Restoring dull/stained yellow pliers handles?

[CoogarXR]

Hello all, your resident Xcelite hoarder here.

The Xcelite pickings have been slim lately, so I've been starting down the road of collecting Vaco tools too. I love the bright yellow handles on their pliers, wrenches, etc.

But I picked up one sad pair of pliers with the yellow handles that have been heavily used in the automotive field, and they are very dull and darkened from years of greasy handling.

Anybody know any tricks to get the handles to glow bright-yellow again?

 

[steaks&anvils]

Bright yellow? nope. But you can clean them and get them "use-able" good again, mostly.

I have had good luck wiping plastic handles with acetone.

First clean the pliers to get the years of grease and dirt off. De-rust them if you need to. Sand and straighten the jaws as needed.

I then wipe them quickly with a paper towel soaked with acetone. Do it fast and don't let the paper towel sit on the plastic or it may leave lint or bond to the surface permanently. This will "melt" the fine scratches and lift off some of the staining. You may need to do it a few times. Less is better. Wait for the plastic to air dry before you touch it.

Wipe the metal parts with oil to protect the metal from rust and oil the hinge.

I have done this with lots of used pliers. I make jewelry and buy used smaller pliers when I find them. I must have 90 pairs now.

FYI, I have never tried to put new plastic on after the original cannot be saved. I hear heat shrink works OK and plastic dip works OK too, but doesn't last in the long run. There is a thread for new plastic handle grips:

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=204976

 

[ZRX61]

I use lacquer thinner on the blue ChannelLock handles & the red used on some Crescent wrenches. Then a quick spray & wipe with Pledge.

 

[ALLFAST]

WD40. works very well for me. Just brought a Diamond Forge Adjustable wrench from black filth to clean cool green !