Thread: Stanley Plane Plastic Rear Handle Shrinks; Why?

just because noone else answered, are any of hem in the vicinity of solvents, even fumes from them in the toolbox? Especially the screwdriver?
Just to stress the point- I have Absolutely no idea or experience in what you're talking about.

Originally Posted by Eldanos of KDM

just because noone else answered, are any of hem in the vicinity of solvents, even fumes from them in the toolbox? Especially the screwdriver?
Just to stress the point- I have Absolutely no idea or experience in what you're talking about.

We had a knife with imitation ivory handle that this happened to. We'd had it for years and the only thing I could think of was that a plastic knife tray may have given off some fumes.
Cheers,
Jim

I'm not a chemist, but a few conservators in museums have written about this sort of problem with plastic goods . Its probably the plastic has continued ,albeit slowly, to cross link and polymerise past the point that was determined as stable when manufactured , too much of the catalysing agent , maybe contamination , maybe they knew that it would shrink in ten years, but decided that it was acceptable?
The dash on my 505 Peugeot is doing the same, nothing we can do will stop it
Its the curse of the 20th century, I just try to buy or remanufacture everything in wood (far more stable), bit hard with the ipod though!

Originally Posted by jimbur

We had a knife with imitation ivory handle that this happened to. We'd had it for years and the only thing I could think of was that a plastic knife tray may have given off some fumes.
Cheers,
Jim

It was most likely an early casein (milk protein) polymer. Dishwashers are their natural predator in the wild.

Originally Posted by Ian Wells

It was most likely an early casein (milk protein) polymer. Dishwashers are their natural predator in the wild.

It had never seen a dishwasher but god knows what is in some of the dishwashing liquids.
Cheers,
Jim

Originally Posted by mike48

Stanley Plane Plastic Rear Handle Shrinks; Why?

I saw a great Stanley 3 bench plane in original box at the markets last weekend, but it suffered the dreaded shrinking plastic handle syndrome

Yes,... I know I could have ...

Does anyone have a technical reason as to why this shrinking happens?
Is it only with the Australian and English planes?
I have seen a Stanley 4 rear handle with about 20% shrinkage, which is a hell of a lot, and the attachment screw pokes well out of the handle.
I still have the plane, made in England, now with a non-original handle.

I also had a red plastic handled screwdriver weep liquid goo into one of my tool boxes.

Why does this happen?

Must be an industrial chemist type out there who can answer these questions.

mike

I cannot tell you why it happens but I had the same thing on a number 3 years ago. I have seen it on others. I mentioned the phenomena in violin making forum and someone with chemistry expertise responded very quickly saying it was hazardous and to be very careful. Get rid of the plastic without touching the goop that comes out of it. I don't recall exactly what is happening and cannot find the old posts. Ever since then I have been very wary of old plastic handles.

Tim

Originally Posted by Ian Wells

Its the curse of the 20th century, I just try to buy or remanufacture everything in wood (far more stable), bit hard with the ipod though!

Hi Ian,

Have a gander at this:

The iPod goes retro

Justin