Hard handles melting into trays

[jjkrjh]

I purchased a red hard handle screwdriver set from Snap-On last year. The set was the SDD70AR and found that the handles were black/gray where they were touching the tray. I put pieces of paper towel between the handles and tray. Didn't really give it much more thought.

Today the cabinet screwdrivers(sddxl70ar) showed up that were recently ordered. The handles had pieces of tray stuck to them. Like gray caulking. The stuff scraped off easily with only slight discoloration to the handles. The trays are smooth, like the handles were hot and pushed into them. I also noticed what appeared to be oil laying between screwdrivers and tray. It must be resin or something--extremely sticky.

What is going on? Haven't seen any issue with instinct handles doing this. Really makes me wonder about the older sets that are still in the plastic. Are these going to be ruined by the tray when you pull them out even though they look great?

 

[brooksdr]

I have seen/owned some vintage snap-on 1/4 socket set trays that looked like that. Looks melted. Don't know if it was a reaction or what.

 

[PFSard]

I haven't seen this before. What does Snap-On Customer Service say about this issue?

 

[brooksdr]

I never contacted them. The sets I saw were from the mid late 1980's.

 

[jjkrjh]

I haven't seen this before. What does Snap-On Customer Service say about this issue?

I just received them today. They were removed from the package after the truck left. I'm sure that they would replace them if I wanted. But this appears to be an ongoing issue that I would like to be corrected. I will get some pictures tomorrow.

 

[Larryjones]

Its a reaction between the plastics in the handle and the tray. This is why good tackle boxes have worm proof trays.

 

[KM223]

The same thing happened to my Snap On trays sitting on Snap On drawer liners in my box. The textured print on the liner imprinted to the bottom of the trays. I removed all the SO trays and the problem went away.

 

[engineer2]

Those vacuum-formed trays are likely made from a plastic (polystyrene?) that is not resistant to hydrocarbons (oil, grease, brake fluid, etc). If these are brand new tools, I'd be talking to customer service.

 

[amorrow]

I just noticed that last year on some of my sets from ~2006. The handles weren't damaged in any way, and the trays not enough to even give thought to the issue. I forgot about it until reading this thread...the things we learn on GJ.

 

[jjkrjh]

Here are some pics. The discoloration doesn't show well with the phone pics. Just slightly darker area on handles. This is a brand new, freshly opened set. But, it is also happening to a set that was bought around Christmas of last year.

 

[DeliveryGuy]

The exact same thing happened to my new hard handles. I'll try to remember to grab a few pics at work tomorrow.

 

[PugetDude]

Another tool polishing thread...

 

[ptschram]

Another tool polishing thread...

LOL-but, not really.

Years ago, my father found a HUGE Snap-On screwdriver laying in the road and brought it home to me.

25 years later, I walk out into the garage and there is an overwhelming odor of acetic acid. I open my toolbox and am damn near knocked over by the odor and found all of my tools were rusted horribly and the handle on that "three foot long screwdriver" was gummy.

There were apparently some points in time where the hard handle screwdrivers would begin to decompose and would condense acetic acid until the handles dried out annd began to crumble.

Fast forward another 15 years and I'm now the Snap-On dealer who has to tell customers to call Snap-On and ask them to repalce their screwdrivers because I can't always get handles, they might be refused when submitted for warranty and they are damned expensive for me to stock.

 

[gdocktor3]

You'd think these trays would be fuel/grease/oil resistant. After all they are mechanics tools, in mechanics tool boxes, who work with fuel/grease/oil every day. With that said, I've seen other members on here get ripped apart over more serious issues than this...

 

[jjkrjh]

Another tool polishing thread...

These tools are used and will be used daily. The employer will replace lost or damaged tools. It is easier to prove a lost screwdriver with an empty spot in a tray than have a drawer full of screwdrivers and say that one is missing. I have some instinct handles that don't have any issues. Started wrenching in the early 80's. Always liked hard handles better. So I do have issues with a brand new set of screwdrivers glued to the tray that they come in, with parts of the tray stuck to them.

 

[joel63]

Another tool polishing thread...

Brutal, but too funny.

 

[EdT]

My bet would be plasticizer migration from the tray to the handle. The trays are probably made from a relatively low grade plastic and its "outgassing" plasticizer just like the interior of a new car except it has no where to go with the driver handle on top of it. Surprised the SO trays are doing that, but at only $749.50 for the tray (w/o drivers) what do you expect?

 

[chrisnazzy]

Well my SDDX70A set I bought 2 years ago does this exact same thing also. The temp climbs above 120 degrees all summer long here and my hard handles actually have to be snapped out of the trays if they haven't been used for even a day or two. My prybars and other hard orange handles all do this and while it does leave a little discoloration on the backside of the handle, it's not enough for me to ditch my beloved SO trays. Tool polishers unite.....some people think they are so funny.

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[Wamsutta]

I noticed those trays have a texture to them. The older ones are smooth plastic.

 

[chrisnazzy]

I noticed those trays have a texture to them. The older ones are smooth plastic.

I have the 3 pc. carbon scraper set as well and it's in the smooth silver tray. The tools don't "stick" to that tray but the warning writing does transfer. It should be mentioned that this problem seems to be isolated to the hard acetate handles only. None of my Instinct handles have a problem

in the textured trays.

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[Wamsutta]

Dang... those trays fit in those drawers perfectly...

 

[3baygarage]

This reminds me I have a 1/4 drive cordless screw gun that the handle gets all gooey. I did not buy it new.

Good tool. Just curious has anyone else experienced this?

 

[chrisnazzy]

This reminds me I have a 1/4 drive cordless screw gun that the handle gets all gooey. I did not buy it new.

Good tool. Just curious has anyone else experienced this?

Most of my Milwaukee cordless tools have rubberized "bumpers" on them at the point that the tool lays on in the drawer. Almost all of them melt or impression into the drawer liner. Bugged me at 1st but I think I would rather deal with this than the guys on here who live in parts of the country where tools can rust just sitting in your toolbox.

I also shouldn't complain about this either because I live in pretty much the hottest spot in the country.

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