slip resistant screwdrivers

[wellpoison]

hey all, im working at a water treatment plant. im having problems with the two chemicals. when it gets on your hands, tools, pretty much anything it touches becomes covered in a thick layer of snot, and then anything you touch, etc. add water and it gets worse. the only thing that gets it off is hand sanitizer but still it takes a while. it seems that screw drivers are the worst to work with when they get stuff all over it then do any other tools. so im looking for suggestions on how to make them still usable when they are covered in slime. i thought about maybe that skate board grip tape, but it may rip the gloves that i wear. any suggestions would be helpful. any company make screwdrivers that have a very grippy coating but that are still pretty easy to clean?

 

[OEXL16B]

Some screwdrivers have a flocking material on them. Perhaps maybe these Wiha screwdrivers is what you need:

Click Here

 

[BrokewrenchLS1]

Wiha makes a set called "Microfinish" that works great for that sort of situation. The handles are covered in what's essentially a much finer version of grip tape (course, it's molded on, not actual tape).

 

[OEXL16B]

^ You obviously did not click on my link before writing that post.

 

[Skin]

Snap-On instinct soft grip are suppose to be good. Truth be told all i have of the instinct handles is the ratcheting screwdrivers which i've never covered in oil so i cant say how well they'd hold up. That was one of their goals in design though.

Witte MaxxPro Plus drivers have flocking on the handles which is suppose to be great. I just bought a rebranded set from Matco (backordered).

Home Depot sells them online

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...d=10053&langId=-1&keyword=witte&storeId=10051

Matco and Cornwell sell a wide selection of them under their own brands in which case they'd be lifetime warranty. If its coming out of your pocket that will probably matter to you. Downside is they cost about twice as much up front.

 

[CaisedoA]

I have some snap on soft grip instinct handle ones and they work great even when I get them covered in hydraulic oil, they're not that hard to clean either, kinda pricy tho

 

[waterboy12]

I also work at a water treatment plant, after many attempts to try to find something to keep chemicals of my tools...i found it easier to just watch wear i put my hands and wear i put my tools. Always carry a rag and a spare pair of gloves. If your working with polymer(snot) ordinary table salt will clear it up pretty quick. If your working with anything acidic which has a very slippery feel and can make anything hard to handle, just remember that a base will neutralize and acid. We feed phosphate into our finish water lines to aide against corrosion, phosphate is very basic so a quick dip of what ever has acid on it will quickly neutralize and be back to the normal condition.

B Certified -Surface Water Treatment Plant Operator/Mechanic

 

[wellpoison]

Those wihas look nice. I wouldn't want to get anything pricey because of where I work but I need to do something. It's funny that it's called flocking on the screwdrivers since the chemical I'm trying to avoid is called "floculant."

It's nice to know someone else is in the same boat I am, working in a treatment plant. Although I work in a small 100k gpd dairy plant and I'm the only one down there. I'm sure you could run my plant no problem haha.

Keep the ideas coming.

 

[BrokewrenchLS1]

^ You obviously did not click on my link before writing that post.

I didn't refresh before I posted. >.<

I like the normal SoftFinish Wiha screwdrivers a lot, but the MicroFinish are great for greasy/oily/dirty stuff. I was working on an old riding mower today - covered in grease, oil, and dirty grassy gunk - and not worrying about busting a finger because of a slippery handle was pretty nice.

 

[Hetman]

Witte is worth paying for. There's also older protop plus, which IMHO is more ergonomic.

 

[archirelic]

Those wihas look nice. I wouldn't want to get anything pricey because of where I work but I need to do something. It's funny that it's called flocking on the screwdrivers since the chemical I'm trying to avoid is called "floculant."

It's nice to know someone else is in the same boat I am, working in a treatment plant. Although I work in a small 100k gpd dairy plant and I'm the only one down there. I'm sure you could run my plant no problem haha.

Keep the ideas coming.

If this is your job & you do it day-in, day-out, wouldn't you want to invest in tools that will stand up to the requirements?

I know when I was working in demo and renovation, I bought the tools necessary to get the job done & if that meant forking over a little additional cash, I did.

 

[CaisedoA]

If this is your job & you do it day-in, day-out, wouldn't you want to invest in tools that will stand up to the requirements?

I know when I was working in demo and renovation, I bought the tools necessary to get the job done & if that meant forking over a little additional cash, I did.

I agree, I used to have all craftsman tools cuz I thought it was all the same, but once you start investing in good tools it makes your job a lot easier and more enjoyable, plus if its only screwdrivers you need its really not that much, I'm glad I spent the money on those snap on screw drivers cuz they're the best ive ever owned, I even bought a set for my brother but he may not appreciate them as much as I do since he wont be using them almost every day.

 

[Guns R Tools]

I never tried this but...

How about applying (crazy) glue on the handle of cheap screw driver then sprinkle some sands on it.

May not work. Just some random idea.

 

[Trucky]

Witte/Wiha as mentioned are your best bet IMO. Pricey, but most things that can be described as "your best bet" usually are.

I have yet to try the Witte drivers but I do have some Wiha's. No slipping problems whatsoever, and that's covered in oils, greases, and coolant (water based, still smells like a dump).

 

[wellpoison]

I'll see if I can get a video clip so you guys can see what I'm dealing with. It's pretty bad stuff. All most all of our tools are paid for by the company. I guess I just have a problem asking for expensive stuff. I wouldn't mind paying for them myself since I would be the only one who uses them. But if I'm going to buy expensive stuff I wouldn't want to use them here knowing that they will get ruined. But I may just have too because they will make my job alot easier.

 

[Jure]

wiha

 

[Brownsfan]

I would say if price is an issue then Snap On instinct soft handles are out. Look at the Craftsman soft grip set in the electrical tools Isle, or the Huskey pro at Home Depot. They are the same screw drivers

 

[BrokewrenchLS1]

I'll see if I can get a video clip so you guys can see what I'm dealing with. It's pretty bad stuff. All most all of our tools are paid for by the company. I guess I just have a problem asking for expensive stuff. I wouldn't mind paying for them myself since I would be the only one who uses them. But if I'm going to buy expensive stuff I wouldn't want to use them here knowing that they will get ruined. But I may just have too because they will make my job alot easier.

Wiha stuff really isn't too expensive - an 8-piece Microfinish set is on Amazon for $60.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000T9XZRC/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[wellpoison]

I may have to look into those. Im a bug fan of German made stuff it's never let me down. I own bunches of wera but never tried wiha. Anything I better then what I have now haha

 

[rick carpenter]

Here's my thoughts. You drop a screwdriver over any water tank and it goes to the bottom. Best case it's lost, worst case it gumps something up. Get some cheap hard handle screwdrivers and 'knurl' them with a dremel. Then sink some little eye screws into the end of the handle. A cheap carabinier or snap swivel on a loop around your wrist will hold them even if dropped. When they **** out or get lost, lather rinse repeat.