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Acetate handle screwdrivers.

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exophyusical

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Aug 11, 2013
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For some reason I just love them, to me they look and feel just like a screwdriver should. The thing I'm noticing though is that these days is its mostly cheap sets that have the Acetate handles, the higher end stuff has gone to other materials. Just wondering who makes nice acetate handled screwdrivers these days?
 
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DeliveryGuy

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Gray Canada Tools (Gray with an "A", not "E" like Grey Pneumatic). Their clear yellow screwdrivers are Canadian made, but may be difficult to find if you don't live here. Also, their website is not responding correctly while navigating menus, the last few days.

www.graytools.com
 
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garboui

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exophyusical

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garboui said:
For that price a set of fuller pros can be had which in my experience outlast anything from the mastercrap line tenfold. The fullers also have the added bonus of made in Canada.
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Lol, I didn't buy them at that price, but yeah I have a few Fullers and some of them are nice. I don't think all Fullers are made in Canada anymore, some say Canada on the handle and some don't, I have a set of Fuller micro screw drivers that are probably the most poorly made POS screwdrivers I've ever owned, I would like to assume they are imported.
 
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exophyusical

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lbgradwell said:
I'm pretty sure those are Fullers...
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This, not only are the screw drivers identical but the sets are identical. Interesting because while the Fuller ones say "Made in Canada" the MC ones say "Assembled in Canada with imported parts".
 
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carcajou

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Canadian tire sells at least two different lines of acetate handled screwdrivers. Maybe that's where the confusion above is coming from.
 
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KinzeMech

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exophyusical said:
For some reason I just love them, to me they look and feel just like a screwdriver should.
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You, sir, have a gift. If you can be satisfied with, and enjoy using acetate screwdrivers, that will save you much money.

I have a similar gift. I can mix a drink with plastic bottle whiskey and enjoy it as much as anything else. I only bring out the "good stuff" when we have guests. $13/bottle vs $40. Saves me money every week. Alas, what the whiskey giveth, the toolbox taketh away.
 
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WNYflyer

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Rezeppa said:
My favorite are made by wright. They are just all around a good screwdriver. http://www.tooldiscounter.com/ItemDisplay.cfm?lookup=WRI9463&source=froogle&kw=WRI9463
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Those look like re-branded Vaco/Kleins.

You have the Vaco/Klein's, and I have heard folks say they were impressed by the Stanley 100 plus drivers. Also Proto as already mentioned and that is a Stanley product also.

Stanley 100 Plus link


http://stanleytools.com/default.asp?TYPE=CATEGORY&CATEGORY=SCREWDRIVER+SET&PAGENUMBER=2&VIEW=ThumbView
 
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4x4gearhead

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I have one big long standard wright screwdriver that I have abused the **** out of (before I knew it was a good brand name) and its still kickin! I found it in a machine I was working on that got traded into us.
 
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Monte

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DisplayImage.aspx
 
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Burgerkong

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exophyusical said:
Lol, I didn't buy them at that price, but yeah I have a few Fullers and some of them are nice. I don't think all Fullers are made in Canada anymore, some say Canada on the handle and some don't, I have a set of Fuller micro screw drivers that are probably the most poorly made POS screwdrivers I've ever owned, I would like to assume they are imported.
Click to expand...

I like the Golden Grip Fuller's, they full the hand better than their other acetate handle line.
 
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thetreshon

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Burgerkong said:
I like the Golden Grip Fuller's, they full the hand better than their other acetate handle line.
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I honestly thought I was the ONLY one who liked the Golden Grips best! No hard edges, just nice round curves.

Sad, as Rona cleared them out recently to go to clear Fuller's handles, and TSC stores cleared the out last year to sell cheap overseas made drivers for same retail prices. The only place I find them is a local small chain hardware store, in small quantities.
 
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Burgerkong

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thetreshon said:
I honestly thought I was the ONLY one who liked the Golden Grips best! No hard edges, just nice round curves.

Sad, as Rona cleared them out recently to go to clear Fuller's handles, and TSC stores cleared the out last year to sell cheap overseas made drivers for same retail prices. The only place I find them is a local small chain hardware store, in small quantities.
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Yep yep, I can still find them at my local Rona's, but the prices are up there like any other Rona product for some reason LOL. That and their archaic price matching policy means most of my business goes to other stores. Hall, even Home Hardware has better prices!
 
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Mr. Tool

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exophyusical said:
.....For some reason I just love them, to me they look and feel just like a screwdriver should.......
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Yea, I know exactly what your describing here because I dig tools with those colored 'acetate handles' myself! :thumbup:

Here are just a few of what I have in my collection:101_1159.jpg101_1160.jpg101_1165.jpg101_1177.jpg101_1191.jpg101_1192.jpg101_1201.jpg
 
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Mr. Tool

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....and a few more pic's. I have an assortment of a few other colors and other different tools and sizes, etc. as well. I enjoy using all of my tools. :beer:101_1202.jpg101_1210.jpg101_1214.jpg101_1223.jpg101_1228.JPG101_1067.jpg101_1061.jpg
 
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PShow

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I have accumulated various brands over the years and for the money, I seem to go back to older Fuller and/or Stanley 100 Plus acetate drivers.
 
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SMKS

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Pratt-Read still offers acetate handles, and their drivers are made in the USA.

I also like acetate handles. I just think they look cool, especially when they're colored.

I have these Wilde drivers purchased from Harry Epstein as my "dirty job" screwdrivers, since they're easier to clean. They're not the fanciest drivers, but they're good, basic, affordable tools that work well.

P142.JPG
 
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ganymede

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I like the Wright brand too. I also like the Stanley (late Proto) style handles. They're good unless your hands are real greasy then they are just a little too fat.
Old Par-X thrown in because it was lonely .
 

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oldldh

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tilly79 said:
Proto yellow handles
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The 19 piece set was $97.95 from Amazon...:thumbup:

www.HarryEpstein.com has a similar set at $65.00 + 20.00(For the big s'drvr---"prybar") + freight...or just about the same money as Amazon...:drool:

Got mine from Amazon, last week, can't beat them...:beer:

The 19 pc set goes under the Proto #J9600C, while the BIG SET goes under J9900C....
 

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Mr. Tool

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Yea, I also have a Proto, deep yellow, set as well as a couple of Facom tools with that deep burnt orange color that were purchased from Harry's along with a couple of Engineer brand (from Japan) with that bluish-purple, dark yellow and orange handles, AT&G deep blue handles and the classic green handles from Ames and various Vaco's with a rainbow of color handles and Klein yellow handle classics.
 
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scaron

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Aug 6, 2013
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ypsilanti, michigan
i'm a big fan of acetate handle screwdrivers as well. put one more down for the yellow handle proto classic drivers. i started out with the big, big set from harry epstein's and then filled in with another 8 or 9 just phillips drivers from zoro tools. so i have a bunch of them, lots of sizes available. i know you can also get a torx set from proto with the classic handles, that's still on my list, LOL.
 
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Mr. Tool

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The "Blackhawk" torx set from Proto is the set that I have.101_1092.jpg101_1093.jpg101_1094.jpg101_1090.jpg
 
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machine_punk

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Napa Valley, California
I remember that is in Junior High/Middle School metal shop class, we made our own screwdrivers with acetate handles. You get the acetate handle material in long, 6-foot pieces, cut it off to the length you need, then form the shape on a lathe.

Kev
 
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sselander

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Take a look at this archived copy of a Pratt-Read catalog, you will be drooling.
It includes the history of the company, as well as their products.

Archived copy of Pratt-Read catalog in PDF format, download to save
https://web.archive.org/web/20090306210428/http://www.prattread.com/PrattReadCatalog.pdf

"Our handles are made from Cellulose Acetate, a renewable natural resource derived from wood
pulp. Cellulose Acetate is a rugged, impact and chemical resistant material that is not a petroleumbased
product. All our handle designs are contoured to fit comfortably in the hand and they are
“right sized” to offer maximum turning power without over-torquing and causing damage to the
driver tip or the fastener."

----------------------------------------------------
Since the acquisition by Ideal, the web site is just a placeholder:
http://www.prattread.com/
 
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sselander

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Anybody live near Pottstown, PA?
That is the home of A&L handles - the company that Pratt-Read acquired in 1992.
Looks like they are a large manufacturer of acetate handles.

http://www.alhandles.com/

some history:
http://www.alhandles.com/pages/history.htm

They are neighbors with the Eastwood company, right across the street from each other

A&L Handles
244 Shoemaker Road
Pottstown, PA 19464

Retail Store:
Eastwood Company
263 Shoemaker Road
Pottstown PA 19464-6433

I see a page for the screw caps that people have inquired about:
http://www.alhandles.com/pages/handle-accessories-screw-caps.htm
 
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Dave455

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Sussex, England
Monte said:
DisplayImage.aspx
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I have a couple of these drivers too! Awesome tools and have lasted really well!

Monte, are they still available new? Tried to find some a little while back without luck!

To the O.P. - A good 'mid price' driver are the C.K. acetate handle drivers! Good handle shape and quite durable! They are common in U.K. hardware shops but I don't think I've ever seen them in the U.S.

'Top End' for me would be PB Swiss, but I'd love a couple more Wera acetate if I could find them!
 
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Monte

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