Can you smell the acetate-handle odor?

dwasifar · Jul 10, 2017

In another forum there's a discussion of acetate-handled screwdrivers going on, and a common complaint is that they smell bad. This seems to be the majority opinion over there, but I don't really understand it. I've got acetate screwdrivers going back 30+ years and only one has any kind of bad odor to it that I can detect, and even for that one I have to put it right up to my nose.

A few weeks ago, Ace had a sale, and one of those guys bought the very same set of Craftsman acetates as I did. He says his stink. I don't smell mine.

Could this be one of those genetic things, like being able to taste PTC, or liking black licorice? Do I lack the stinky-screwdriver gene? Anyone else here who can't smell stinky acetate?

SRSemenza · Jul 10, 2017

I have some old (25 yrs., screwdrivers) that don't smell. I also have some old (25yrs, nutdrivers) that smell faintly. I have some new , just opened , old stock that have a strong smell. I can smell it from several feet and on hands after use. I don't ever remember the old ones smelling strong at all. And it is not something I would have forgotten.

Seth

rlitman · Jul 10, 2017

Interesting question. I can smell the smell, but don't find it horribly objectionable. While it does have a bit of vomit odor to it, the mental association is with opening a toolbox, so that's a positive for me that offsets much of the repellent nature of the odor itself.

That being said, which screwdrivers put off that odor is quite variable. I have lots of old acetate screwdrivers with no odor, and a handful that will stink up a box. The worst ones are some old Vaco screwdrivers with translucent orange handles that are breaking down on the surface to the point of being chalky.

SRSemenza · Jul 10, 2017

I also think it smells like vomit.

Seth

davethorik · Jul 10, 2017

I just picked up a nos Xcelite 1/2 nutdriver and it does smell if you put it right by your nose.

I only have one or 2 Craftsman acetate handle drivers, no smell. I have quite a few older SK translucent green handles, also no smell.

rlitman · Jul 10, 2017

I don't think I've ever noticed the smell from a Craftsman or SnapOn acetate handle.
The Xcelite is another that I've seen get it though.

cajunfirehawk · Jul 10, 2017

YES, my old craftsman screw drivers specifically... :puke:

ScottsGT · Jul 10, 2017

I've got some old Xcelite's here at work that do a good job of stinking the place up. Smells like ***. Vomit *** that is.

I had a bunch of Craftsman's I threw out because of this. My son grabbed them out of the garbage and put in his car. He regretted that decision after leaving the windows up all night.

fourjeepin · Jul 10, 2017

I smell it, but like the smell. That's my favorite thing about the Craftsman drivers.

CoogarXR · Jul 10, 2017

The first time I smelled it, I accused everybody of digging dog **** out of their shoe with one of my screwdrivers.

Funny thing is, my nose barely works. I don't smell much of anything. Usually if I can smell something, it's pretty strong. The stank on these screwdrivers is STRONG to me. I smell it waft out as soon as I open the screwdriver drawer. Lucky me, huh?

JohnDeere1 · Jul 10, 2017

It's all about how you take care of them and store them I have plenty that don't smell its when they start to deteriorate from not being stored well like heat affects them .

drtyler · Jul 10, 2017

I have a fairly new 1/4 Proto set, and the nut driver has the typical Proto yellow CAB handle. It has the foul odor, and no amount of using it with greasy hands has taken care of it yet!

I've never noticed it with other CAB drivers though.

PB Swiss infuses their CAB drivers with a vanilla scent in order to combat the CAB odor.

wmm2 · Jul 10, 2017

JohnDeere1 said:
It's all about how you take care of them and store them I have plenty that don't smell its when they start to deteriorate from not being stored well like heat affects them .

It's not that simple. I have a set of Craftsman screwdrivers, US made at least 20 years old. They have a strong smell. They were stored most of that time the basement in the cardboard box they came in. They show no sign of deteriorating; they just smell bad. Other screwdrivers (Craftsman and other brands) were stored in the same basement and have no noticeable smell.

Mechanical Noise · Jul 10, 2017

I have at least a couple dozen acetate handle screwdrivers and nut drivers. Nearly all of my Craftsman screwdrivers are from the 80s and I don't think any of them smelled. They've yellowed some, if that means anything. I think they're all sourced from Western Forge.

I bought some Craftsman nutdrivers a couple of years ago and they were a little stinky. Not too bad and the smell has diminished. These are marked PR -- Pratt Reed.

I also recently got a couple of Xcelite nutdrivers to replace a couple worn nutdrivers from my 1970s set. OK, those replacement drivers stank. It's alot better now. The Xcelite plastic handles are also the most prone to developing that white coating which looks like dried soap. But, polished up, these Xcelite handles are beautiful. They are dyed through and bright. It's a really tough plastic, whatever it is.

I think I've read somewhere that there's a couple of ways of making the acrylic plastic for the handles. One results in a less stinky but less tough plastic. The other is stinkier and tougher. I don't fully trust my memory on that, however.

thecj3man · Jul 10, 2017

I work in the one of the largest Cellulose Acetate manufacturing companies in the USA, maybe the world. We make 3 different types of Acetate. I cant smell anything related to Acetate anymore. My wife on the other hand says that she used to be able to smell me turn in the driveway.

redwrench60 · Jul 10, 2017

I have long gotten rid of the last of my stank *** craftsman screwdrivers in my work box but the smell in the drawer lingers.......

oldtools · Jul 10, 2017

rlitman said:
I don't think I've ever noticed the smell from a Craftsman or SnapOn acetate handle.
The Xcelite is another that I've seen get it though.

I have some old SO acetate screwdrivers and they do smell but not as bad as the CM.

Dave455 · Jul 10, 2017

It all depends on what the material actually is. There are many references here to 'acetate' but the material used on many tool handles is Cellulose Acetate. This is the hard transparent material found on some older Stanley screwdrivers,and many decent quality British and German tools. It appears to be totally whiff free!

The smelly stuff is Cellulose Acetate Butyrate. This is a much more shatter resistant material, so is used on things such as chisel handles (the red and yellow Record shatterproof ones) and some screwdriver handles such as PB Swiss and some older U.S. made tools!

Personally, have never had problems with the regular Cellulose Acetate, so don't know why you would bother with the CAB for anything other than chisels. I love my PB Swiss, but the smell can be vile. They say their latest tools have vanilla essence to prevent this - we'll see!

Jtels85 · Jul 10, 2017

The Craftsman screwdriver set I bought new around 2008 (WF U code) still smell fairly bad. When you open any drawer on my tool chest, you can smell them.

A couple years ago, I found a Craftsman set of screwdrivers in the original package from the 1980's. The black package said "Sears/Craftsman" and the screwdrivers themselves were labeled "=CRAFTSMAN=", as opposed to today where they just say "CRAFTSMAN". Upon opening the package, the smell was so strong and nauseating. I had to put them on the back deck for a few weeks and they still didn't air out. I eventually put them back in the package and resold them to another unsuspecting buyer. Kind of a **** thing to do, but I didn't want to deal with them... fermenting in their own plastic packaging for 30 years. No thank you.

mbshop · Jul 10, 2017

Well, I normally don't go around snorting my handles.
but so far I have not smelled much of anything from any type of plastic handle. Some of my plastic handles are over 40 yeaf old. Othe a little less, no issues. So it may just be a hit and miss or storage issue. Ok, went out and smelled an old xcelite handle, nothing.

TheEuronater · Jul 10, 2017

I left a new pack of Craftsman WF screwdrivers in the attic and they reek. The heat really activates the smell

427 · Jul 10, 2017

I have a set of older Husky brand screwdrivers and I can smell them if right under my nose.

6PTsocket · Jul 10, 2017

The plastic in question is cellulose acetate butyrate. I have a bunch of Xcelite screw and nut drivers that used it. Sears used it fo a while too. They usually develop a white frosty coating that people mistake for mold. It smells like vomit and makes whatever drawer they were stored in smell the same. It is not genetic, anybody can smell it and see it. It is oxidation of the surface of the plastic. A little water and baking soda and a stiff brush will get it off but the surface eventually just oxidizes again. I have tried to find out if anybody has found a clear coating to encapsulate the handles but I have gotten no feedback. If your tool handles don't smell or get that white coating they are probably made of another plastic. CAB is tough and resistant to most chemicals but the did not anticipate the decomposition problem. Nobody uses it for handles any more but CAB is still sold for other applications. The handles are usually colored, not clear.

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metaldad · Jul 10, 2017

i know this topic discussed earlier here at gj, but i'm tired and lazy to search for it.
how about cleaning them up and a dunk into clear polyurethane?
probably satin would be best.
btw, this suggestion is not for users. i do collect drivers, and a few recently acquired drivers that i want to keep have the stench, and the deterioration (whitish coating).

armycw2 · Jul 10, 2017

CAB is the quintessential toolbox smell. It reminds me of Saturday afternoons in the garage with my father and grandfather working on clunkers and fixing stuff.

theoldwizard1 · Jul 10, 2017

SRSemenza said:
I also think it smells like vomit.

Yep ! About 7-10 years ago, I swapped out all my Craftsman screwdrivers for new ones. They still do NOT smell.

DetroitDIESEL444 · Jul 10, 2017

Im also curious about getting a coating on these things for the stench!! I don't care for the vomit smell, I still like my old yellow proto drivers though!

Ohmthis · Jul 11, 2017

The first time I smelled "the smell", was when I was storing my wife's uncles tools. He was a machinist and had retired and they moved back home. His box was next to mine and it smelled like vomit. I opened the drawers looking for the smell and thinking that cutting fluid or some chemical must have been on his tools. As soon as opened his screwdriver drawer it hit me like a Mike Tyson uppercut. They were old CM, but mine didn't smell. I think mine have gotten just a smidge of the smell. I don't know what's different though.

WittHay · Jul 11, 2017

The worst screwdrivers i had were the old style Snap-on screwdrivers, they leaked and the clutch type always had the white crust on them. They didn't seem to smell but they were kept in a HD diesel/welding shop.

My first experience with what i call "old toolbox smell" was when my father bought a complete tool set from a retired HD mechanic when I was a teenager. Just recently a friend bought a Beach tool box filled with old tools and junk, no screwdrivers but same funky smell

SuperCat · Jul 11, 2017

Yes, I can smell that stink coming from my screwdriver drawer, but I can't decide what to replace all my Craftsman screwdrivers with. Everyone complains about fit, longevity, and quality until one gets to the high end screwdriver sets, and even then there are complaints. I guess I should start saving my pennies, I'm going to have to bite the bullet some day soon. :sad:

L.Cheapo · Jul 11, 2017

I had to replace a brake light bulb on my mom's Jeep yesterday. Needed to use a T20. My Torx drivers are USA Craftsman bought in the mid 90s. The handles have discolored, the handle markings are hard to see or no longer present at all. They stink so bad, its more like ***-i-tate than acetate. They've been moved up in the queue to be upgraded.

gdocktor3 · Jul 11, 2017

Maybe it's just your nose....

Seriously though, I have too many screwdrivers to ever use, new and old, and like you, only smell it when it's right up to my nose. My nose works great too....

6PTsocket · Jul 11, 2017

L.Cheapo said:
I had to replace a brake light bulb on my mom's Jeep yesterday. Needed to use a T20. My Torx drivers are USA Craftsman bought in the mid 90s. The handles have discolored, the handle markings are hard to see or no longer present at all. They stink so bad, its more like ***-i-tate than acetate. They've been moved up in the queue to be upgraded.

Scrub them with a stiff brush in water and baking soda. The oxidation is all on the surface and comes off pretty easily That white moldy looking coating is what stinks. Clean it off and the stink goes too....for a while.

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icthruu74 · Jul 11, 2017

I had a set of Craftsman screwdrivers that rode around in a small toolbox in my truck for years. One day I opened the box and thought a mouse had gotten in and died. My cabinet's screwdriver drawer has started to get that smell a bit now too.

slip knot · Jul 11, 2017

just setting here reading this I can smell it. and I'm nowhere near my toolbox. not a good odor, not a bad odor, just a smell I've always associated with tools.

Sgtboz · Jul 11, 2017

I got a set of Craftsman drivers made by excelite in a plastic case. The inside of the case smelled like vomit but after 40yrs or so it its toned down some.

L.Cheapo · Jul 11, 2017

6PTsocket said:
Scrub them with a stiff brush in water and baking soda. The oxidation is all on the surface and comes off pretty easily That white moldy looking coating is what stinks. Clean it off and the stink goes too....for a while.

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Its not a white or moldy coating. The once mostly transparent handles have turned a diesel color and stink even worse. I don't even play with diesel. Not to mention they're one step above cheese grade. They're getting replaced, soon. I'll pass them on to my dad.

Ohmthis · Jul 11, 2017

I posted last night, but a funny thing happened today. I was putting a bed together at my inlaws and was using some old Pratt-Reed drivers. My little girl (6 years old) comes in and grabs one and immediately sticks up to her nose and says "Oh, these aren't the smelly ones!". I asked which ones are? She went to my father in laws little box and pulled out an older craftsman Phillips and smelled it. Then she brought it to me. Yep, smelled like I remember. It made me laugh, being this is a topic now.

redvalkyrie · Jul 12, 2017

The PB Swiss versions smell like vomit when new. Every time I opened the drawer with those drivers in it I got hit with the smell. Now they live on racks outside the box. They are still my favorite handle choice for PBSwiss but man do they smell.

seagravedriver · Jul 12, 2017

Mine were bought in the mid 80s, no noticeable smell. They are the red, clear and blue. My wife was given some by her parents. Clear and red. Maybe some white on them. STINK! I had no idea why her little tool box made by her grandfather stunk back in 94! Ah! The screwdrivers. Whatever. They still work!

Can you smell the acetate-handle odor?

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