Old plastic handled screwdrivers

[Dave HalfordParticipant @davehalford22513]

Just seen on the MIG forum.

A forum member found his draw of older transparent (any colour tint) handled screwdriver corroding the shafts with sweating on some and a smell of vinegar present.

My 70’s one, which hasn’t seen sunlight for years has done the same to both zinc and chrome plated spanners stored in close proximity.

[Colin HeseltineParticipant @colinheseltine48622]

This happened to a number of my 1970’s Snap-On screwdrivers.  Just had them swapped out under the lifetime warranty for new ones.

Colin

[Clive Brown 1Participant @clivebrown1]

Not noticed corrosion, but several of my screwdriver handles, stored in cool, dark conditions, have shrunk in size with a wrinkled surface. Bit like me in fact.

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

This is a major problem for doll collectors. Certain types of plastic decompose with this characteristic smell. Also affects cooking utensils and other household items. I have some saucepans with sticky rubber handles, different plastic probably, that are awaiting new wood handles. So much for modern tech.

[noel shelleyParticipant @noelshelley55608]

SNAP ON black plastic handles, produce acetic acid and RUIN tools, in my case a VERY expensive 1/4″ drive socket set that was a gift. I would NEVER buy snap on, way to pricey and not always that good and the lifetime guarantee only applies to hand tools ! Jacks and such like 90 days !  Noel.

[bernard towersParticipant @bernardtowers37738]

All my Footprint ones seem ok and some of them are dated in the 1970s, oh and the beautiful footprint cabinet handle ones will be ok for the next generation and beyond.

[bernard towers]

On bernard towers Said:

All my Footprint ones seem ok and some of them are dated in the 1970s, oh and the beautiful footprint cabinet handle ones will be ok for the next generation and beyond.

For those with Facebook access, there’s a bit of discussion on the subject in a BT/GPO telephones group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/113916965313200/posts/10046343322070465/?comment_id=10046413562063441

The BT yellow ones are Footprint, all mine are still OK, though other sourced ones have suffered.
A couple of favourites, I’ve replaced with brass or alloy handles, yellow plastic (Footprint excepted) seem to be the most susceptible.

For those without FB access, this link was included in the discussion

Fighting the Scourge of “Screwdriver Mange”

Bill

[old martParticipant @oldmart]

I have been lucky so far and had no idea that screwdriver handles could deteriorate like this. My oldest CK scerwdrivers with clear yellow handles date back 50 years and are as new despite being cleaned with all kinds of solvents including trichloro ethane 111 when they were used on oxygen equipment.

[John PurdyParticipant @johnpurdy78347]

That’s interesting. I have a whole drawer full of screwdrivers, most of which are 50 or so years old (and a few of my grandads’ that are at least 80 years old ) and I have never run across this phenomenon. The small 1/8″ yellow one with a black top just right of centre at the front is a cheap Fuller brand and is at least 75 years old and is as good as new except for some dings from years of use. The only thing I have noticed is that if one hasn’t been used for quite a while sometimes there might be some slight mildew on the handle, which I have always put down to our hot humid summer months.

John

[bernard towersParticipant @bernardtowers37738]

Maybe they go like that for lack of use like measuring tools in boxes that dont get handled and used regularly?

[Dave HalfordParticipant @davehalford22513]

To be fair the screwdriver causing the corrosion was the one in my car tool box so can get very hot.

My Bt no 5a screwdriver dating from 1971 lives in the garage and is fine.

[Bazyle]

On Bazyle Said:

I have some saucepans with sticky rubber handles, different plastic probably, that are awaiting new wood handles. So much for modern tech.

This could be a soft black “rubber” coating that was popular a few years ago on lots of products.  I wanted to reuse a Raspberry Pi case that hadn’t been used for a few years, bur found the exterior plastic parts were sticky.  A quick internet search showed this to be a common problem but easily fixed.  The coating can be removed with a cloth and isopropyl alcohol.  It takes a bit of rubbing but will remove the coating without harming the plastic underneath.  I also gave an old cordless mouse the same treatment successfully.

Russell

[Nigel Graham 2Participant @nigelgraham2]

Clearly here some species of plastic will last for decades but others slowly break down. Presumably as with most small, mass-produced products the makers assume a mean life and choose materials they think will last that time.

We all naturally put a tiny amount of greasy perspiration on things from our hands, depending on the conditions at the time; and a lot of the gum is probably that, not a breakdown product. I first noticed this on my earlier cars with their phenolic-resin based steering-wheel rims. Or are some synthetic materials attacked by perspiration?

Bring back wood!

 

[Robert Atkinson 2Participant @robertatkinson2]

Another issue with skin oils getting on some plastics is the it can promote the growth of molds. I’ve seen this on old test equipment that was badly stored. The cause is obvious becuas the growh is concentrated on areas that are handled and sometime you can see hand or fingerprints. To make it worse some of the molds damage the substrate.
Now if I aquire any older kit I wipe it down with a disinfectant wipe containing Benzalkonium chloride. I also do this to anything going into storage.

Robert.

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