Screwdriver handle material

mcfarmall · Apr 1, 2020

I'm searching unsuccessfully for bulk screwdriver handle material. The type of plastic is Cellulose Acetate Butyrate (CAB). When I was in high school machine shop one of our projects was to make a functional slotted screwdriver and the teacher had lengths of fluted, extruded screwdriver handle material that we would machine a radius on the end, drill a hole in the other end to accept the shank of the screwdriver. He even had different colors, etc. we could choose from.

You think I can find that stuff anywhere on the internet? Hah, I can't. I've tried every variant of the search terms, craft supplies, plastic supplies to no avail.

I have some favorite "beater" screwdrivers that need new handles and I would prefer OEM style versus aluminum or whatever. CAB has very high impact resistance, can be easily machined, takes a great polish, and smells like vomit after it gets old.

Any leads will be appreciated.

timbatrader · Apr 1, 2020

When I were in high school I too made a screwdriver as a project but we made the blades then cast an aluminium handle around the blade using a standard plastic handle as a pattern scrap aluminium a small crucible in the blacksmith forge and a sand mould

Peter 315 · Apr 1, 2020

Try this place......Interstate Plastics | Plastics Near Me | Plastic Sheet, Rod, Tube

jmc · Apr 1, 2020

How long ago were you in high school? I think modern screwdrivers have their shanks insert molded into a handle mold.

Medical instrument makers often make their handles out of linenized phenolic- circuitboard material, but in barstock form. Machinable and autoclave resistant.

timbatrader · Apr 1, 2020

jmc said:
How long ago were you in high school? I think modern screwdrivers have their shanks insert molded into a handle mold.

Medical instrument makers often make their handles out of linenized phenolic- circuitboard material, but in barstock form. Machinable and autoclave resistant.

Must have been about 47 years ago the project I am sure was more about teaching us casting skills than about a practical way to make a screwdriver but the outcome was a nice screwdriver that could handle all that abuse that screwdrivers should never experience but often do ie being bashed with a club hammer used as a lever etc

thepumpguysc · Apr 1, 2020

What about using Delron..?

s219 · Apr 1, 2020

I used to love delrin for stuff like this.

jmc · Apr 1, 2020

timbatrader said:
Must have been about 47 years ago the project I am sure was more about teaching us casting skills than about a practical way to make a screwdriver but the outcome was a nice screwdriver that could handle all that abuse that screwdrivers should never experience but often do ie being bashed with a club hammer used as a lever etc

That was a great shop project and I hope you still have it. When the OP described his shop project, I got the impression we used to mass produce screwdrivers with plastic extrusions back then and was curious how long ago that was.