"P-U! Why does it smell like puke in here?"

[CoogarXR]

I just thought you guys would get a laugh out of this. I love the old acetate handled tools (vaco, xcelite, craftsman, etc). I ordered a set of Xcelite nut drivers (pics here). Normally I just take all my tool bounty out to the shop before I open it, but I was getting fidgety waiting on my wife to come downstairs so we could leave. I figured I might as well open them now. So I unboxed them on the dining room table. Minutes later, she comes in the room. She's still 15ft away and yells "P-U! Why does it smell like puke in here? Did the dog barf somewhere?" (she starts looking around the floor)...

And that's when I told her the long, thrilling tale of the acetate vomit smell, lol.

I got my new nut drivers all washed up and the the smell is gone now. But man, it was pretty strong right out of the box, lol. Good thing I wasn't trying to hide my purchase, I might have had to fake the flu from all that funk!

 

[shanny19]

If you want to keep them from off-gassing, this works wonders:

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/MCR1067

 

[notlob]

If you want to keep them from off-gassing, this works wonders:

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/MCR1067

That's a great tip! thanks.

 

[laser3kw]

are those the ones that make your tongue numb when you lick them?

 

[m32825]

Thank you for this post. I just learned where that smell in my toolbox is coming from! My brother wanted to know if someone hurled in it. I don't mind, because no one takes my tools (for very long).

 

[leadfoot415]

are those the ones that make your tongue numb when you lick them?

Im trying to figure out why you are licking your tools...

 

[metaldad]

ive cleaned mine with mineral spirits, and then coated with gloss poly urethane spray
no more stink, discoloration, and they look great!

 

[WWheeler]

are those the ones that make your tongue numb when you lick them?

That would be the old Snap-on black hard handles. So true.

Im trying to figure out why you are licking your tools...

I'm trying to figure out why you wouldn't?

Came in handy when work had some catered food brought in from Golden Corral (fwiw the food at their buffet is a whole different animal than whatever they dug out of the dumpster and brought in to us). Saved me from having to **** on a pair of dirty underwear to get the taste out of my mouth.



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[CoogarXR]

If you want to keep them from off-gassing, this works wonders:

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/MCR1067

Have you tried it? How long does it last?

I just wondered, because I have seen a lot of suggestions on things to try, but not many real-world accounts of the results.

 

[Tom White]

Here is something I found interesting. Like many others, I dealt with the bad smell from old Sears Craftsman screwdrivers. Finally got rid of all of those a while back and replaced them with the SBD versions.

Now granted, I've not had them for a long time yet, maybe a couple of months, but they have a different smell to them. They smell almost like Dove bath soap or something similar. Had a friend ask me if I had just cleaned my tool box the other day. That is when I found it was the SBD Craftsman screwdrivers. Sounds odd, huh? Beats the heck out of the old ones.

You can tell by the marking on the handles they are NOT Western Forge so maybe that is part of it. They have been re-designed a bit as well. Handle is more comfortable. There is a bit of a different slope to the "shoulders" of the ridges on the handles where they meet the blue part that holds the shaft. They grip the screws very well and I'm pleased with them. Cheap too! Bought them online through Lowes and took advantage of their free shipping to home when you are registered with them.

 

[F124C]

If you want to keep them from off-gassing, this works wonders:

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/MCR1067

I can't access this website from here (Ireland).

Could someone tell me what product is shown or what it contains (in case this product isn't available here)?


AL.

 

[WWheeler]

I can't access this website from here (Ireland).

Could someone tell me what product is shown or what it contains (in case this product isn't available here)?


AL.

NAPA MAC'S IGNITION & BATTERY SEALER 1067



Can you access the SDS? (PDF): https://media.napaonline.com/is/content/GenuinePartsCompany/3210573pdf?$PDF$

 

[F124C]

NAPA MAC'S IGNITION & BATTERY SEALER 1067



Can you access the SDS? (PDF): https://media.napaonline.com/is/content/GenuinePartsCompany/3210573pdf?$PDF$

Many thanks, WWheeler

Although I was unable to access the NAPA website due to, afaik, changes introduced by the EU concerning data protection/tracking, I was able to open the SDS page.
Looking at the ingredients, 2 are gases and the others seem to be solvents/de-greasers, so I'm wondering what is acting as a sealer?

The nearest product available over here seems to be 'Damp Start' for use on Ignition Systems. I'll give it a try and see how it works.

Thanks again,

AL.

 

[blackwire]

NAPA MAC'S IGNITION & BATTERY SEALER 1067



Can you access the SDS? (PDF): https://media.napaonline.com/is/content/GenuinePartsCompany/3210573pdf?$PDF$

The main ingredient is acetone. Doesn't acetone destroy plastic?

 

[PFSard]

The main ingredient is acetone. Doesn't acetone destroy plastic?

Acetone (nail polish remover) comes in "plastic" bottles. I never bothered to examine the chemistry, but I would assume different "plastics" react with the acetone. Temperature, length of exposure, pressure et al being factors.

 

[WWheeler]

The main ingredient is acetone. Doesn't acetone destroy plastic?

Good question. I tried to google it and wikipedia turned up this about cellulose acetate:

acetate is soluble in many common solvents (especially acetone and other organic solvents)

That said, I think the handles we refer to as acetate are cellulose acetate butyrate which I didn't find anything referring to acetone but did find this:

https://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=384

The disadvantages of Cellulose Acetate Butyrate include:

Attacked or swollen by many solvents including chlorinated and aromatic hydrocarbons, alcohols and ketones

Anywho, I'd probably avoid using an acetone product on them.

I've had Craftsman screwdrivers with these handles for more than 30 years. Never really had the smell be an issue or even noticed it except when new. Never cleaned, treated, or sealed them with anything other than the occasional wipe off the crud with a rag.

 

[M_George]

Im trying to figure out why you are licking your tools...

The ultimate tool polisher!!

 

[M_George]

Here is something I found interesting. Like many others, I dealt with the bad smell from old Sears Craftsman screwdrivers. Finally got rid of all of those a while back and replaced them with the SBD versions.

Now granted, I've not had them for a long time yet, maybe a couple of months, but they have a different smell to them. They smell almost like Dove bath soap or something similar. Had a friend ask me if I had just cleaned my tool box the other day. That is when I found it was the SBD Craftsman screwdrivers. Sounds odd, huh? Beats the heck out of the old ones.

You can tell by the marking on the handles they are NOT Western Forge so maybe that is part of it. They have been re-designed a bit as well. Handle is more comfortable. There is a bit of a different slope to the "shoulders" of the ridges on the handles where they meet the blue part that holds the shaft. They grip the screws very well and I'm pleased with them. Cheap too! Bought them online through Lowes and took advantage of their free shipping to home when you are registered with them.

So, Chinese screw drivers smell better than US screw drivers.

 

[Tonyuk]

Off-gassing plastic, smells a bit like silicone sealer before its sets to me.

 

[Tom White]

So, Chinese screw drivers smell better than US screw drivers.

Way to spread false info. They aren't Chnese. You may be thinking of the newer version (post WF) from Sears. The ones from SBD are made in Taiwan. That probably won't please you either though.

And it isn't just the smell. As I said, they fit better in the hand and grip the screws better as well.

 

[fasteddie]

The first, my own, new screwdriver I ever got when I was a kid had a shiny clear handle that transitioned to red down near the shank. "I bet that tastes like a cherry lollypop" - of course I licked it. It didn't, and yes, it burned my tongue. Thanks for bringing back that long forgotten memory.

 

[m32825]

And it isn't just the smell. As I said, they fit better in the hand and grip the screws better as well.

...and people who borrow them are more likely to return them!

 

[F124C]

Off-gassing plastic, smells a bit like silicone sealer before its sets to me.

That's the smell I got when I opened a toolbox for the first time in months - a sort of vinegary smell (=acetic acid, which afaik is what is given off as silicone sealer sets). This off-gassing seems to cause very severe corrosion on adjacent tools in the box.

AL.

 

[bsaint]

What is SBD?

 

[PFSard]

What is SBD?

Stanley Black & Decker

 

[WWheeler]

What is SBD?

Stanley Black and Decker
Parent co of many brands incl Dewalt, Porter Cable, Facom, Irwin, Proto, Mac, and now Craftsman (and with their exclusive to Home Depot deal almost sounds like they are going to spin off FatMax to be a brand in itself).

 

[azchrisf]

I've tried washing mine, using vinegar, etc. and they still stunk.
I tried Plati-dipping them - helps alot, but I can still smell them under the PlastiDip.

So I just got a set of Snapon ones - like them much better anyways.

 

[nh_yota]

What is SBD?

Silent But Deadly.

It's when you rip a nasty fart that no one hears coming.

 

[bsaint]

Is this why my Proto handles never smell? I have the yellow clear ones.

 

[David99]

What is SBD?

Slow But Deadly

More info here-
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_SBD_Dauntless

Now back to the main subject-
I've been using clear shellac from a spray can on the screwdriver handles.
(the first ones I did about a year ago are still ok as of this moment)

one odd note-
I have a craftsman Phillips that I used for carburetor rebuilds getting carb cleaner all over it (and my hands - young & stupid!(or young & invincible??), it has never smelled or grown that white powdery stuff & it's around 35 years old.

 

[JR 42]

Is this why my Proto handles never smell? I have the yellow clear ones.

I have a yellow- handle Proto 8" chromed alignment bar with white pitting and the puke smell, and have seen old Proto handles turn completely white and disintegrate in chunks... maybe yours are newer and have a different plastic formulation?