Dissolving Screwdriver Handles

[Plombob]

One of the Plomb collectors discovered that his Pyroxylin handled screwdrivers are breaking up. Does anyone have a clue as to the problem?

Is it possible that rust got into the handle and started the breakdown? The odd thing is the rust on the blades looks "fuzzy". I've seen that type of rust on other tools.
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Ignore the "Bakelite" tag on the picture, they're Pyroxylin.
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Now onto modern screwdrivers.

I have a pair of Proto screwdrivers that sit side-by-side in a desk drawer in the house. One looks as good as new, the other has an oily film on it. If I clean the film off, it comes back. The handle is now matte finish.

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I also had a Snap-On screwdriver years ago that went mushy.

What is the cause of dissolving handles and can it be prevented?

 

[Skin]

you clearly store your screw drivers in a bucket of chemicals [or so some would say]. Honestly its just the plastics breaking down so prevention beyond wiping them off after use doesnt seem very likely.

 

[oldjacks]

Snap-on had a very real problem with some of their early hard handles that did just that degrading by sitting in the toolbox. Something in the composition of the material caused those handles to degrade over time. I have had the same problem with Plumb, Craftsman and many other styles of screwdrivers.

 

[Skyline]

Snap-on is at least still around to warranty the early screwdrivers (and plastic hammers) that decomposed. I don't think you'll be so lucky with the Plumb.

 

[Alchymist]

And then there are the Xelite tools with the yellow plastic handles - they get a white coating and smell like baby puke when stored, and almost impossible to get the smell out of the toolbox.

 

[kissmeimgerman]

I have a few old files that have the same problem. They came in an old garage sale toolbox so they don't really get used but it is interesting to see this happening elsewhere.

 

[W650Mike]

Hey Plombob - I sure do like that wooden handled scraper!

 

[justin10054]

I have a plomb screwdriver with the same problem. The material is celluloid, which can degrade over time, releasing a gas. If the gas isn't allowed to dissipate (like if the screwdriver is left in a tool box for years), the plastic will crystallize and crumble to dust. You see this a lot on guitar pickguards from the jazz age. The "funny" rust is caused by the gas. On guitars, it causes nearby frets to rust and tarnish.

 

[Outlawmws]

I think you have two possible issues with the degraded plastics. one, if the composition was not right, (improperly mixed or simply the wrong proportions used) plastic will (especially under higher heat conditions) out-gas and lose the "plasticizers" that keep it resilient.

The other possible issue is exposure to certain volatile chemicals or chemical vapors. Hard plastics are particularly vulnerable to this.

I once tried to clean a hard plastic drafting machine scale with a solvent to take some tape residue off of it (masking tape on drafting tools was a common way to get a raised edge for inking drawings). That scale crystallized in my hand and literally shattered into pieces, before my eyes. Everyone (except the boss) thought that was pretty funny.

Proximity to different plastics might also be a cause, as different plastics may out-gas something the other plastic doesn't like. I've seen different plastics/"rubber" materials degrade other plastics as well.

 

[Bolster]

Well there you go bob. You've got two answers. First, it's like a fart, open the drawer and let the gas out before the handle crumbles from it. Second, if you do let it out, the handle will lose its vital essences and crumble. Clear? As my Indian friend likes to say:

"Either way you go you're scrooed."

 

[HandyManny]

Some early plastics or resins didn't hold up well over time. Some of this stuff was organic based and tended to degrade over time. Depending on what the material used was made from.

 

[justin10054]

http://www.archtop.com/ac_tips.html#anchor46477845
here is a link about disintegrating celluloid.

 

[Plombob]

I have a plomb screwdriver with the same problem. The material is celluloid, which can degrade over time, releasing a gas. If the gas isn't allowed to dissipate (like if the screwdriver is left in a tool box for years), the plastic will crystallize and crumble to dust. You see this a lot on guitar pickguards from the jazz age. The "funny" rust is caused by the gas. On guitars, it causes nearby frets to rust and tarnish.

That's the answer. The collector said his box was "packed tight" with tools.

Like a guru once said: "Some problems got no solutions."

 

[Plombob]

Hey Plombob - I sure do like that wooden handled scraper!

Me too! Wish it was mine....

 

[Plombob]

Well there you go bob. You've got two answers. First, it's like a fart, open the drawer and let the gas out before the handle crumbles from it. Second, if you do let it out, the handle will lose its vital essences and crumble. Clear? As my Indian friend likes to say:

"Either way you go you're scrooed."

Delmar, you turned up! Haven't seen you in these parts in ages. Better check those Plombs you've got stashed in the Gopher skins out in the back 40.

 

[Plombob]

http://www.archtop.com/ac_tips.html#anchor46477845
here is a link about disintegrating celluloid.

Very interesting. So it's confirmed. Our screwdrivers are screwed.

What are the modern tools made of? I'm sure it ain't celluloid.

 

[Plombob]

And then there are the Xelite tools with the yellow plastic handles - they get a white coating and smell like baby puke when stored, and almost impossible to get the smell out of the toolbox.

That explains the smell from my screwdriver drawer. I've got one Xcelite in the back and I couldn't figure out where that smell came from.