Restoring plastic handled screwdrivers

[rick carpenter]

I have several old beater plastic handled screwdrivers I want to restore. Black and yellow handle Stanleys, etc, nothing of great value. I'm good with fixing slotted metal tips and shanks. What can be done to restore bungered up philips heads? If nothing, then I could always convert to keystone, electrician's, or gunsmith slotted tips, or an awl... but I'd prefer to keep the philips philips. What plastic clean & polish goo and procedure won't destroy the painted sections of the handles?

I want to do this because its always easier and cheaper to buy new. I'm kinda that way.

 

[zkling]

I don't think much of anything unless you want to get into custom cutters or grinding fixtures to replicate the Philips accurately. I usually do the same thing, turn it into a custom hollow grind.

I've used a non metallic wire wheel type thing to clean the plastic handles then a quick wipe with 90% Iso alcohol.

 

[ranger302]

To freshen up the handles dip them in acetone then let them "dry". The Acetone will melt the handle a little and give a nice new look. This is the way the manufactures polish the new handles. As for the tips, any tool grinder will make quick work of refreshing the edges.

 

[rsanter]

You need to know what the handles are made of.
The clear craftsman type handles are acitate , those will melt to gell when dipped into acitone,
In the factory they come in as long extrusion bars and are cut and machined which will give them a frosty white appearance where the machine work is done to them. After the shaft is installed they put them in a quick dip in acitone which ' polishes' them

You can do the same thing again

On some old snap on handles I have very softly wire wheeled them and taken them to the buffer. They are better but not like new

Bob

 

[Michigan Mike]

I have refurbished some phillips head screw drivers. I very carefully grind the outside of the point trying to do it equally on all four sides. I keep a phillips screw there to test my grind against. I usually have to grind some off the point of the screwdriver also. These are not as good as a new phillips would but they are functional. I second the use of acetone on the handles. I scrape the big globs off then use steel wool on the rest then wipe down with acetone.

 

[Bryan Burns]

I like Meguiar's PlastX for renewing all sorts of plastics. I think I read about it in one of the GJ threads. A little goes a long way.

 

[sberry]

Sometimes I read these just to be entertained.

 

[littletoes]

ever read something and wonder "Why?"

 

[ZAPPER68]

ever read something and wonder "Why?"

Yup...this is one of those times....

 

[rick carpenter]

Thanks for all the responses!