Newbie here

[dna1943]

I just found this forum and a new interest. I have been following my wife around for years to antique stores and malls. While she is buying glassware and dishes I have been poking around in a few old tool boxes and under tables. I have a small collection (anything over two is a collection, right) of perfect handle screw drivers (about 15). I have some real nice ones and some not so nice but have cleaned up pretty good. Now I find out that I passed up some real bargains that I could have just replaced the handles on. As Homer Simpson says "Doh". For some reason today I looked on the internet for "Irwin Screwdrivers" and found all sorts of neat stuff. Wow, I may not complain as much the next time we go antiquing. I looked at EBAY but I think the fun is in the hunt and not just in the buying. I never realized that tool collecting was  so big and so varied.
Thanks for opening my eyes.

Dave Anderson
Mason, Ohio

[mikeswrenches]

Hi Dave, welcome from Florida.  You might try posting some pictures of your SD's.  the real Perfect Handle stuff is marked diagonally on the shank unless it happens to be one of the square shank ones.  There is a lot of knowledge on this forum.  Don't be afraid to ask questions, you won't get any "snotty" answers from these guys, just good information.

Mike

[oldtools]

Welcome & Aloha from Hawaii

[mrchuck]

They also have a Perfect Handle Society here on this site.

[OilyRascal]

Welcome, Dave!  I've certainly had my eyes opened on this forum.  A bunch of very smart, and very generous, folks here.  I have 4 perfect handle screwdrivers myself; two of them coming from a member here just recently.

[Papaw]

Welcome Dave! I bet you qualify to be a member of PHARTS!

PHARTS - Perfect Handle Admiration, Restoration and Torturing Society

[Nolatoolguy]

Hello and welcome from Illinois.

As I always say, we love pictures.

[Neals]

Hi and welcome from Alberta

[johnsironsanctuary]

Welcome from Wisconsin. Check out the Photobucket link at the bottom of Papaw's post above.

[wrenchguy]

welcome and goodluck from nw indiana!!! 

[bonneyman]

Welcome from Sunny Arizona!

And you're in the "Perfect" place here. Pun intended!.

[dna1943]

Thanks guys.
I've learned so much in the last few days. I thought I was just collecting some cool old screwdrivers with cool handles but NOOOO... I find out that they are "Perfect Handles" and seem to be made by lots of folks. I started really looking at the shanks and find I have Irwin, JJ Ryan Tool Works, Spiegal – Germany, some blank and one thick one marked Bridgeport. After reading James Thompson's page on Restoring Perfect Handles I can't wait to start digging around for some that I would have passed by before. My wife told me that I would ruin the patina by making new handles so I told her I would rather have a beautiful tool than "patina". I'm not looking to make money just have a nice selection of useable tools.  I knew you (tool collectors) were out here but never took the time to look.
I tried to post a picture but it was too large. How do i fix that?

DaveA

[Papaw]

Read this for picture posting- http://www.papawswrench.com/vboard/index.php?topic=61.0

[dna1943]

Thanks again. So here is another shot at pix.
This is the short, long and whole group.
Does this make me a PHART?

[oldtools]

Very nice collection!!...