The Harbor Freight smell...

[Parrothead]

I finally figured out what the Harbor Freight smell is, and likely what it's coming from...the rubber like dolly tires and replacement wheels.

I was in Menard's awhile ago picking up a new Milwaukee 800lb dolly (USA made), and as I was getting close to that section...and old familiar smell hit my nostrils. That HF stench. I went over and low and behold it was just like HF. I suspect it's much less noticeable in a store like Menards/Home Depot/Lowes because of the size difference of the buildings and the airflow capabilities. I suspect that Menards just received a shipment that day, because every time I've been back, it's much less noticeable, but still there.

Just my opinion, but I am pretty certain I am right.

 

[chipper]

I agree its the rubber from china...my 4 year old jokes on the smell when we go she says it smells like cotton candy....i dont think she has ever smelled cotton candy

 

[bcradio]

Yeah the rubber being the culprit sounds about right.

 

[2CRUZ]

I don't know about dolly's or small tire shiped in this country but auto tires shiped into this country are sprayed with a bug killer so that any forigen pest would be less likely to get in. Especialy tires from Mexico. It is a real soure smell.

 

[NUTTSGT]

This was discussed a few years back. I believe the consensus was the same, HF rubber.

 

[Peoria Man]

Years ago, my brother bought a steering wheel cover to protect the leather wheel on his new car. It had the same HF smell! I don't know how he could stand driving the car because the smell was overpowering, just getting into the car.

 

[wingnut_1]

I try to find an alternate product when I notice that smell on something. That's not easy with some products. I've notice it in other plastic items besides rubber too. Why is that smell there, because China uses other chemicals that are not used in USA? Unhealthy like lead in paint? Just been curious about this for awhile. If someone could link us to the previous discussions on GJ, that would be great.

 

[cgv69]

I agree its the rubber from china...

+1 - I bought some rubber wheel chocks for HF and it took more then a week for my garage to loose that horrible smell.

Could you imaging being one of those poor SOB's that have to work in one of those factories!

 

[rice rocket]

Even the power cords from Festool have this smell.

 

[Fedwrench]

It's definitely a unique smell though. I still remember unboxing my Cornwell 700 series cart more than a few years ago and getting blasted with a whiff of harbor freight stench as I pull the box off.
I wonder if it comes from being cooped up in sealand container for the ocean voyage

 

[justtools]

It's definitely a unique smell though. I still remember unboxing my Cornwell 700 series cart more than a few years ago and getting blasted with a whiff of harbor freight stench as I pull the box off.
I wonder if it comes from being cooped up in sealand container for the ocean voyage

That would make the most sense. It is an ugly smell.

 

[kythri]

Smells better than vanilla air freshener, weed or patchouli (or any combination thereof).

Oregon's getting stinky.

 

[Zeke]

The one I go to doesn't smell unless there are a lot of people in there with BO.

 

[Rccrawlerguy]

I bought one of the dead blow hammers...Just as bad. It stinks up my whole tool box.

 

[jake00]

It's amazing how bad a new harbor freight store smells (all that fresh chineese rubber unpackaged at once)

 

[mv213]

There's a big regional tire store chain in the west called "Les Schwab". They store the tires right in the store. Man what a smell!

 

[PelicanPines]

Tractor supply has a zone smell thing going on.
Back right... rubber...
Back left... barn yard feed
Front right... bug killer
Front left... denim and boot odor

 

[Fedwrench]

There's a big regional tire store chain in the west called "Les Schwab". They store the tires right in the store. Man what a smell!

In my parts room at work, I probably have 12 sets of tires sitting on tire racks. Yes, there is a Butyle Rubber smell and bugs tend to stay away from that area but, that rubber smell is completely different than that unholy smell that occupies Harbor Freight stores.

Hey, do you think Harbor Freight employees clothes pick up that smell after being there all day every day?

 

[MikeF2316]

Princess Auto in Canada has the same smell, but to a lesser degree. I've been in a tire warehouse that had the same smell, strong like Harbor Freight. So I'm another one that agrees that it's from the rubber.

 

[Dog Garage]

Bought a claw hammer with a rubber (like) handle, that would make your hands stink like the handle if you didn't wear gloves. Time helped (years), it still stinks, just not as much.

Their PVC air hose also smells just as bad. Put them outside in the Sun, to air out and to bake away the toxic waste vapors.

 

[AA/FC]

It's the Chinese donkey cart tires for sure. Lol

 

[kythri]

In my parts room at work, I probably have 12 sets of tires sitting on tire racks. Yes, there is a Butyle Rubber smell and bugs tend to stay away from that area but, that rubber smell is completely different than that unholy smell that occupies Harbor Freight stores.

Hey, do you think Harbor Freight employees clothes pick up that smell after being there all day every day?

HF rubber smells like Les Schwab rubber (and every other tire store rubber) to me.

 

[Chevy-SS]

100 to 1 odds says that at some point, it will be determined that 'the HF smell' was found to be toxic Chinese chemicals leaching from the rubber and into atmosphere, causing illness and death of many employees and even a few regular customers!

-

 

[ADSR]

Princess Auto in Canada has the same smell, but to a lesser degree. I've been in a tire warehouse that had the same smell, strong like Harbor Freight. So I'm another one that agrees that it's from the rubber.

it stinks!

 

[Zebu Fellenz]

100 to 1 odds says that at some point, it will be determined that 'the HF smell' was found to be toxic Chinese chemicals leaching from the rubber and into atmosphere, causing illness and death of many employees and even a few regular customers!

-

Well ...at least in California.

 

[Dog Garage]

I thought it was from the rubber also. After buying the PVC air hose and finding their screwdriver handles giving off a strange smell, I believe the odor is also from the plastic they sell.

Then again, how can we be sure they are not using Harbor Freight brand air fresheners in their stores nationwide.

 

[beamrider]

Polymer outgassing.

 

[Jaguar Fan]

I bought a garden hose reel at Sams Club - it has pneumatic tires - and it stinks just like HF. It smells just like China.

 

[TheOtherChris]

I bought a 100' spool of SOOW electric cable online.
Stuff is made in China and smells like Desitin or Vap-O-Rub or some kind of livestock liniment.

 

[whyNick?]

That smell permeates everything. We bought a Radio Flyer wagon a few years back. The Amazon reviews warned that the inflatable tires smelled bad. I happened to be home when the UPS guy showed up and he griped about how the wagon (which was inside a plastic bag inside its box) stunk up his truck. I put it out in the barn for a few weeks to outgas but it still smelled too bad to bring in the house.

It has amazing hang time too, I bought a pair of knock-off jungle boots at a surplus store nearly 20 years ago. The soles still reek of that weird Chinese plastic all these years later...

 

[bczygan]

I am going to have to get a couple of those tires then.

Hang them in the bathrooms as air fresheners!

 

[BikerDad]

Reminds me in concept, but not actual aroma, of the "Volkswagen smell." EVERY VW I've ever been in has it. It's rarely as strong now as it was with the VW's of the 80s and earlier, but it's there. Thing, Bug, Beetle, Bus, Kharman Ghia, Golf, Jetta, Rabbit, they ALL had it.

 

[bczygan]

Reminds me in concept, but not actual aroma, of the "Volkswagen smell." EVERY VW I've ever been in has it. It's rarely as strong now as it was with the VW's of the 80s and earlier, but it's there. Thing, Bug, Beetle, Bus, Kharman Ghia, Golf, Jetta, Rabbit, they ALL had it.

Had a Rabbit.

You're right. I remember it.

 

[Dog Garage]

I believe it's called, leatherette. German for, leather it ain't.

 

[arjun90]

The smell of rubber, not good for the lungs

Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk

 

[2CRUZ]

You could not believe the working conditions in some of those rubber factories over seas. There is a smoke smell in natural rubber because the rubber sap has to be boiled down to make it solid. You can't imagen the number of wood fires that are burned to boil down all that rubber sap.

 

[thebeekeeper1]

Of course that's it. Farm & Fleet used to smell like that back in the 1970s when they were THE place to buy tires. Now they keep the smell confined.

 

[Qualitytools]

I bought one of the dead blow hammers...Just as bad. It stinks up my whole tool box.

+1 same experience here

 

[Qualitytools]

Anytime I want to go the HF and take my 6 year old with me he says "that store smells" I do agree it's a combination of the rubber and plastic fumes. Needless to say he does not want to go after that experience once was enough!

 

[JDon99]

I always assumed that is the smell of China lol.