
But I'm pretty sure this white film is not calcium; at least as far as I know, because it happens to brand new unopened plastics still in their original boxes. I would think that calcium might build up if these plastics were often submerged in water or something (like it does on dinner ware and plumbing fixtures).
It's a PITA, but the only fix I know of is too keep cleaning them.
I have an old SXS shotgun with a tenite stock. From the 50's. It always has a scumy white film on it.
MrMark
Well-known member
Re: Clean Screwdriver Handles Up Date
Lump has it right I'm afraid. They look good! How did you abrade the white film off? Scotchbrite? Green or Maroon?
Here are some before and after scrubbing the screwdriver handles still have to plastic prep them and adhesion promote them but so far so good thanks to Hammer1963 for this idea ill post pics after each step.
Lump has it right I'm afraid. They look good! How did you abrade the white film off? Scotchbrite? Green or Maroon?