Bad smelling handles......

mdoolittle · Feb 2, 2010

OK, I bought a set of metric SK nutdrivers off Ebay about a year ago. I open the package and these things smell like someone puked in there. I removed them from the cheap plastic tool roll thinking it was that. NOPE

I almost think they are an actually fakes. I have sprayed them with brake cleaner, carb cleaner, diesel fuel, nothing gets rid of this vomit smell. It is actually the plastic. Has anyone else ever come across this?

Bull · Feb 2, 2010

Weird. What about soaking them in some Febreze?

Scout Driver · Feb 2, 2010

I have some old Craftsman screwdrivers with the clear, blue and red striped handles (wish I had a pic. handy). Anyhow, I have to keep them in their own toolbox because they smell like someone yacked in the box :puke:

. Heard others have had the same trouble with the old C-man screwdrivers.

Pukeballs · Feb 2, 2010

I got a 1/4" Proto ratchet that stinks too. Im pretty sure its the glue they use to attach the hard handle.

tonydanzah · Feb 2, 2010

coming from the guy named pukeballs

Ed_EOD · Feb 2, 2010

My Cman are getting worse over the years (smell and wear). I never thought I would base a tool purchase on smell but I will be with the replacements. I was talking to a buddy at work about this then he told me later he cant stand his old screwdrivers either thanks to me.

mkdive · Feb 2, 2010

Cman clear handles are well known to smell....lots of threads on here about it.

cruiser808 · Feb 2, 2010

Scout Driver said:
I have some old Craftsman screwdrivers with the clear, blue and red striped handles (wish I had a pic. handy). Anyhow, I have to keep them in their own toolbox because they smell like someone yacked in the box. Heard others have had the same trouble with the old C-man screwdrivers.

I do the same thing as Scout; they really stink. I bought them new in 1984. The irony is that the Cman screwdriver shafts of this era are considered far superior to today's offerings. Go figure. They are now backup tools. I will say that if they just sit out in the open for a while, the stink kinda goes away. :eyecrazy:

rsanter · Feb 2, 2010

most likly the handles were made from recycled plastic

bob

jpilgrim · Feb 2, 2010

cellulose butyrate

from http://www.papawswrench.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=1685

The smell of the Xcelite screwdriver handles is because they are made of a plastic known as cellulose butyrate. One of the components of that is butyric acid, which is the stench of rancid butter and vomit. So that's why they smell,
decomposition.

bchee · Feb 3, 2010

mkdive said:
Cman clear handles are well known to smell....lots of threads on here about it.

yeah, it's been mentioned before. I believe the handles are made out of ACETATE, at least the Craftsman ones

bchee · Feb 3, 2010

I googled "craftsman acetate" and found this link to the Craftsman site:
http://answers.craftsman.com/answers/2328c/category/1304407/questions.htm?sort=recenta&dir=asc

Question: How do I keep my screwdrivers from smelling foul?

Answer: "Cellulose Acetate Butyrate (which is used in the handle) is a wood pulp byproduct and since it is a natural product, when stored in a confined area such as a tool box drawer, on a hot day, can smell. A fragrance is actually added to the resins during production to mask the odor and gives new handles a sweet smell. Over time both the nasty odor and sweet smell can both go away. The best advise is to open the box and air it out and avoid storing it in a hot area if possible."

993James993 · Feb 3, 2010

I'm glad you posted. I have a couple of tool boxes that have a very particular odor. Its not terrible and I thought it might be decomposing leather. It never occurred to me that it could be the screwdriver handles.

toolmutt · Feb 3, 2010

bchee said:
"...avoid storing it in a hot area if possible."

My Craftsmans used to be "stored" in the toolbox inside my truck during the hot, Texas summers. Now they're "stored" in the barn.

cruiser808 · Feb 3, 2010

bchee said:
I googled "craftsman acetate" and found this link to the Craftsman site:
http://answers.craftsman.com/answers/2328c/category/1304407/questions.htm?sort=recenta&dir=asc

Question: How do I keep my screwdrivers from smelling foul?

Answer: "Cellulose Acetate Butyrate (which is used in the handle) is a wood pulp byproduct and since it is a natural product, when stored in a confined area such as a tool box drawer, on a hot day, can smell. A fragrance is actually added to the resins during production to mask the odor and gives new handles a sweet smell. Over time both the nasty odor and sweet smell can both go away. The best advise is to open the box and air it out and avoid storing it in a hot area if possible."

Unfortunately for me, it's always hot in my area.

TheGrooveking · Feb 3, 2010

Wow, I was thinking that bad smell was the corkoid drawer liners I installed 25 years ago, now I know it is my 25 year old SK screwdrivers.

TheGrooveking

american lockpicker · Feb 3, 2010

I seem to remember hearing this about PB Swiss too. Could some one put a pic up of the handles that smell so I can avoid them.

superautobacs · Feb 3, 2010

It's not only with Craftsman; PB Swiss screwdrivers (Classic and Multicraft versions) also have the stench. In fact, the two companies source the raw material from the same company: Eastman Specialty Plastics

MrMark · Feb 3, 2010

I have the xcelites from like 85. The stench is overpowering. Now I know where it comes from.

Merkava_4 · Feb 3, 2010

Nothing........let me repeat........nothing smells better than MAC Comfort Grip screwdriver handles. A sugary sweet, sugary sweet, sugary sweet wonderful aroma!!

mkdive · Feb 3, 2010

Merkava_4 said:
Nothing........let me repeat........nothing smells better than MAC Comfort Grip screwdriver handles. A sugary sweet, sugary sweet, sugary sweet wonderful aroma!!

That's a man who truly loves his drivers :beer:

Kevin54 · Feb 3, 2010

mkdive said:
That's a man who truly loves his drivers

That's a man that needs t get outside more :lol_hitti

Jay H 237 · Feb 3, 2010

Makes me wonder if the Husky screwdrivers from Home Depot will smell like the Cman's afterawhile, they have similar handles.

I do have a set of small jewelers files that the handles smell like gasoline. After using them my hands smell like I just pumped gas.

ftp · Feb 3, 2010

I've got a black hard handle snap on stubby screwdriver that "sweats" in the summer.

fatfillup · Feb 3, 2010

I don't know what is worse, Merk sniffing his Mac drivers or a guy called pukeballs. :lol_hitti

Oh well, got my morning laugh.

highland512 · Feb 3, 2010

It's not just the cman drivers, I have a full set of proto yellow handles that will turn your gut when you open the chest. That why I like my mac and proto woody's!!

thelews · Feb 3, 2010

Thanks for the thread. I inheritied my Dad's tool chest about 6 years ago, when he died and I merged his tools with mine. For some reason the screwdriver drawer always had a stink to it, I wouldn't say vomit, but, not pleasant. Never knew what was causing it! There are Cman drivers in there as well as wooden handle and SO.

justinmc · Feb 3, 2010

I've been around enough tools that smelled nasty like that.. always that kinda "acid" smell and I wondered what it was. Nice to know... ugh.

lbgradwell · Feb 3, 2010

I've never experienced this phenomenon personally, but it amuses me every time I read about it!

I wonder why my old Fuller "Golden Grip" screwdriver don't stink? The look very similar to the Craftsmans, but I suppose they are made from a different composition...

tjmonsen5 · Feb 3, 2010

im holding one of my old craftsman screwdrivers right now, yes it has a smell, but i kind of like it actually. Maybe mine isnt old enough? I believe i got it in the early 90s, maybe the 80s. Or maybe this is a replacement i got sometime in the 2003ish...

jeepnut24 · Feb 3, 2010

I have an older clear, now golden, handled CMAN 1/4" extension that stinks a good bit. However, the rest of my clear handles don't really smell??? Maybe a new composition?

mdoolittle · Feb 3, 2010

Well here they are in all their stinky goodness...............

I have never used these. Any wear is from trying to get the funk out or rattling around in a box.

Toolhorder · Feb 3, 2010

My **** smell overpowers any smells coming out of my toolbox....

jvitez · Feb 4, 2010

lbgradwell said:
I've never experienced this phenomenon personally, but it amuses me every time I read about it!

I wonder why my old Fuller "Golden Grip" screwdriver don't stink? The look very similar to the Craftsmans, but I suppose they are made from a different composition...

I've got 4 Fuller Pro 300 screwdrivers, bought from Home Depot within the last 10 years. None of them smell. And, they're still made in Canada. I think the ergonomics of the handle is great. The tips wear reasonably well too, and are easily available, at least here in Canada.

Any of my US friends are welcome to check out Fuller Golden Grip or Pro 300 screwdrivers if they ever come up here. About the same as Craftsman overall I think, and no smell!

BTW, this thread is great! I was close to ordering PB Swiss hard handled screwdrivers as an upgrade for my garage set, Fuller to stay in the basement woodshop. Now, I've got to rethink my whole screwdriver upgrade strategy. Thanks!

Gary S · Feb 4, 2010

MrMark said:
I have the xcelites from like 85. The stench is overpowering. Now I know where it comes from.

I have an Xcelite nutdriver and screwdriver set from the 60s that has the same awful smell. Plastic isn't our friend, and things like this remind us of that fact.

oldtools · Feb 4, 2010

How come the cheap shits from HF don't smell.

Pukeballs · Feb 4, 2010

oldtools said:
How come the cheap shits from HF don't smell.

Are you saying HF's **** dont stink? :bounce:

oldtools · Feb 4, 2010

Pukeballs said:
Are you saying HF's **** dont stink?

Their handle don't stink. Their price don't stink. Their warrenty don't stink. The Crapsman stink. The Macipad stink.

MrMark · Feb 4, 2010

Gary S said:
I have an Xcelite nutdriver and screwdriver set from the 60s that has the same awful smell. Plastic isn't our friend, and things like this remind us of that fact.

Mine turn white too. Funny thing is they stunk from day one. They didn't need any age on them before rotting.

Plastics have come a long way. I had some old SO screwdrivers that leaked oil and caused rust in my toolbox.

The Muffin Man · Feb 4, 2010

A friend of mine has a set of Craftsman nut drivers that have the awful stench of vomit infused with ******.

I voluntarily bought him a set of Wera nutdrivers to replace them :shocking:

Bad smelling handles......

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