My Grandfather was a machinist. When he died several years ago, I got his toolbox. While most of the contents were standard machinists tools, one item stood out- a large flathead screwdriver with a solid brass handle.
It’s beautifully made, and I’ve been trying to decide if it’s a commercially made item, or if he made it himself.
Has anyone ever seen anything like this? And if he made it himself, how could he have mounted the steel bit permanently into the seamless brass handle?
Sounds very much like an apprentice piece, a job to prove the trainnee was fully skilled. These are usually made to incredibly high standards.
Probably joined the pieces using differing temperatures. Heat the handle, insert the cold bit, let it cool. There may have been some knurling on the end of the bit embedded in the handle. Could well have made it himself, or be given it as gift.
He would have used a shrink fit to make the assembly. There are charts in the Machinist Handbook that tell you how big to make the hole in the Brass handle knowing for the diameter of the bit. Then he would have had to do some math to take into account the difference in properties of the two metals (expansion rate). He then would have heated up the brass handle to enlarge the hole, while at the same time placing the steel bit in dry ice to shrink it’s diameter. Then all he had to do was slide the bit into handle and let them get back to room temperature. That bit isn’t ever coming out with destroying the handle. No knurling required.
But why a brass handle? Was this to be used for working around a gas line perhaps?
Sounds like the Apple fell away from the tree.
Brass is very easy to work with and makes a nice handle.
Since you didn’t include any pictures i would suggest you check it out very carefully, there could be a seam that would unscrew and give access to a storage space inside the handle. The opening would be above where you would grip the tool.\Just a thought??
[ Si Said, But why a brass handle? Was this to be used for working around a gas line perhaps? ]
the whole tool should be brass or something non-ferrous if it were for working around ignition source.
If it’s driven by the same drivers as woodworking hand tools, it will be for the bling factor. A pretty tool is more fun to use than a purely utilitarian tool.
Brass is often used in machine shops for hand tools esp hammers. It is softer than steel so it doesn’t mar the steel when you bang on it. Have no idea about why this would be used for a screwdriver. Please post some pics when you can.
Capt
Not too long ago, screwdriver handles were made of wood. If I were a machinist and the wooden handle broke, I’d improve it - by adding a brass handle… As long as I didn’t do any electrical work!
(I have also seen nesting, brass handled screwdrivers - jewelers?)
It was normal, at one time, for apprentices to be expected to make many of their own tools (which they could then purchase from the company) to prove that they were competent craftsmen.