Getting rid of the notorious "Made in China" smell

Nocturnal-G · Dec 3, 2013

I rarely buy anything made in China, well I suppose that's where my ESCO jack stands are made. Just got them in about an hour ago and they REEK. I keep all my tools indoors... my house now officially smells like Harbor Freight. Any way to get rid of this horrid odor? :willy_nil

Strouty · Dec 3, 2013

jakemac · Dec 3, 2013

Maybe a Witch-Doctor can excise the daemons for you .

sawbuck · Dec 3, 2013

return them and buy USA...or put them outside where they belong ...easy huh?

oldtools · Dec 3, 2013

Some kids probably pee on it during the quenching process of heat treatment. Just spray some perfum on it when ever you need to use it.

Carves · Dec 3, 2013

When the paint falls off the rusty metal its covering,

The smell should go away ....

... going by my experience with a cement mixer I bought a coupla year ago .. :lol:

Burgerkong · Dec 3, 2013

You do mean the rubber right? Keep them (the pads) outside.

Nocturnal-G · Dec 3, 2013

sawbuck said:
return them and buy USA...or put them outside where they belong ...easy huh?

First one isn't a great option (flat top), neither is the second. When Americans start making jack stands like these... I'd consider it.

jakemac said:
Maybe a Witch-Doctor can excise the daemons for you .

Maybe...

Burgerkong said:
You do mean the rubber right? Keep them (the pads) outside.

Yeah, considering it. Carport storage isn't that great. I do have a lot of room indoors though. Toss them in ziploc bags or something, I washed them with soap and water... hopefully it cleans up the smell.

oldtools said:
Some kids probably pee on it during the quenching process of heat treatment. Just spray some perfum on it when ever you need to use it.

Carves said:
When the paint falls off the rusty metal its covering,

The smell should go away ....

... going by my experience with a cement mixer I bought a coupla year ago ..

Hopefully nothing falls apart... I would've bought the real deal but seeing how they are impossible to find... even offered to buy a set from a member here, but no go.

diggerrick · Dec 3, 2013

Plastic and rubber are the only items I remember smelling funny.

American stuff isn't immune - you should smell my old Craftsman "made in USA" screwdrivers.

Nocturnal-G · Dec 3, 2013

diggerrick said:
Plastic and rubber are the only items I remember smelling funny.

American stuff isn't immune - you should smell my old Craftsman "made in USA" screwdrivers.

I have that same set of Craftsman screwdrivers, they came in a red case. Once you open it... It smells horrible. Luckily closing the case takes away the smell.

oldtools · Dec 3, 2013

My CM screwdrivers begin to stink but not to the point that I have to take drastic action. If it become unbearable, I will give them to my brother or sell them.

beamrider · Dec 3, 2013

Nuke it from orbit, it's the only way to be sure.

MJB24 · Dec 3, 2013

beamrider said:
Nuke it from orbit, it's the only way to be sure.

China or the stands?

jim2664258 · Dec 3, 2013

LOL. I thought people smelling screwdrivers was weird.

Outlawmws · Dec 3, 2013

The best solution is to leave them in the store and never bring them home...

Jagmandave · Dec 3, 2013

OK, now a serious answer......

It's the rubber pads that smell, and by simply letting them air out eventually the smell will fade away.

So set them outside somewhere - I don't know if leaving them in the sun will hurry the process, but it can't hurt.

greenlizard · Dec 3, 2013

I thought I was the only one with the Craftsman vomit scented screwdrivers. I recently replaced all of mine with Williams just because of the fragrance. Nasty.

bisley45 · Dec 3, 2013

sawbuck said:
return them and buy USA...or put them outside where they belong ...easy huh?

JBrew227 · Dec 3, 2013

Use them. Once they get coated in oil or gasoline the smell goes away. Its the rubber pads that stink. You could just hit them with a good 40w oil and let it soak in and the smell will disappear. Or splash some diesel on them. In all honesty though if you leave them out in the garage for a week or so they stop smelling they really just need to air out.

beamrider · Dec 3, 2013

Serious answer then:

The smell is caused by the outgassing of certain polymers. Leave the rubber outside for a week or 2, and the smell should subside noticeably.

PugetDude · Dec 3, 2013

Store them in a HF toolbox.

oldtools · Dec 3, 2013

Jagmandave said:
OK, now a serious answer......

It's the rubber pads that smell, and by simply letting them air out eventually the smell will fade away.

So set them outside somewhere - I don't know if leaving them in the sun will hurry the process, but it can't hurt.

Leave it at a location that will scare the neighbor cat away.

oldtools · Dec 3, 2013

greenlizard said:
I thought I was the only one with the Craftsman vomit scented screwdrivers. I recently replaced all of mine with Williams just because of the fragrance. Nasty.

Not sure if Williams change the plastic composition, but I have some old Williams screwdrivers that stink pretty bad. I kept them with my home fixing tools (separate box from my mechanic tools) and use it to fix toilet and sink.

outdoorsman310 · Dec 3, 2013

spill some gas on them by accident. smell gone!

e30bradley · Dec 3, 2013

wash them.. The smell will go away soon. GJ is starting to get annoying.. The constant IBTL!

outdoorsman310 · Dec 3, 2013

whats ibtl?

Outlawmws · Dec 3, 2013

In Before The Lock.

Some topics go viral and get locked down... Often taking a Troll with it.

Burgerkong · Dec 3, 2013

outdoorsman310 said:
whats ibtl?

In before the lock.

e30bradley · Dec 3, 2013

outdoorsman310 said:
whats ibtl?

as others have said it means in before the lock.. Its like saying I made it to the party before it got busted. I guess it makes people feel cool but its getting really old. The OP asked a serious question, he didn't need people telling him to buy USA or whatever.. Kind of a silly question anyway but still .

nicksnothereman · Dec 3, 2013

Nocturnal-G said:
I rarely buy anything made in China, well I suppose that's where my ESCO jack stands are made. Just got them in about an hour ago and they REEK. I keep all my tools indoors... my house now officially smells like Harbor Freight. Any way to get rid of this horrid odor?

Bullhockey.

nicksnothereman · Dec 3, 2013

JBrew227 said:
Use them. Once they get coated in oil or gasoline the smell goes away. Its the rubber pads that stink. You could just hit them with a good 40w oil and let it soak in and the smell will disappear. Or splash some diesel on them. In all honesty though if you leave them out in the garage for a week or so they stop smelling they really just need to air out.

He'll never use them.

Too soon? :lol:

Chadwilliam1 · Dec 4, 2013

The one Amazon review
"I purchased these because i think flat rubber pad style works well with most of today's unibody vehicles. Also the feet are flat and seem less likely the damage garage plastic tiles if i ever buy them. The weld quality is horrible on the whole assembly. The pin securing clips are horrible quality. Two of the four clips I received we're separated, needed the be re-bent and put together. Then they all fall apart when you use them. The worst problem is the chemical off gassing smell (probably from the rubber) I get nauseated by just going in the garage for ten seconds. It makes me sick that these crappy Chinese tools are the best we can probably get (for a decent price) and I don't fell I paid a cheap Chinese price. Maybe I will return if possible "

Nocturnal-G · Dec 4, 2013

jim2664258 said:
LOL. I thought people smelling screwdrivers was weird.

I don't breathe out of my mouth. :thumbup:

Jagmandave said:
OK, now a serious answer......

It's the rubber pads that smell, and by simply letting them air out eventually the smell will fade away.

So set them outside somewhere - I don't know if leaving them in the sun will hurry the process, but it can't hurt.

Yeah, I'm going that route going to air them out.

JBrew227 said:
Use them. Once they get coated in oil or gasoline the smell goes away. Its the rubber pads that stink. You could just hit them with a good 40w oil and let it soak in and the smell will disappear. Or splash some diesel on them. In all honesty though if you leave them out in the garage for a week or so they stop smelling they really just need to air out.

Thanks for the tips... :thumbup:

Outlawmws said:
In Before The Lock.

Some topics go viral and get locked down... Often taking a Troll with it.

It was a serious question if you didn't realize it. I've been a member here for over a year and never have I once trolled anyone or wasted my time on dumb or pointless ****. :thumbup:

e30bradley said:
as others have said it means in before the lock.. Its like saying I made it to the party before it got busted. I guess it makes people feel cool but its getting really old. The OP asked a serious question, he didn't need people telling him to buy USA or whatever.. Kind of a silly question anyway but still .

If I had the space... I'd toss them outside along with the rest of my tools.

The only issue I have with the jack stands is the rubber smell. Other than that they are good quality and the welds are fine. Some people commented saying I should've bought stands made in the USA... I suggest you look for that Hein Warner thread that shows the shoddy welds and **** quality. Regardless, USA or not... these stands fit my application with the flat tops and that's why I bought them.

I'm not completely sure if they are made in China, made in Taiwan or made in Denmark. I simply assumed they were made in China, since no COO was present on any of the jack stands. Well anyways thanks to everyone for the tips. If worse comes to worst, I'll just toss the rubber tops in a ziploc bag or something. The smell is diminishing slightly though so hopefully airing them out is working.

Outlawmws · Dec 4, 2013

outdoorsman310 said:
whats ibtl?

Outlawmws said:
In Before The Lock.

Some topics go viral and get locked down... Often taking a Troll with it.

Nocturnal-G said:
It was a serious question if you didn't realize it. I've been a member here for over a year and never have I once trolled anyone or wasted my time on dumb or pointless ****.

.

I wasn't being a smart ***, and I wasn't accusing you. I was responding to a question... Anytime the China/HF (or other hot button) topics comes up there is a risk someone will decide to go in and troll it.

TAMPAGT07 · Dec 4, 2013

outdoorsman310 said:
whats ibtl?

Outlawmws said:
In Before The Lock.

Some topics go viral and get locked down... Often taking a Troll with it.

Burgerkong said:
In before the lock.

e30bradley said:
as others have said it means in before the lock.. Its like saying I made it to the party before it got busted. I guess it makes people feel cool but its getting really old. The OP asked a serious question, he didn't need people telling him to buy USA or whatever.. Kind of a silly question anyway but still .

I always thought it was "I Like Big ***'s." :evil:

Nocturnal-G · Dec 4, 2013

Outlawmws said:
I wasn't being a smart ***, and I wasn't accusing you. I was responding to a question... Anytime the China/HF (or other hot button) topics comes up there is a risk someone will decide to go in and troll it.

No worries... My bad for assuming you were referring to me. GJ has been really good to me so in return I'm good to it. We should uphold this community, I do my best to ignore a lot of the dumb comments but sometimes it's extremely hard. I think I did good in this thread.

As long as the trolls aren't fed, they'll stave off.

And I just found out ESCO sells Compac jacks... so maybe these jack stands are the real deal that AC Hydraulik has private labeled to ESCO exclusively.

larryq · Dec 4, 2013

Outlawmws said:
I wasn't being a smart ***, and I wasn't accusing you. I was responding to a question... Anytime the China/HF (or other hot button) topics comes up there is a risk someone will decide to go in and troll it.

Yep, Outlaw was replying to another question, helping as he's done innumerable times here. Not being a smart *** at all. The OP read him wrong.

TAMPAGT07 · Dec 4, 2013

When my wife ******* about one of my smelly Hf tools, I just tell her "That's the sweet smell of savings." (I also tell her it's no worse then the smells emitted by the T-man's *** when we lie in bed at night.")

Jagmandave · Dec 4, 2013

The rubber pads that came with my HF 44 tool chests smelled strongly too, now two months on they have no odor at all, so it will go away - have faith!

e30bradley · Dec 4, 2013

The jack stand you got are from HF right? I damaged one of my torin 6t stands so now I have three.. I want to get another 6T set so i can use them again. My torins are made in china and the HF ones are probably the same quality. Besides the smell are they good?

Getting rid of the notorious "Made in China" smell

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