How would I go about restoring a Perfect Handle?

[Frank]

I picked up what appears to be an old Perfect Handle screw driver for $.75 at a garage sale and would like to restore it. The wood is gone off one side and the other is coming loose. I have never quite understood how pocket knives and the like have their handles attached. Is there a good published method how to do it? I guess I drive out these old pins, but what do I use for new ones? What should I use to hammer a mushroom head on it? Just one of those things I always wanted to learn how to do well.

[Papaw]

I'll let Scottg weigh in on this- he's the top perfect handle guy I know. He has published on the subject. My poor attempts were unsatisfactory to anyone other than me.

[scottg]

 
Here is the first piece I wrote about it. 
 This picture was taken on a little plastic box that had to be connected to the computer at all times.
 The first "genuine" digital camera we had!  whoo hoo  hehehehe
http://www.snowcrest.net/kitty/sgrandstaff/awl.htm
 
 Here is my friend Jim who did an article for Wik a few years later.
http://wkfinetools.com/contrib/jThompson/restore/perfHandle/perfHandles1.asp
 Using cutlers rivets.
http://wkfinetools.com/contrib/jThompson/restore/lvRivets/lvRivets1.asp

 Someplace I have my friend Roy's article too, but not finding it offhand. I'll keep looking.
     yours Scott

[Wrenchmensch]

Scott G:

What piece of writing!  I found your explanation clear and concise. I have lots of Perfect Handle tools, and all have good handles.  If time hangs heavy one day, I will try your method out. 

Thanks for giving us this!

[scottg]

Wow Mensch
 Those are words every writer dreams of.  Simple clarity is the main goal of all
 Thank you very much.
 
 Oh, if all your PH's are in good shape, you must have walked past 100 times that many rough candidates to get them. Just pick up a few needy specimens and give it a try.
  yours Scott

 smallest perfect handle ever made.  2" overall



 

[Nolatoolguy]

 
Here is the first piece I wrote about it. 
 This picture was taken on a little plastic box that had to be connected to the computer at all times.
 The first "genuine" digital camera we had!  whoo hoo  hehehehe
http://www.snowcrest.net/kitty/sgrandstaff/awl.htm
 
 Here is my friend Jim who did an article for Wik a few years later.
http://wkfinetools.com/contrib/jThompson/restore/perfHandle/perfHandles1.asp
 Using cutlers rivets.
http://wkfinetools.com/contrib/jThompson/restore/lvRivets/lvRivets1.asp

 Someplace I have my friend Roy's article too, but not finding it offhand. I'll keep looking.
     yours Scott

You vand your friend have some very good written pieces on this topic. Thanks for sharing.

[Wrenchmensch]

Scott:

Your finished products look better than the originals. I am not sure what wood Perfect Handle used for the handles.  I have a new Perfect Handle wrench that was found in a closed hardware store.  The wood in the handle sure appears lower in quality than the beautiful woods in your handles.

I have saved your articles for rereading.

[64longstep/Brian]

I believe that they used either Beach wood or Birch wood…

[scottg]

The original Perfect Handles used beechwood most often, and maple was substituted when the beech was in short supply.  The German models used maple most often and only occasionally beech.
 
  I have used most common woods at one time or the other. Maple, walnut, cherry, pecan etc.
 But I do like the tools, and hold them in some esteem.
   So for my own favorite PH tools, I have used various rosewoods, ebonies, burls, figured woods, spalted woods....
basically the finest woods the planet produces.
   Seems worthwhile to me.
yours Scott

 

[Wrenchmensch]

Scott:

I'm with you.  Perfect Handle tools are artifacts of a bygone era, little bits of  elegant engineering that deserve preservation. 

When I started wrench collecting, I saw my first Perfect Handle wrench at a NJ flea market and bought it. It was an 8-inch monkey wrench, with a circled S on the lower part of the upper jaw.  I still have it, and I am still finding unusual Perfect Handle wrenches.

[lauver]

Gang & scottg,

While I admire the beautiful exotic wood handles some of you guys craft, I have a soft spot for the common wood handles found on the old PH tools.  If the handle is salvageable, I feel compelled to restore the old common wood handles.  Here's an example of an old PH driver I managed to salvage and restore:



Every time I see this old driver laying on my bench, I have this overwelming urge to pick it up and put it too work.  And, that's as it should be, right?

[J.A.F.E.]

... Every time I see this old driver laying on my bench, I have this overwelming urge to pick it up and put it too work.  And, that's as it should be, right?

That is exactly as it should be.

[Papaw]

I carry three of them in my go-bag, and use them by choice over modern screwdrivers . I even have one in Phillips, thanks to 64longstep.

[m_fumich]

Papaw gave me my first PH the first time I stopped to see him. When I get my truck squared away, I'm going to bring it and the necessary to on the road. That will give me something to do during those times when I'm waiting for freight.

[Branson]

Gang & scottg,
While I admire the beautiful exotic wood handles some of you guys craft, I have a soft spot for the common wood handles found on the old PH tools.  If the handle is salvageable, I feel compelled to restore the old common wood handles. 

I see things much the same way.  Mostly, I like the common woods for my tools, sort of working class woods.  Not that I don't admire the beautiful work I've seen here!  I got a nice old PH screw driver with a split scale from John K, and some nice maple from Rich.  Looks like a perfect pairing to me, and the end result will always remind me of the generosity of Rich and John, and the advice of Scott.  What could be better?