Making Handles question?

[jbmorrey]

I have seen mentioned somewhere(Maybe in passing on here) the ability to take old platic screwdriver handles that are in good shape and turning them into handles for other tools, does this make sense? i hope I explained it right. I had trouble explaining it properly because I could not find any instructions on how to do this.

Thanks,
Jaems M

 

[mdbeck1]

I rearranged the screwdriver drawer in my toolbox the other day and removed several that were not in great shape. I put them in the vice and heated up the shanks with a propane torch. Most of them came right out. Then while the plastic was still warm I heated up a file and slid the plastic handle on it.

My wife said the garage stunk but it's a small price to pay....

 

[Outlawmws]

I've done that but I didn't even heat the old shank. I just got something straddling the face of the handle at the face while the shank was in the vise, and drove it off.

You may need to drill to the handle to fit something bigger or fill with epoxy if too lose when installing the new tool shank.

 

[Danglerb]

There was a good sized thread here with pictures, many turned out really nice.

Kinda disappointed though, I was thinking this might be about making handles.

 

[jbmorrey]

Well that thread is what I am looking for, if anyone can find it, please attach a link please!!

James M

 

[stonesfan68]

Here you go

custom handled ratchets

 

[Packard V8]

Just caveat - when the above thread was popular, a friend of mine spent several man-hours removing the handles from screwdrivers, lathe-turning down ratchet handles and epoxying them together.

Yesterday, I was in his shop with another friend and asked to see the hard handle conversions. The 1/2" was conspicuously missing. I asked where it was. Long pause - "I dropped it and it broke."

Moral of the story - not all screwdriver handles are going to live as working ratchet handles.

jack vines

 

[Outlawmws]

Just caveat - when the above thread was popular, a friend of mine spent several man-hours removing the handles from screwdrivers, lathe-turning down ratchet handles and epoxying them together.

Yesterday, I was in his shop with another friend and asked to see the hard handle conversions. The 1/2" was conspicuously missing. I asked where it was. Long pause - "I dropped it and it broke."

Moral of the story - not all screwdriver handles are going to live as working ratchet handles.

jack vines

So it broke, it's an easy fix, and ruined screwdrivers are a dime a dozen.

 

[Packard V8]

So it broke, it's an easy fix, and ruined screwdrivers are a dime a dozen.

The point was there's a lot of labor involved to make something which is inherently fragile, especially in the heavier 1/2" rats. If you're going there, choose a good impact resistant material for the handle and don't bore the material too thin.

jack vines

 

[gj67stang]

See link in my signature.

 

[supra90turbo]

The labor involved is minimal compared to the end result. I don't think I've ever spent more than 30 minutes putting a handle on something...