Hand Tool Restoration - Decomposed Plastic Handle Screwdriver

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instagram: @357_magdad
Music: "Surrender" by Dan Lebowitz
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[@GregAlanEdwardsEmmanuelRidge]

The one thing I truly love about watching your stuff is that nothing is off the table. Most people see plastic on old tools and think it's not worth the effort, and besides, it's plastic. You have the ability to, and will, restore anything. Metal, wood, plastics, it's all fair game. Please keep that part of the channel. Love it!

[@357magdad]

Thanks for the kind words Greg! Old plastic handle tools need love too!

[@triune_blades]

This is very true. This channel is unique, and I hope his sub count explodes!!!

[@805ROADKING]

Looks great Mate!! That's one smell ya never get use to eh!!☺

[@357magdad]

Thanks RoadKing! It's a smell that can ruin your whole day!

[@daveogarf]

Wonderful resto! Very glad that white crud wasn't some kind of toxic, evil-smelling stuff. (POOR Chuck!)

[@357magdad]

It was evil smelling! Chuck and I didn't taste it though...

[@triune_blades]

You have given me a newfound respect for and desire to restore more screwdrivers. Well done!!

[@357magdad]

Cleaning up old tools is fun!

[@triune_blades]

@@357magdad and very rewarding. I see you recently started following me on Instagram. I'll try to post more of my before/after pics. I hope to have an official KZbin channel in the near future as well. 😊

[@Silent.Stacker]

So satisfying watching that thick crust of nastiness disappear after just the pocketknife and wire brush. That would have been good enough for me. But you always take it to another level. And that montage of before/after pics - hard to even believe some of those were the same tool. Very nice work.

[@357magdad]

Thanks! I get a kick out of the dramatic before and after's!

[@jackthompson2132]

That’s something you can be proud to loan to your neighbor, not that you would, but you could be proud to 😂. Nice job and thanks for sharing. I have ran across some of those and just passed by them up. I’ll take a closer look next time.

[@357magdad]

Thanks Jack! I've had good luck cleaning up even the worst looking plastic handles.

[@RescueRestore]

Outstanding! I’d be proud to put it in my toolbox.

[@357magdad]

Thanks!

[@irishwristwatch2487]

Youll laugh here - but lemon pledge works great for getting the smell out in my experience! Great video, fantastic end result

[@357magdad]

Thanks for the tip Liam! I'll have to give it a try!

[@tonylenge424]

100% looking better is an understatement. Amazing transformation. Thanks

[@357magdad]

Thanks Tony! These kind of projects are a lot of fun!

[@deeXswanson]

great job try soaking the handle in a citrus oil cleaner that may just take that smell out ,just a thought again great job

[@357magdad]

Thanks for the tip!

[@troyna77]

@@357magdad I have found sealing at item with a bag of white rice to be very effective. Rotate bag a couple of times a day. Do this over a min of 3 up to 7 day period. Wash item with dawn soap before hand. Dry completely before inserting into rice bag. 5lbs of white rice cost me $2.50.

[@КошмарКошмар-й2б]

Hi bro 👋👋👋 awesome restoration 👍👍👍👌🏽✌🏻🇷🇺

[@357magdad]

Thanks 👍

[@ScoutCrafter]

Outstanding before/after on this one!!! 😃👍.

[@357magdad]

Thanks ScoutCrafter! I dig the dramatic transformations!

[@HarpsichordHymnsTimRemington]

I love watching these videos! I wish I had your skill & patience to do the same thing.

[@357magdad]

Give it a try! Cleaning up old tools is fun!

[@not2fast4u2c]

It does look nice and clear...Next plastic handle I do I am going to use my dremel buffing wheels ..I make too many mistakes with the big drill polishing stuff

[@357magdad]

I always have to remind myself to have a light touch with the dremel the plastic burns easily!

[@davidcoats1037]

Nice job on the screwdriver. I agree with you about hating those fancy spray cans. What were they thinking? Take care. 👍🏼

[@357magdad]

Thanks David! I found a similar rustoleum clear with a normal spray nozzle. I'm gonna give that a try.

[@scroungasworkshop4663]

Hi Magdad, great resto. I have found the acetate handles respond well to acetone so maybe try it on a spare handle. Clean and polish they way you did but instead of polishing compound just dip the handle into a bottle of acetone for just a couple of seconds. When you pull it out it looks wet and that’s the way it stays. It’s amazing to see, as an hour later it still looks wet but when you touch it it’s completely dry. In fact it dries in a few seconds after removing it from the acetone. Hope this helps. Cheers Stuart 🇦🇺

[@357magdad]

Thanks for the tip!

[@waynemiracle8928]

You’re best job ever I think. Superb!

[@357magdad]

Thanks Wayne! I dig the projects with dramatic transformations!

[@BuRnN2003]

You could dip the handle in acetone and rince it in cold water and the handle shine like a new

[@357magdad]

Thanks Daniel!

[@Drew_86]

I too know from experience to be careful when using compound and a Dremel - I ruined the handle of a Buck Rogers push drill - but using your method I've been able to rehab some real derelicts. Thanks for posting these.

[@357magdad]

It's easy to burn the plastic! I barely touch the surface and keep the wheel moving.

[@garyjones2582]

357 very nice work.. I remember seeing a video where Scout Crafter addressed this same issue, but it's been a long time since I've seen that video.. I had several older craftsman screwdrivers that did the same thing.. Made the inside of my toolbox smell like a dog had crapped n it.. I wiped everything down with WD-40 but a short time later the smell was back and so was the funky handles.. Thanks again 357 for all your videos.. God Bless...

[@357magdad]

Thanks Gary! I think the clear coat is the way to go, I just had trouble with that fancy spray nozzle.

[@GT_Racer347]

That's the a HA! moment I was looking for! I need to use my Dremel polish wheel! Nice.

[@357magdad]

Just go light with the dremel! The plastic will over heat and burn fast!

[@GT_Racer347]

@@357magdad Good to know! I've never worked on cellulose beyond basic cleaning. 😁🤔

[@ArmandoLoni]

Turned out nice! I sort of like the stink from old acetate handles (I have a particularly smelly Handyman 233 awaiting restoration) 😂 Now that the clear coat has cured, perhaps try cutting it back to get it flat? When I clear coat my handles, I warm the can up to get the contents flowing better - seems to work 👍🏻😄

[@357magdad]

Thanks Armando! I got another can of clear with a traditional spray nozzle that I'll try next.

[@williammcguire3rd]

Looks great my friend!🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@357magdad]

Thanks WM3!

[@shannonelliott6116]

I've had many of those with the same problem...cool idea on the clear coat!

[@357magdad]

Thanks!

[@stevewalker7822]

Really nice job! Just got my Flitz and can’t wait to use it.

[@357magdad]

Thanks Steve! FLITZIT!

[@boriszegarra7382]

Cool job,,,,,,, congratulations 👍😃🇵🇪

[@357magdad]

Thanks!

[@1D10CRACY]

Was getting worried you had forgot about the Flitz!

[@357magdad]

Chuck wouldn't let me do that!

[@garymucher9590]

Some times you can dip the handle in to some Acetone and it will make the handle smooth and clear. But because Acetone also dissolves the plastic. you have to watch it very carefully and once you remove it, DO NOT TOUCH the plastic handle with anything until it dries. But I've seen that work very well.

[@357magdad]

Thanks Gary!

[@stewartew]

Great looking job, as always.

[@357magdad]

Thanks Ernie!

[@alexstools]

Looks great! I have some Peek polish wich you can use on plastic also. I tried it 3 times, of wich two were a success, one time was a little less (not getting shiny) but I fixed that good with some Meguiars Plastix, wich is a great product too. All just by hand. I guess what I tried to say, maybe Flitz works on plastic too?

[@357magdad]

Thanks Alex! I find the Flitx to abrasive on plastic with the Dremel. I have had some good luck with Flitz on plastic polishing by hand.

[@d.riprock1546]

Cool video. Looks good! I found the bit or blade to one not long ago with Recess on it. First time I ever heard of it too. I think I saw somewhere that the British called Phillip's that for awhile in the 50s or 60s. Find lots of Oxwall parts too lol. Always parts.

[@357magdad]

Maybe calling it "recess" got around a patent or royalty issue.

[@larrydemaar409]

Well done, looks great. Marty of Marty’s Matchbox Makeover uses furniture polish to refresh model windshields. I wonder if that would seal in the smell.

[@357magdad]

I've seen Marty and others coat the windshields in floor polish. I may give that a try.

[@uktony1525]

You said it looked 100% better but you were wrong, it looked many hundreds percent better!. I am sure most of us would have been happy just to get rid of the white crud but you got the handle back to being fully translucent. Fantastic restoration.

[@357magdad]

Thanks Tony! I'm hoping I can get the clear coat to go on smoother and thicker on the next one to totally eliminate the odor.

[@leebrewer1190]

I think Scoutcrafter once told me some of those old acetate handles were made with an inferior batch of acetate which decomposes to give off the odor. I have tried to get rid of it on a number of mine but never found a way to get rid of it completely.

[@357magdad]

Thanks Lee! Everybody musta got the same batch because I've run across smelly screwdrivers from many different manufacturers!

[@leebrewer1190]

@@357magdad I think it could possibly have been that since the degradation took some time to occur, there were a lot of batches made with no indication anything would go wrong in the future. Sort of a parallel to when glass houses started to use manganese to make clear glass...they had no idea that exposure to sunlight over a time period would work on the manganese and turn the glass.

[@357magdad]

@@leebrewer1190 Like the headlight plastic Chrysler and Mercedes used in the late 80s early 90s.

[@Dardrum]

Back when I was a kid, (1950's) I can remember my dad saying, "go get me a cross recess screw driver"

[@357magdad]

I had not run across that term before - I'm always learning something new!

[@frankg3072]

Great restoration especially the handle!👍👍

[@357magdad]

Thanks Frank!

[@BestUserNameUK]

Outstanding job👍🏼

[@357magdad]

Thanks!

[@Mylittleworkshop]

Very nice work like always. The handle work was very good. 👍

[@357magdad]

Thank you!

[@johnmclaurin]

What a great restoration, plus I learned a couple of things I needed to know ! I was given a small set of those for a graduation gift in 1965....I’ll have to admit, I have used them a thousand times over the years and still do....and yes, it also smells rather ripe! Good job!

[@357magdad]

Thanks John!

[@bkind2182]

Wow that sure came out great, nice job!!!

[@357magdad]

Thank you!

[@ydocproductions5593]

I’m thoroughly impressed with how well that handle polished up! It use to look like a piece of moldy cheese you’d find in the back of the refrigerator🤣! Great work

[@357magdad]

Thank you! It smelled like moldy cheese too!

[@RestorationAustralia]

Nicely done.

[@357magdad]

Thanks!

[@Artanis1000]

Great restoration Magdad. Since these handles are made from acetate, I've had some luck dipping them in acetone for 5 to 10 seconds. It tends to "melt" the outside layer and may eliminate some of the sanding and buffing. They come out smooth and shining. Just be sure not to touch the handle or set it down until it completely dries and hardens again. Hang it if necessary. Not sure if it would get rid of the odor but it's worth a try. Keep up the great work!

[@357magdad]

Thanks!

[@lord.onk99]

Excellent job.

[@357magdad]

Thanks Ken!

[@corydriver7634]

So not only is it a number 2 Phillips it also smells like number two?

[@357magdad]

You got it Cory! LOL

[@glengrossnickle4985]

Nice job. Do you make your polishing wheels or buy them. Stay safe and healthy my friend. Thanks

[@357magdad]

Thanks Glen! I buy the cheap ones from Amazon.

[@OldSneelock]

I have just been tossing these stinky handles in the trash. I'll have to give your method a try.

[@357magdad]

I think the clear coat would have worked better if kept applying more coats, but the spray can I had was giving me lumps!

[@OldSneelock]

@@357magdad Not a big fan of the new nozzles.

[@philparker1666]

Nice job there Magdad

[@357magdad]

Thanks!

[@vanislescotty]

Wonderful job as always. I've recently learned that the white stuff is residue from bacteria eating the cellulose in the plastic. Have you had long term success or did the white stuff return in spite of your best efforts?

[@357magdad]

Thanks for watching! The clear coat helps slow down the mange, but nothing stops in completely.

[@pophamlarry]

I've heard dipping handle in acetone gets rid of smell cause the acetate in handle is decaying.....but im not really sure, I've never tried it myself great video..... thanks for sharing

[@357magdad]

In a more recent video I tried clear coating the handle. It helped a little.

[@jodyforter7439]

Dang nice job.

[@357magdad]

Thanks Jody!

[@yza2821]

Great job! Nice content!

[@357magdad]

Thanks!

[@mercuryrising9174]

Amazing outcome brother... But I guess I am too young to appreciate that smell I avoid those decomposed handles

[@357magdad]

You gotta smell one of these nasty screwdrivers once in your life! Put it on your bucket list! LOL

[@mercuryrising9174]

@@357magdad oh I've smelled them it's horrific !!! I just meant I avoid them because I can't stand that smell

[@Everythings_Adjustable]

You did a great job there MagDad 👍👍

[@357magdad]

Thanks Sparky!

[@nn2380]

Nice job! What kind of dremel wheel did you use with the Flitz polish?

[@357magdad]

I use the cheap polishing wheels you can get off of amazon. I like the felt wheels for polishing metal. The muti ply fabric ones are good for polishing odd shapes and grooves. The cotton puffy ones are good for polishing softer stuff like brass and plastic.

[@MrJruta]

Nicely done. I have a few of my dads old clear handle screwdrivers. These must be from the 50’s-70’s. They don’t smell and have not decomposed, any idea why? I’m not sure how they were stored. Thanks

[@357magdad]

Thanks for watching! Sounds like you got lucky and have some good old screwdrivers!

[@johnfix1]

Nice job on the nasty handle. I have not had much luck with plastic. I need to copy your light touch.

[@357magdad]

Thanks John! I have also had some success polishing plastic by hand (no dremel) with Flitz.

[@larryborkstrom3580]

The old plastic handle screwdrivers they all had that smell to him but that came out looking like new again

[@357magdad]

Thanks Larry! The clear coat did improve the smell.

[@weedeatnogreweo7574]

What brand of knife is that? Looks like it has a wharncliffe blade Or a sheepsfoot

[@357magdad]

Thanks for watching! That's a Utica Kutmaster Barlow that had a damaged blade and scales when I got it. I reshaped the blade and replaced the scales with cherry.

[@NashRathbone]

That was seriously yucky 😲 but what a great job in the end👍

[@357magdad]

Thanks Nash! It was like a horror movie with a happy ending!

[@neilbrown3902]

What brand of white buffing compound do you use

[@357magdad]

It was a variety pack I got at Home Depot years ago - I think it came with red, black and white compound. Made by Ryobi.

[@MadStiles]

Great work! I hate that smell too!

[@357magdad]

Chuck didn't like the smell either!

[@mrbenmall]

Well done.

[@357magdad]

Thanks Ben!

[@ImzadiTroy]

What polishing compound do you use on the plastic handle

[@357magdad]

I got a kit at Home Depot, I think it was made by Ryobi. There was a black, red and whit compound in the kit. The white compound is what I use on plastic.

[@pablodana1512]

Magdad to the crowd: "Should I flitz this poor bastard just for your amusement?? Crowd roaring: FLITZ IT!! FLITZ IT!! FLITZ IT!! So Magdad did it, far from mercy or remorse And the crowd was overjoyed, pleased as never before

[@357magdad]

I may have to add some "crowd noise" the next time!

[@pablodana1512]

@@357magdad Flitz them, my lord

[@joeheilm]

Ave said the bromide in the handle is the same bromide that makes vomit smell like vomit. Cheers

[@357magdad]

Chuck sure didn't like the smell!

[@gator83261]

That’s the one you loan out.

[@357magdad]

Definitely not a fine collectible! LOL

[@62forged]

Cool!

[@markrandall1456]

Hey Mr. Magdad, What is that stank? That little screwdriver Really smells rank. The clear Rustoleum With the fancy new tip- You ought to call them And give them some lip. You've done a great job With all that plastic. With a lot of patience They turned out fantastic! From the sunny banks of the Underwood Branch, thanks for the fun. :-)

[@357magdad]

Thanks Mark! I love your clever poems! I make sure Mrs Magdad reads them too!

[@robertgilmour1903]

For what it's worth I agree.

[@adude7050]

Wonderful job. The smell might have moved me off of buying though.

[@357magdad]

The clear coat definitely helped lock in the smell. Next time I'll try more coats with a better spray nozzle.

[@davidhelmuth5707]

Have never had any luck with any screwdriver that smelled like 🤮. They have not been of very good quality. But you did a great job of cleaning that thing up. If you ever find a way to make them not smell like puke then lets us all know. That would help all our toolboxes out!😬

[@357magdad]

The clear coat did improve the odor. The spray can I was using wasn't coating evenly. I hope I can get a thicker more even coat next time.

[@iftheseoldbeastscouldtalk7796]

Oof. Bad time to mention the baking soda trick... If you still read these the bad smell is an acid so a baking soda water bath cures acetate handle barf stink without coatings and coverups. Will remember that until the end of my days. Chemistry is a wonderful thing.

[@357magdad]

I run across a lot of plastic handle tools with "the mange". I'm gonna have to pick some up and try everybody's "scientific" remedies.

[@iftheseoldbeastscouldtalk7796]

@357magdad As for the oxidation, you did right with the scraping. That much is usually necessary. The basebath is only for the acetate decay smell.

[@turbopower130]

The odor comes from bacteria that eats the acetate. After cleaning, soak handle in a cup of boiling water till it cools then soak in a cup of warm diluted bleach, really helps with that distinctive smell

[@357magdad]

Thanks for watching! And thanks for the tip!

[@DirtandRust]

Wow ...Nice work!!...I hate that smell...makes me nauseous.... you made quite the deference on this one for sure :]

[@357magdad]

Thanks D&R! The clear coat made an improvement on the smell. I think more coats would have been better, but that fancy nozzle wasn't spraying well.

[@MrDoeboy356]

Oo oo that smell!

[@Drew_86]

Can't you smell that smell?

[@357magdad]

Maybe Skynyrd had an old plastic handle screwdriver on the tour bus that inspired the song!

[@357magdad]

"smell of death" is pretty close to what that screwdriver smelled like!

[@marcmckenzie5110]

Some day the Smithsonian is going to approach you to do restorations for them, my friend!

[@357magdad]

The Smithsonian better want their rusty junk shiny! LOL

[@marcmckenzie5110]

357magdad They will sell Flitz in the gift shop.

[@357magdad]

@@marcmckenzie5110 Yes! Perfect! LOL

[@Archiemonty]

I'd change the title from decomposed to painted over

[@357magdad]

Thanks for watching! The white stuff wasn't paint it was decomposed plastic. This sort of decomposition is common on old Cellulose Acetate Butyrate (CAB) plastic handles.

[@Archiemonty]

Hmm didn't know it could do that

[@MrCRMapleFarm]

Know that smell. I have an entire tool box drawer full of stinky Craftsman drivers. If I'm right, Oxwall tools were manufactured close to us here in Oxford, NJ. progress-is-fine.blogspot.com/2012/03/vanished-tool-makers-oxwall-tools.html The facility was recently removed. I worked in Oxford in the late 70's and still recall the town's distinct aroma. Source could have been Oxwall, Oxford Textile, iron industry......cannon balls were manufactured there too.

[@MrCRMapleFarm]

I just now recall that I picked up a handful of Oxwall mini screw drivers at Jacktown last year from a friend.

[@357magdad]

It would be cool to have a full Oxwall set!

[@asensibleyoungman2978]

I've never known anyone have a smelly screwdriver yet every one you own has a diabolical pong. We have to question what you're actually doing with them.

[@357magdad]

Thanks for watching! You should get out more. Decomposing plastic screwdriver handles are pretty common.

[@Stevegetslucky]

damn it! i can smell that vomity smell now. it just gets in your Head, you never forget it.

[@357magdad]

It's a hard smell to forget!

[@johnkelley9877]

That was a real ugly coating but it looks great now! Thanks for sharing this.

[@357magdad]

Thanks John! It was good practice!

[@Troublemaker1022-r9c]

Smells like a combination of vomit and blu cheese. NASTY........ I scrape them and dip in polyurethane then hang to dry. Doesn't look as pretty as this, but it seems to work.

[@357magdad]

Thanks for watching! Check out how I "fixed" another mangy plastic handle: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h4moc5lne72Bqrc