Snap On, again with the rotting screwdriver handles?

[cavalry]

I started off with a set of the black handled SO drivers in the 90's that started the decomposing trend we all are familiar with. I was between dealers for awhile so most of my drivers got banished to a ziplock bag as they were too nasty to work with and the fumes were actually removing the paint inside the drawers of my box.
I eventually got a good dealer who took care of my screwdriver issue by replacing every one with a brand new soft instinct, not a re-handle job.
Fast forward to present day, I picked up a very lightly used set of SGD series screwdrivers and a set of SGDMR ratcheting screwdrivers, both with a 10' or so date. The rubber overmold is turning grey/chalky on some and on others sticky and melting. The set I had warrantied years before that is still in perfect shape even with regular use.

i know my dealer will take care of me on this, but is it a known problem or did I just get lucky, again?

 

[American Locomotive]

While I can't speak to SO specifically - TPE overmolds in general seems to be a very unstable product. Sometimes they last a while, sometimes they just start degrading into a sticky gooey mess.

Obviously "TPE" is a whole family of chemicals, but it seems like whichever ones they typically use for overmoldings in consumer products have terrible longevity.

 

[4xdog]

While I can't speak to SO specifically - TPE overmolds in general seems to be a very unstable product. Sometimes they last a while, sometimes they just start degrading into a sticky gooey mess.

Obviously "TPE" is a whole family of chemicals, but it seems like whichever ones they typically use for overmoldings in consumer products have terrible longevity.

Yeah, they're probably in the TPU (U=polyurethane) class of thermoplastic elastomers. Urethanes are well-known to (sometimes) turn to goo as the polymer internally degrades. Not much one can do about it but pitch the item. Or, if it's Snap-on, warranty them out.

 

[bonneyman]

Sorry to hear about your problems, bro. I never heard about S-O handles getting gooey or chalky. Though I have several acetate handles that have gone white.

The only driver handles I've seen that never have a deterioration problem are the old Proto yellow handles (pyroxylin) and Malco orange handles (polycarbonate).