Why screwdriver handles smell like vomit and make your tongue numb.

superUnknown · Apr 25, 2015

youtube vid: rotten plastic handles
So, there's that trick that old screwdriver handles make your tongue numb.
And they smell terrible, a youtube commenter explained why:
"I think the plastic is Cellulose Acetate Butyrate or another Butyrated plastic. Butyric acid is the main component that makes vomit stink (and apparently old tool handles). Its also found in rotting butter. The decomposition could be producing a molecule something along the lines of gamma amino butyric acid which is an amino acid neurotransmitter blocker."

Anybody else got a stinky screwdriver drawer?

oldtools · Apr 25, 2015

I bought a complete CM screwdriver set. It stink so bad, I no longer put them in my box. I may give them to my bil.

Kracin · Apr 25, 2015

hard to find stuff that will last forever.

co-workers VDE wera handles are losing their soft parts also. if i could i would have gotten every single wera screwdriver i have (i have quite a few) in the full hard black plastic handle. but alas, no go on that. sad to think that even though the tips will last forever, that the handle won't. i wonder if wera will warranty that, they have taken care of some other problems with tools that had seen excessive use for me as well.

3baygarage · Apr 25, 2015

superUnknown said:
Anybody else got a stinky screwdriver drawer?

Yep. And I have a plastic bin full of extra Craftsmans I accumulated. Opening that after a couple years was not very pleasant. :puke:

Jlarson · Apr 25, 2015

Old Xcelite handles. Opening a drawer full of those while breathing in probably causes brain damage.

Jack Olsen · Apr 25, 2015

My PB Swiss handles were a little pukey when I got them. I haven't noticed it lately, so it might have faded. But I don't sniff my tools all that often.

pozidriv · Apr 25, 2015

From the PB Swiss website: http://www.pbswisstools.com/en/quality-hand-tools-qht/screwdrivers/classic.html

The high quality transparent CAB* material is extremely impact proof, resistant to oil and petrol and recyclable.
Since the modified natural material can develop an unpleasant smell in airtight boxes and drawers, we mix in a subtle vanilla aroma for its neutralization (gradual implementation).

* Cellulose Acetate Butyrate

So maybe throw in some vanilla ice in those toolboxes!

Rookie2 · Apr 25, 2015

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=169821&highlight=screwdriver+smell

Tellingthem · Apr 25, 2015

I've always kind of liked that smell. Not sure why but I do.

Dave455 · Apr 25, 2015

Doesn't matter if they are old or new, it's anything made of CAB that gives you the problem! Not sure which U.S. makers use this, but this side of the pond the main problem seems to be Marples chisels (with the yellow and red handles) and PB Swiss drivers!

There's every reason to use this material on a chisel handle as it's going to get struck. Putting it on a screwdriver is probably 'over engineering', but that's just typical of PB Swiss!

Personally, I store my drivers in a top box drawer and don't have any problems. If you seal them up in a plastic box, ventilate it regularly! PB drivers are so good I'll forgive them this one slight snag, and having once met Max Baumann, (owner of PB Swiss) I have no doubt he believes that this is probably the most durable material he can find. The excellent condition of my 40 year old PB drivers would suggest he is correct!

I have quite a few screwdrivers from British and German manufacturers that have regular Cellulose Acetate handles. This seems to be a decent material, doesn't smell, and doesn't detonate, so would seem to be a good compromise!

stage20 · Apr 25, 2015

Buddy gave me a 5 gallon bucket full of cman screwdrivers a year or so ago. There was also some snap on singles and a full mac set. He said he was tired of the smell. After you scrub all the white dust off they don't smell anymore.

Two Door · Apr 25, 2015

Some people have a smell problem with the Klein Journeymans. The set I ordered seems fine to my olfactory nerves, but some Amazon reviewers found them very objectionable.

laser3kw · Apr 25, 2015

I am, again, speechlesss....
I never had the inkling to "taste" my screwdriver handle...
but, today, I ..just....might
:beer:

mustanginky · Apr 25, 2015

My drawer of pliers has a puke smell to it. Bet it's the same deal.

Pumpman1968 · Apr 25, 2015

Tellingthem said:
I've always kind of liked that smell. Not sure why but I do.

It's a nostalgia thing............I get it too!

Two Door · Apr 25, 2015

laser3kw said:
I am, again, speechlesss....
I never had the inkling to "taste" my screwdriver handle...
but, today, I ..just....might

We probably need a thread for the discussion of best tasting tools.....

chris142 · Apr 25, 2015

Never noticed a smell from mine

7echo · Apr 25, 2015

stage20 said:
Buddy gave me a 5 gallon bucket full of cman screwdrivers a year or so ago. There was also some snap on singles and a full mac set. He said he was tired of the smell. After you scrub all the white dust off they don't smell anymore.

The smell will be back. I have cleaned mine with a few different cleaners, scotch brite, etc. It helps a while but they just continue to off gas. I might try scuffing and spraying with something but I keep wondering if it is worth the effort.

Fedwrench · Apr 25, 2015

I think if you're sniffing or licking your screwdriver handle, you may be using it wrong or have other issues. :wtf:

stage20 · Apr 25, 2015

Two Door said:
We probably need a thread for the discussion of best tasting tools.....

I can tell you impact sockets don't taste all that well :lol_hitti

franzdom · Apr 25, 2015

my wife prefers the taste of the pink tool

shanny19 · Apr 25, 2015

laser3kw said:
I am, again, speechlesss....
I never had the inkling to "taste" my screwdriver handle...
but, today, I ..just....might

Might I recommend the DeWalt clear handled demo drivers? My daughter thinks the numb tongue effect is quite pronounced......

Gotcha640 · Apr 25, 2015

Has anyone tried some type of odor eaters, or desiccant, or cedar chips to minimize the smell?

superUnknown · Apr 25, 2015

Gotcha640 said:
Has anyone tried some type of odor eaters, or desiccant, or cedar chips to minimize the smell?

Hahhaha. I just pictured a mechanic opening the screwdriver drawer and sprinkling liberally with Fast actin tenactin, while his co-workers look on.
Never need to worry about loaning out screwdrivers!

superUnknown · Apr 25, 2015

Gotcha640 said:
Has anyone tried some type of odor eaters, or desiccant, or cedar chips to minimize the smell?

franzdom said:
my wife prefers the taste of the pink tool

She's got you fooled. :lol:

David99 · Apr 25, 2015

franzdom said:
my wife prefers the taste of the pink tool

Is it a pink Craftsman from Sears ? :lol_hitti

Coach James · Apr 25, 2015

pozidriv said:
From the PB Swiss website: http://www.pbswisstools.com/en/quality-hand-tools-qht/screwdrivers/classic.html

The high quality transparent CAB* material is extremely impact proof, resistant to oil and petrol and recyclable.
Since the modified natural material can develop an unpleasant smell in airtight boxes and drawers, we mix in a subtle vanilla aroma for its neutralization (gradual implementation).

* Cellulose Acetate Butyrate

So maybe throw in some vanilla ice in those toolboxes!

Maybe a cd would be enough.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000H4JH9O/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Coach

RonnieC · Apr 25, 2015

Yeah, they're definitely a lot worse when they are in confined areas. The smell really builds up.

2nrguy · Apr 25, 2015

superUnknown said:
Hahhaha. I just pictured a mechanic opening the screwdriver drawer and sprinkling liberally with Fast actin tenactin, while his co-workers look on.
Never need to worry about loaning out screwdrivers!

Oh that would be awesome!!

Cato · Apr 25, 2015

I have some cheap 20yo Craftsman screwdrivers that don't smell at all.

defektes · Apr 25, 2015

Tellingthem said:
I've always kind of liked that smell. Not sure why but I do.

Same here, always reminded me of Sears.

bonneyman · Apr 25, 2015

Gotcha640 said:
Has anyone tried some type of odor eaters, or desiccant, or cedar chips to minimize the smell?

I threw a bunch of Vaco nutdrivers into a tool box, and noticed the smell after opening it later. Gonna try Ballistol and see if it's acidic residue neutralizing properties will work on plastic.

mikegt4 · Apr 25, 2015

Tellingthem said:
I've always kind of liked that smell. Not sure why but I do.

Same here. I think the smell triggers a subliminal message that says "Oh boy, NEW TOOLS"

thieltech · Apr 25, 2015

the factory that makes them , must really stink like hell then

MoparTrucks · Apr 25, 2015

This is the damnedest thread, I have noticed this for decades and its one of those....its there, I'm aware of it, not smart enough to figure it out...move on..kind of things.

I have a habit of sticking screw drivers in my mouth when I am working on a ladder in particular (and your mama warned you about running with scissors!!!) and just looking at this thread makes me feel and taste it.

MikeF2316 · Apr 26, 2015

superUnknown said:
Hahhaha. I just pictured a mechanic opening the screwdriver drawer and sprinkling liberally with Fast actin tenactin, while his co-workers look on.
Never need to worry about loaning out screwdrivers!

I was picturing the wood chips like you put on the bottom of a hamster cage. :lol_hitti

JonDick13926 · Apr 26, 2015

This is pretty interesting. I don't personally own any screwdrivers with those particular handles anymore, but my grandpa owns a ton of the older craftsman ones. He has some in his garage in a tool box, but they're laying in the top with the top always up and I never smell anything (I guess because it's always aired out.) But he also has some in the house in a portable box that is closed, and whenever you open that box up it smells pretty bad. I guess I just dismissed it as the tool box itself smelled bad because it's older than me. Lol.

revamp · Apr 26, 2015

Jlarson said:
Old Xcelite handles. Opening a drawer full of those while breathing in probably causes brain damage.

Yes! Xcelite is what we used in the navy--every workshop had a suitcase-style box of them and oh god the smell!

Twenty20mike · Apr 26, 2015

I recently got some hard handle screwdrivers from Home Depot and their handles smell like play doh :dunno:

djb2 · Apr 26, 2015

I perceive the smell as dog **** rather than vomit.
Before the Internet, there was no easy way to learn that the smell was normal. I looked all over for the dog **** in my first toolbox, assuming that the smell had seeping into the handles.

pozidriv said:
From the PB Swiss website:
Since the modified natural material can develop an unpleasant smell in airtight boxes and drawers, we mix in a subtle vanilla aroma for its neutralization

It doesn't neutralize the smell. It just adds to it, and leads to a mental association. When I smell a pine forest, I think latrine.

Why screwdriver handles smell like vomit and make your tongue numb.

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