December 28, 2022 - During my visit to my grandparents house for the holidays, I encountered some intriguing vintage tools and gadgets (pictured in the video below). One of these was a small toolset that had a screwdriver with interchangeable heads. However, the original yellow handle was cracked and damaged (pictured left), so I decided it was a perfect opportunity to not only fix it, but also improve it.

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The final 3D printed handle has a variety of useful upgrades, such as a swiveling section that makes it easier to apply pressure while screwing with one hand, a more ergonomic shape, and a wider diameter (maximized to fit in the original case). Despite there being 2 separate plastic pieces, it can be printed in place, with no post-print assembly. A tight fit between the 3D print and original brass tool was ensured by heating the brass tool before inserting into the plastic–a new technique for me.

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In the end, this screwdriver restoration helped me to restore other old gadgets I found, such as a 1980s Casio alarm clock (video below). I hope this creation inspires you to repair old things with new technology as well!