help! toolbox reeks of old wax polish(smells like vomit)

rothko · Feb 22, 2014

Hi

I bought a 35 yr old 'snap on ' top box recently,in really great condition.I have built a frame with wheels to move it around .
Problem is the smell, when I open the lid.The box has probably been waxed to sell, but the smell of the wax has intensified and it is now like a vomit smell that has had a chemical agent added to it to try to kill the smell.Revolting!

What can I do? Detergent no good,white vinegar no good...........................

This is a very special box.It's in truly great condition and is the same as the one I have to restore,which is in really BAD condition.Pictures of the old one couple of months back.12 drawer!

Regards

Rothko

ganymede · Feb 22, 2014

Are you sure it isn't from plastic screw driver handles deteriorating?
If so let the box air out for about a week. That should do it

zkling · Feb 22, 2014

Do you want the smell to just be different or actually be pleasant?

What box is it? Can you post a pic of it?

Bigplum · Feb 22, 2014

Washing powder or liquid , the biological type, nice strong solution and scrub away , rinse well . works for a lot of smells even cat piss

outdoorsman310 · Feb 22, 2014

Wipe it down with gas and a rag, be careful about the paint though. The smell was probably from craftsman screwdrivers sitting in it for years. or you could open some drawers to air it out

woody 73 · Feb 22, 2014

Wheel that box into your nearest HF store and let it sit there for one week, I guarantee you at the end of one week you problems will go away. :beer:

Fretters · Feb 22, 2014

Try putting some Sodium Bicarbonate, (bicarb, baking soda), into some warm water and washing it down with that.

woody 73 said:
Wheel that box into your nearest HF store and let it sit there for one week, I guarantee you at the end of one week you problems will go away.

That'd be a fair old trip with him being in the UK.

Westly · Feb 22, 2014

If it's the wax that's stinkin, then wax remover. If it's microcooties, then chlorine bleach solution. Borax solution removes fungus.

ihrescue · Feb 22, 2014

I know I just replied about using white vinegar on salt stains on carpet I think it would work well to clean the surface of your tool box and get rid of the smell. An alternative if you have it is TSP which is a good detergent for use before painting to get rid of grease grime before painting. I would just use 1 part white vinegar and 1 part warm water maybe about three cups each. Wipe down all the surfaces. The acetic acid smell will dissipate quickly.

Lookin4'67Galaxieconv · Feb 22, 2014

OP, you should resell that box and buy a HF 44" or 56"

They're a great deal for the money!

BK13 · Feb 22, 2014

Fretters said:
Try putting some Sodium Bicarbonate, (bicarb, baking soda), into some warm water and washing it down with that.

That'd be a fair old trip with him being in the UK.

Can you get away with a Snappy box for carry on? :lol_hitti

Bill440 · Feb 22, 2014

I know that smell! I have a set of Craftsman torx drivers that are in a small plastic case that would drive anyone from the immediate area because of the smell. I have other regular screwdrivers that are older but no odor.

softailgarage · Feb 22, 2014

Sounds like what your smelling is old Craftsman screwdrivers, have any in the box?

rothko · Feb 23, 2014

Hi

Big thanks for all your replies!.HF and Craftsman we don't have here,but I have read a lot about the screwdriver handles.

I will certainly try what you have suggested,

When I was renovating the other SO boxes I used T cut ,grease remover(diluted), spray on car wax,all the usual stuff,and I recognise the problem smell has something to do with car wax.

ALL the attending odours of the renovation work on the other SO boxes,soon went,and there is no problem.THIS new one is like the car wax smell from hell,an intensified version.This latest box needs NOTHING doing to it in the way of renovation.

Having said that , I left it open in my garage last night,and the smell is not so bad this morning.The neat white vinegar I put on yesterday has had some effect.Don't know what it will be like leaving it in the house with the lid down.This box,by the way is destined for use in the house,on the frame I made for it,on wheels.(modified design I got from here).

I will do all you have recommended ,baking powder an all. Have to nip down to Tescos and get some supplies.

There's nothing worse than MASKING smells, don't you think ? Have to get rid ,at source.

One more thing.I have been wanting to post more pics,for a long time now, but Photobucket somehow,will not let me progress past signing in.And that's automatic!All I get is a thumbnail display of previous shots which I can't do anything with.It WAS fine.Any idea as to what's going on here.
Got several things I wanted to show pics of,including my redesigned,minimal workshop.I had the idea it would be good,and IT REALLY WORKS!

Look forward to hearing from you

ROTHKO

rothko · Feb 23, 2014

PS

I have all the 12 drawers out,and as far as I can tell there is no smell from these.

R

rothko · Mar 1, 2014

Hi All

Kidding myself.The smell is still there.I 've done the baking powder and detergent and white vinegar,seems to go,but when I return ,it's come back .
Maybe I'll try the petrol ( gasoline) next.

It's such a shame,as this is the condition you rarely see in a box of this age.It's a real big'un as well!20 inches high and 12 drawers.Some of it is like new.Drawers are amazing condition.....................And then there's the lovely smell......................

I am working on a new approach,but I don't think I'm going to get very far.I did want to use this box indoors.The frame I made for it, on wheels is a dream to use..Sick ain't it!!

TTYL

Rothko

Rothko

ZRX61 · Mar 1, 2014

aerosol can of Lysol & wipe the box down with it.

"Screwdriver funk" can be cured by wiping the handles down with lemon pledge.

Bigplum · Mar 1, 2014

Perhaps kitty litter , cheap enough to try anyway , just keep the cat away

Fretters · Mar 1, 2014

If it keeps coming back, then use a solvent on it. There's obviously something more than just a lingering whiff there. Gum turpentine is my favourite. Lovely odour by itself and a very good, though not too extreme, solvent.

theoldwizard1 · Mar 1, 2014

softailgarage said:
Sounds like what your smelling is old Craftsman screwdrivers, have any in the box?

Funny thing is, not only do they have to be old, but well used. I think it has to do with the sweat from your hands.

I got all new ones a few years ago on warranty, partially for that reason.

C96 · Mar 1, 2014

Fretters said:
There's obviously something more than just a lingering whiff there.

LOL……Agreed, the previous owner probably did actually puke in the damn thing while sick at work. I’ve actually seen something similar working with a co-worker when all of a sudden out of the blue he just started vomiting all over everything, was not a pretty site.

Try putting some bleach in a spray bottle and give the box a good soaking leaving it sit overnight.

Good Luck

Steinmetz · Mar 1, 2014

"Smells like vomit". An enduring tribute to all the tool box waxers of the world.

warweapon762 · Mar 1, 2014

Definitely sounds like the craftsman screwdriver smell.

I inherited my dad's portable box that had that smell in it, I eventually used purple power on it to get the smell out (hosed the whole thing down with concentrated purple power and a siphon feed gun.

Took a couple of spray downs, but the smell went away.

rothko · Mar 1, 2014

Hi folks

Big thanks for the replies.I 'll try all that. I am in the UK though and the screwdriver thing I don't think will be it.I'm starting to wonder now.Thanks to your help I could be posting pictures again soon.Now theres' something to look forward to.....not.

When we all finally go thermo nuclear there will only be 3 things left:

Certain beetles that live in furnaces.

Keith Richards

.. and that smell

When I worked for British Telecoms,just before I left, after 15 yrs. climbing telephone poles,one day I got back in the van ,dreadful smell of dog muck.
Did all the van pedals,shoes, all of it. Cleaned up.

3 days later,smell,still there,probably worse.God I hate that stuff.
Now I'm lookin crazy......Cleaned out ALL the van

Still there............Worried

2 B continued

R

rothko · Mar 1, 2014

I have a diesel car.Is Diesel any good?

R

lbgradwell · Mar 1, 2014

For years I was amused at reading posts about stinking screwdriver handles. I've been around tools for my entire life and had never experienced anything of the sort, so had trouble relating.

That all changed about 2 years back when I bought a USA-made NOS Craftsman screwdriver set off the local kijiji listings here in Ontario, Canada. For those who don't know, Craftsman tools in Canada have not been sourced from the same vendors as in the USA in many decades and our screwdrivers are made by Fuller here in Canada. I've never smelled anything odd on a Fuller screwdriver handle.

The Western Forge-made USA were different. Waaayyy different. The stench was pronounced and truly did reek of a sickly-sweet vomit-like odor. It was unpleasant in the extreme and there was no question of keeping the foul things. Sold 'em again on kijiji and they are now stinking up someone else's home!

j.t.d. · Mar 1, 2014

I would try rubbing alcohol before the petrol. It will dissolve wax without damaging the paint.
John

1950mercury · Mar 1, 2014

Get some of that stuff the sell fot dog and cat piss in your carpet or try fabreeze

outdoorsman310 · Mar 1, 2014

you have tried soap and water right? you probably shouldn't use gas except as a last resort. it can damage paint depending on the paint and what is in the gas.

Engine · Mar 2, 2014

woody 73 said:
Wheel that box into your nearest HF store and let it sit there for one week, I guarantee you at the end of one week you problems will go away.

Yep. I don't know what they put on the products they sell made of rubber, but it has one hellacious stench... and it lasts for months. I bought a rubber liner for a toolbox last summer and had to leave it outside for nearly a month to let the smell "evaporate." No type of cleaner I had would touch the stuff. It was like some type of oily substance. Horrid. :puke:

rothko · Mar 2, 2014

Hi All

Big Thanks for your help!I'll try some of that tomorrow.

Regards

Rothko

rothko · Mar 2, 2014

Hi again

The rubber smell.Yeah,I've had that.I've had 8 of them on my home sound system racks for years.It does go, but in a very long time.The only way out of that is to do what I did when I recently bought the wheels for the frame I built to wheel the offending toolbox around on.They had the same problem,like a disinfectant smell.This wasn't a problem when I bought castors back in the old days.I used to like blue.Still using sets of those.

You have to buy good ones,I found that is one of the differences between cheap castors and more expensive ones.I got a refund on my cheepies and got some great ones with the blue rubber.They were nearly 3 times the price though.great double locking action ,tight bearings and no smell.Before I bought the good ones I phoned up the company and talked about the smell problem.They assured me theirs would be ok.

Regards Rothko

cassidy · Mar 2, 2014

Spray nine

BFHtime · Mar 2, 2014

Try charcoal briquettes. Break them up to the size of sugar cubes or smaller. It will be dusty so clean up after is a little PITA, because the dust is fine, but the greater amount of surface area is what you are going for.

Charcoal is used in many types of filtration (water and air that I know of). Brita and camp type water filters to NBC suits.

RV77 · Mar 2, 2014

Pour a little Synthetic trans fluid in there

Sheriff Roscoe · Mar 2, 2014

My dad's small toolbox in the garage has that vomit smell and now I know why! He does have Craftsman screwdrivers in there.

After cleanup, what can be used to coat the scredriver handles to prevent the smell from coming back? Sounds like Johnson's Paste Wax is out.

Recoil Rob · Mar 2, 2014

I have two cased sets of Xcelite small drivers with multiplier handles, one is 8 screwdrivers and the other is 10 nut drivers. They have plastic hex handles and in the case is a larger handle that slips over the smaller tool handle to get more torque. I got them 40 years ago and whenever I open a case to use one they smell like puke. The handles have a whitish coating, I think a soak in bleach would probably alleviate the smell but I've grown used to it.

rothko · Mar 4, 2014

Hi ALL

I have tried nearly everything suggested to get rid of the smell,but I am now about to put it up for sale.
Can't bring myself to do it though.It is ok for a very short while but leave the lid down ,comeback in an hour an it's like you've done nothing.

Heavy heart with that as I'll never get another rare box of that age ,in this condition again.No chance.I can use the frame on wheels I built for it, for one of my other boxes and use that in the house,instead.Now I'll have all that hassle getting it sold.I'm looking at it now.................................

.I 've got all 24 sliders out and in degreaser,and I'm in the process of drying them and putting them back.

I have done the last wash ,this time with washing up powder,but it will be the same result.
I have even contacted the leading paint suppliers in the UK their scientific dept.No reply yet.

I'm sure there are people out there who would want this box,and not mind the smell.I probably have tamed it a bit.I'm not even sure of that.

I will have to draw attention to it if I advertise.

Rothko

I was aiming to use it in the house.

C96 · Mar 4, 2014

Recoil Rob said:
whenever I open a case to use one they smell like puke
but I've grown used to it

Lol…. how on earth does one get use to smelling vomit? :wtf:

rothko said:
I will have to draw attention to it if I advertise

No, just leave a set of old stinky screw drivers in there and include them in the sale. :lol_hitti

pauls_workshop · Mar 4, 2014

This is easy. Put mothballs in the drawers of your chest. It is prevent rust. You should be using it anyway. You won't smell a thing except mothballs when you are done. Problem solved. - Paul

help! toolbox reeks of old wax polish(smells like vomit)

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Active member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Banned

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member