Will my 1990's screwdrivers eventually smell bad?

[Ohio Andy]

Has Craftsman changed the formulation of their screwdrivers so that the handles will not degrade and smell horrible? I noticed that PB Swiss infuses a Vanilla scent to combat that odor, so I assume that it is a problem for whatever they are using.

The real reason for my question is that I purchased a large set of Craftsman screwdrivers in the late 1990's when I moved back to the States. My primary use screwdrivers are not this older set, but, when I need something a bit out of the ordinary (very small, very large, very long, etc), it is those screwdrivers because it was a very large set.

Do I expect that these will eventually smell bad? How about if I purchased a new set today?

 

[3baygarage]

Good chance they could. Can’t speak on the current production.

 

[PFSard]

- I don't know how to answer that question.
- Craftsman is a brand that has been manufactured by many firms. Over along period of time.
- I've bought quite a few screwdrivers (new and used) with the Craftsman brand name. None have smelled. Some have developed the white scourge. Which I cleaned with Simple Green.
- There are multiple threads on GJ that offer suggestions on how to handle the smell.

 

[shakenfake]

If they smell I don't notice it. If they deteriorate I haven't noticed that either.

 

[BrandonV]

Life is too short to worry about some screwdrivers. Enjoy the tools and don't worry too much about them.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I swapped out all of my stinky Craftsman screwdrivers in the 1990's/2000's.

If they don't smell now either you have not been using them (the chemical reaction comes from human sweat acting with the plastic) or they never will.

 

[Ohio Andy]

Not seeing anything I cannot attribute to being almost 30 years old and being used.

If I expected them to turn, I might just move that entire set out to the garage or it won't be as much of a problem if they start to stink and I don't notice right away. I would of course just fill the holes with another brand, I kind of like the tekton screwdrivers and I kind of like the PB Swiss.

It came up because I was running an inventory of the tools I have and I realized I have some sets that I just don't like and probably don't need like some cheap Chinese **** that they suggest you wash your hands after you use them.

I haven't had some screwdrivers that I don't really like that are sold by Lee valley tools called the lifetime screwdriver or something, but I can't figure out who I actually made them. I mean they're nice screwdrivers. I just don't like how they feel in my hand so I don't use them.

Still trying to figure out how I ended up with a set of Stanley screwdriver. I don't even remember buying them.

 

[Ohio Andy]

I swapped out all of my stinky Craftsman screwdrivers in the 1990's/2000's.

If they don't smell now either you have not been using them (the chemical reaction comes from human sweat acting with the plastic) or they never will.

Some of them have been used quite a bit. Obviously with the set this size some almost not at all.

So if that's the case, yay. I am probably good.