Older Snap-on Hard Handles

[CRTDI]

I have a few older (70's to 80's vintage) Snap-on screwdrivers with black and some with different colored hard handles. Some of the handles retain a nice finish as when new and others have faded quite drastically. Interestingly, the colored handles seem to have held up a bit better.

I am wondering if the handles faded due to whatever oils, cleaners or greases I have exposed them to over time, or do some time periods of manufacture just seem to hold up better?


Some of these screwdrivers have really nice handles, but the "Snap-on" script has all but disappeared. I would like to restore the scripts if possible, anbody had any luck doing this?

 

[Lump]

Haven't tried, but I'll watch this thread, since I have some older Snap On hard handled drivers too. Good luck!

 

[CRTDI]

I think I remember somewhere in my far distant past that a special type of paint pen was used to fill in engravings for some types of placards and I.D. plates. The pen I believe was rubbed over the surface and filled in the low spots of the engravings and then the excess wiped off the surface. Maybe the process used on the handles is similar.

 

[mkdive]

Elroy posted on a pen like that once.

I have some nutdrivers that I would have liked to fix the script on the handles. But they get used so much by me I just don't see the point. The red and yellow are the only two that the paint is wearing off. I guess I see it as they are getting used and it shows.....Not a bad thing at all!

 

[CRTDI]

It's not a bad thing to have wear, just means your getting some use out of your investment. Some of mine are so worn from use and that you can't tell if a script of any kind ever existed. I just have a few older pieces that would look a little better if they were "freshened-up" a bit.

I think I might try a china marker or a fine point paint marker.


http://www.sharpie.com/enUS/Product...Oil-BasedPaintMarkerExtraFine(Sharpie Catalog)

 

[Sick Puppy]

Don't remember the thread I saw this in (tool from the old world?), but is this what you mean?

http://www.markal.com/productDetail.aspx?ProductID=82

 

[Monte]

"Elroy" did this IIRC with some wrenches. I can´t remember what paint he used ? (pinstriping paint ?)

I did this with impact sockets and a white paint marker similar to the one above. Works until they get dirty again

 

[CRTDI]

Don't remember the thread I saw this in (tool from the old world?), but is this what you mean?


http://www.markal.com/productDetail.aspx?ProductID=82

Yep, that's exactly the idea. The Markal product looks interesting. I think filling in the engraving is the easy part. Trying to make it look half way decent after cleaning off the excess looks like the part I'll probably screw up..

 

[senlow]

The Lacquer Stiks work well. I've also used 1 Shot lettering enamel. 1 Shot is harder to use, but is available in more colors.

 

[CRTDI]

Ok, I went the cheap route and picked up a .99 cent white china marker from my local Hobby Lobby store to try and freshen-up the handle engravings.

I simply rubbed the pencil into the engraving with a little pressure to fill the low spots and wiped off the excess with a soft cloth.

I don't think it will be everlasting, but it met my intent of trying to freshen-up a few older screwdriver handles.


The china marker, aka grease pencil:

Before:

After:

I think it looks pretty decent for a little less than a minutes work.


I've tried a couple of others as well and found if you have a lot of scratches around the engraving, it's probably not worth using the method as the marker material gets into all of the little scratches too.

 

[hguerrero]

looks good. i might try it.