Klein 11-1 screwdriver and 6-1 ratcheting screwdriver both ruined......

I grew up in a family of electricians. While I chose another career path, the only hand tools I have are Klein, including my trusty and abused lineman's pliers.

Very sorry for your loss, just replace them with Klein tools. Buy cheap, buy twice.

 

see below...

 

I've always had years of use with Kleins. Don't cheap out, especially if it's your trade.

 

I respect Klein Tools. But I've found many other brands that worked well for me as well. I used to be a Craftsman guy. But that was many many years ago. In these later years we have so many tools if someone wants to borrow one I just give it to them with the advisor that I would not be happy to come by one day and see it out in the weather or in a pile of junk.

 

I’m not an electrician but i do some electrical work around my home and rentals and have been satisfied with Greenlee and Knipex tools in addition to my Klein tools. I agree with @seanmac45 about “buy cheap,buy twice”. It’s been my experience that cheap hand tools either break or get you hurt whereas a quality tool should last long enough to pass down to your children if properly taken care of.

 

I do not loan out my good hand tools to anyone other than my son. I have tools that are my “seconds” that i’ll loan out to family/friends knowing i may not get it back or it’ll be damaged. Tools and books seldom come back in the condition they were loaned out. I was taught to take care of my stuff but alot of folks i know seem indifferent to maintaining their possessions in good condition hence the “hey,can i borrow ...?”

 

I tell them if they knew how to use the tool without losing it or screwing it up, they would already own one. Then say no.

 

If you are going to spray them with chlorine just buy tools from Harbor Freight!

 

Klein or Channel lock.

 

I prefer Lutz 6 in 1 screwdrivers.

 

Forget all the other adages, I always say "If you are borrowing something, treat it like it is the property of the father of your soon-to-be wife/husband" things. Because I see how people treat their own stuff, and even someone else that they don't know (think about rental cars).

 

Did the chlorine compromise the mechanical aptitude of said tools....?
If they still work,... use em.
I usually buy bran new tools everytime I fix something, then either throw them in the river or somehow destroy them with fire, whichever makes me feel better at that moment. Can get expensive.
I had a pair of Klein hardened sidecutters at work; had them 12 years before someone else designated them as their own.......

 

Hand tools go in two categories for me. If im keeping it spend a lot and buy American. If I know I'm gonna kill it buy harbor freight.

I have two Klein tools, one of the screwdriver deals like you are discussing, and a pair of side cutters I use on tig wire both are very good tools. Especially the side cutters I use them on a weekly basis for something really beyond their design parameters and never have an issue.

 

What do you mean you “fogged” your screwdrivers by spraying them w chlorine mist? You sprayed a cleaning solution on them and they melted? I dont think so! The metal turned to jello? Again they didnt do that either. Whats wrong with them that they no longer work?

 

Kind of what I was wondering. Does this chlorine actually hurt the screwdriver somehow?

Otherwise, this may be the least manly tool thread I have ever seen. More like women discussing jewelry.

 

Men are just as bad as women when it comes to accessories.

besides, everyone knows that Proto is better than Klein.

 

I work around harsh chemicals and I understand what you are saying, OP.

If they are cheap tools I will trash them.

If they are good tools I will soak, scrub, soak, sand, lube, work, repeat, then finish with a coat of lube.

They can be repaired to like new if you try hard enough.

 

I believe he sprayed them with Sodium Hypochlorite, a liquid that contains chlorine. That stuff corrodes just about anything that isn’t plastic. A ratcheting screwdriver’s innards would be toasted beyond repair if it gets in there. Simple hand wrenches exposed to the stuff rust out quickly and a wire wheel will remove the rust but they are usually left blackened and ugly.

If anyone has a pool and they keep their pool chems inside the garage, NaCIO, no matter how tightly capped will off-gas and corrode everything in the garage.