Do You PlastiDip Your Handles?

[Bolster]

Has this stuff improved any, since I last used it about 20 years ago? Not too impressive at the time, it went on real thin. But in the picture it's going on nice and thick...smoke and mirrors? Or the real deal?

 

[Ray-CA]

I have, but it takes multiple dips to build up a decent thickness.

Ray

 

[iandh]

Has this stuff improved any, since I last used it about 20 years ago? Not too impressive at the time, it went on real thin.

The secret is to remove at the correct rate, the slower you remove the thinner the coating.

If you dip and remove more quickly (dont yank it out though), it will leave more of the dip on.

If you remove slowly, the surface tension drags the dip off the part as you withdraw it.




The secret secret is to do multiple dips, then use a razor to trim around the top edge so you can't see all of the dip lines... then you use a swab with naptha or tolulene and swab it on the cut to soften the corners. If you do that, it's about as close as you can get to looking factory.

 

[tweety652]

i also recommend removing it slowly, but a friend did some wrenches that came out awesome by putting his tools in an oven on about 150 and baked it for about10-20 min. it actually made the "rubber" a bit more resistant than what i had done with my tools by just dipping them repeatedly.

 

[Abbott]

I need to do a couple of tools and I haven't ever used the stuff. I may go ahead and give it a try....or just replace the tools.

 

[mkirkpatrick]

I used it years ago like you Bolster I was not really impressed. I think I was trying to put a rubber handle on a couple pairs of pliers. The stuff peels right off when it was bumped against anything sharp. Not too durable.

 

[iandh]

I used it years ago like you Bolster I was not really impressed. I think I was trying to put a rubber handle on a couple pairs of pliers. The stuff peels right off when it was bumped against anything sharp. Not too durable.

Strange, I've actually found it to be surprisingly durable...

 

[Ghostrider]

Were are you guys getting this stuff, I've thought about useing something like this a few times.

 

[mkirkpatrick]

Were are you guys getting this stuff, I've thought about useing something like this a few times.

When I bought it, it was from either Car Quest or NAPA, I think I have seen it in the box stores recently. but when I bought it Ronald Reagan was president.

 

[t100]

I learned hand wrap plier handles from the deckhands on fishing boats. they last forever if done correctly. it takes me about 5 minutes to do a pair and costs next to nothing.

 

[Stick Figure]

HF has it. I've tried it for a non tool application and thought it was all right. I can say the lid doesn't fit tight, and its a *%&^$ to get out of carpet. lol

 

[bonneyman]

I learned hand wrap plier handles from the deckhands on fishing boats. they last forever if done correctly. it takes me about 5 minutes to do a pair and costs next to nothing....

Cool! I've done this type of thing with the old cloth electrical tape and the newer Extreme tape - getting ready to try my luck at it with surplus leather strips.

 

[Bolster]

I learned hand wrap plier handles from the deckhands on fishing boats. they last forever if done correctly.,,

Do tell! How is it done correctly?

 

[Chevy350]

I just did a pair of pliers, did 5 coats over two days. Looks pretty good and it built up a bit with each coat. Time will tell how it holds up. Really easy to use.

 

[t100]

Do tell! How is it done correctly?

use only 100% cotton cord, roll tight, and pour boiling hot water over it when finished(that's why use cotton), let it shrink. it will be tight as hell.

 

[Brad54]

I did a 3/8-drive ratchet handle years ago--use it around nicely painted body panels, etc. Some place where if the handle hits the paint, I'm not going to scream because it chipped the paint.
It is a bit thin though, and has started coming off in recent years. I'd like to re-apply.
I'm intrigued by the bake-on method.

Yet another reason to hook up the oven in the shop!

-Brad

 

[foul_ball]

use only 100% cotton cord, roll tight, and pour boiling hot water over it when finished(that's why use cotton), let it shrink. it will be tight as hell.

looks like "whipping" the pliers instead of a rope. Thanks for the tip about hot water!

 

[mrholeshot]

I used some of the dip back in the 80's. I thought it held up pretty well. I dipped the tools several times. I just cut the dip off an adjustable wrench that I did back around 84. The only reason I did it was couldn;t remember what brand of wrench it was. Turned out to be a Craftsman. It wasn't my most used Adjustable but it was used a good bit at home. The dip held up incredibly well. BTW I really like the string trick.

 

[loj]

use only 100% cotton cord, roll tight, and pour boiling hot water over it when finished(that's why use cotton), let it shrink. it will be tight as hell.

That's cool! How did you get the twine tucked at both ends?

 

[sammm]

That's cool! How did you get the twine tucked at both ends?

You start by making an open loop of string (like a deep 'U'). Start wrapping on the open end of the 'U', but leave a bit of string sticking out where you can still grab it. When you get to the bottom, thread the end of the string thru the 'U' and pull it under the wrappings by tugging the piece of string you left out on top.

Hope that makes sense.

 

[Abbott]

Good info. T100 and Samm.

 

[Davefr]

Has this stuff improved any, since I last used it about 20 years ago? Not too impressive at the time, it went on real thin. But in the picture it's going on nice and thick...smoke and mirrors? Or the real deal?

In my experience this stuff is junk. It's not durable or chemical resistant. It's simply thick paint.

 

[06wt]

use only 100% cotton cord, roll tight, and pour boiling hot water over it when finished(that's why use cotton), let it shrink. it will be tight as hell.

i think a how to thread is in order, cuz it looks like somthing everyone should see, and pics of the process would explain better

 

[Crash913]

Anyone have pictures of the finished product?

 

[Sterff]

I have never seen the stuff , but I do have quite a few pairs of pliers that need coated.

 

[Teken]

i think a how to thread is in order, cuz it looks like somthing everyone should see, and pics of the process would explain better

+1 Would appreciate it if someone could take a few minutes to do a few pictures as to how too.

If there is a You Tube video even better . . . I am a learn as you go type of guy!

 

[Fauj]

+1 Would appreciate it if someone could take a few minutes to do a few pictures as to how too.

If there is a You Tube video even better . . . I am a learn as you go type of guy!

+1 Same here.

 

[mikebramel]

HF has it. I've tried it for a non tool application and thought it was all right. I can say the lid doesn't fit tight, and its a *%&^$ to get out of carpet. lol

try a gelled solvent like von schrader gitgo or you can go to something like cobbcarpet.com and theyll have something

 

[superautobacs]

I have a Nicholson handy file

(like these)

that I wrapped the handle with twine to create a bulb handle. To finish it off, I rattle can'd clear plastidip to make it even more grippy.

 

[sammm]

+1 Would appreciate it if someone could take a few minutes to do a few pictures as to how too.

If there is a You Tube video even better . . . I am a learn as you go type of guy!

+1 Same here.

 

[Teken]

Oh you're a good good man!

 

[06wt]

who wat of thought it was called whipping, everything on boats has to have some strange name or terminology

 

[Bolster]

Thanks for the vid link.

Does anybody here have an actual example of a PlastiDip'd tool? I'd like to see if anybody's been successful using this stuff...

 

[Brad54]

That was EXCELLENT! I wouldn't have thought to look on Youtube.

On the side of the screen where it shows related videos, there was an even better one showing three different methods, all with the same results.

I couldn't get past figuring an effective way to pull the tails in.

This is cool too, because I've got a set of lineman's pliers that need grips. They've got smooth metal handles, and I use them at my welder--grips will make them a lot easier to use with my gloves on.

-Brad

 

[Mr.Nutcase]

I have ratchet I did a few years ago....
(the one with the red dot)

 

[beelsr]

i've used this stuff and it works well. imo, the most important thing is to mix the can well. after my first can, i found a lot of solids on the bottom of the can. i just added whatever the thinner recc. is (xylene?) and finished it off. don't over thin because then it just drips off the tool while drying - that's TOO thin....

no pics because i'm not at home but i've dipped lots of pliers and crescents.

i like the dip stuff better than the spray can but with longer handles it's easier to spray if you don't have an acid brush handy.

 

[spartyon8]

How about whipping and then 1-2 coats of plastidip?

 

[06wt]

How about whipping and then 1-2 coats of plastidip?

that would be interesting to see

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

I forgot about the whipping, as it was mentioned here some time ago. (the link was on my old pc that the hard drive died when backing up)

Now I seem to remember another post on this before, where someone used sand, I think, to texture the plastic dip.

 

[toymn6366]

if you do a search for liquid rubber coating i have some pics of ratches i dipped