Stinky |Tool Box

[MaddMike]

My uncle was a tool and die maker at the Ford Motor Walton Hills Stamping Plant, where 3 other family members also worked when that place was Rockin' in the late '50s, '60s and until things got crappy in the late '70s.

When he passed away I was lucky to inherit his Mac Tools cart. For years it had a certain odor and I thought it was old grease and lubes or a chemical residue and I was partially right but I could not pin it down. I power washed it to no avail - and to make a long story short I found the problem. I removed the offending pieces and voila just like that, no more odor. So I am just sharing this article that was a surprise to me and might help others.

https://toolguyd.com/why-hard-plastic-screwdriver-handles-smell-like-vomit/

 

[Sheriff41]

I've got some old Proto screwdrivers that I have to use bleach on to prevent the handles from molding.

 

[basstrix]

Interesting....I bought a loaded tool chest off an old timer back when I was about 18....it's always had a strange smell that hints of stinky feet. Going to take the plastic stuff out and see if the smell goes away.

 

[Bentworker]

XCELITE brand handles are the worst. Like someone vomited on your toolbox.

 

[PoFoMoCo]

That's an interesting article, I had no idea this was the cause. My only 2 culprits... I can't seem to part with them as they were in my dad's toolbox when he passed in 1996.

 

[MaddMike]

Interesting....I bought a loaded tool chest off an old timer back when I was about 18....it's always had a strange smell that hints of stinky feet. Going to take the plastic stuff out and see if the smell goes away.

If you smell the items closely, you'll know if they are cause. Mine were all craftsmen screwdrivers and some other clear yellow-handled that were from at least the '60s. I just bought a new replacement set of Craftsmen 'drivers. Because I like them and from what I read it is a aging of the material that begins to smell. Not to mention, I am 61 so by the time they start to stink and need to be disposed of ... so will I, ha ha ha ha ha...

 

[MaddMike]

That's an interesting article, I had no idea this was the cause. My only 2 culprits... I can't seem to part with them as they were in my dad's toolbox when he passed in 1996.

The article mentioned when they are enclosed a long time the gases build up. You can also occasionally wash them. If I only had those two and they were Dad's I'd keep'em too.

 

[Simplemansmokers_Dover-Tn]

XCELITE brand handles are the worst. Like someone vomited on your toolbox.

Yes they do smell bad even after 40 years

 

[Lazarus]

+1 on the stinky screwdrivers. I didn’t like my wife and young kids going into my tools - even the bag in the house - because nothing ever made it back to where it came from. So I had a small basic tool kit in a tupperware container for them to use to change batteries, hang a picture, or whatever. Had some craftsman-type screwdrivers (the blue/clear and red/clear ones, though not 100% sure they were all craftsman) in there and with it being airtight after a while you’d open it up and it really did smell like somebody had blown chunks. It was awful; I could tell it was the screwdrivers but never looked into why that particular phenomenon occurred... so the article was very informative and funny to me because it brought back some memories.

I can’t say I considered puke-smelling-screwdriver-nostalgia as a possibility for this evening, but here it is. That’s why this is the best car forum... always learning something!

 

[RIBS]

I have several collections of tools…grandpa was born in 1905, I have a toolbox with all metal tools probably from the 20’s to 50’s…it has a specific smell. I also have several tool boxes from my dad, who’s tool range from 50’s to 2000 ish…they both have their own unique smell! That’s what makes them special…

 

[69 Rustang]

Some of mine are 40 years old now—I haven‘t noticed the odor but I am curious. If you drive by and see me sniffing my screwdrivers later, please don’t say anything.

 

[ponyup]

Lend them to your brother in law you will never see your tools again. Good bye Stink

 

[1973 Mach-1]

Yea, if a clear-ish plastic handled tool smells like vomit, that's butyrate plastic. Butyrate acid is in some plastics but also: " Butyrate is produced when “good” bacteria in your gut help your body break down dietary fiber in your large intestine (colon). It's one of several short-chain fatty acids, which are named for their chemical structure." Probably too much info, but there it is.

 

[computercarguy]

Back in the 80's or 90's, I purchased a Stanley NEW with changeable tips that were stored in the handle. When removing the cap to get a different tip, inside stunk from day one.