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Smelly screwdrivers

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996GT2 said:
Ended up coating my Craftsman set with a few coats of adhesion promoter (basically clear primer that sticks well to plastic).

Here's the end result. Gives a very slightly frosted look. Time will tell if it takes care of the smell issue.

SRFKfL7.jpg
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Can you link to the product (or its MSDS) for people interesting in trying this down the line? Did you dip it in, brush it on...spray it?
 
Meghan54 said:
I'd imagine he used something just like these:

Dupli-Color clear spray adhesion promoter/primer:

https://www.amazon.com/Dupli-Color-CP199-Adhesion-Promoter-Primer/dp/B0007UAXJQ


Same stuff from Rustoleum:

https://www.rustoleum.com/product-catalog/consumer-brands/auto/primers/adhesion-promoter
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The Dupli-color product is what I used. It's much cheaper in auto parts stores than on Amazon.

If you wanted to maintain the completely clear look, you could do a clear coat on top of the primer, but I actually like the slightly frosted look.

As an update, the smell does not seem to have returned after coating the screwdrivers.
 
now that you mentioned it, my toolbox does have a distinct smell, never associated it with the screwdrivers ( i have the exact same set). never really bothered me though
 
I suspect that over time, both physical wear and UV will break down your coating though. Maybe not very quickly, but those old screwdrivers were made to last! Sure, you can re-coat them, but eventually the stink will probably return.
 
996GT2 said:
Yes, this is a serious thread.

I have one of these USA-made Craftsman screwdriver sets with the clear handles:



They've developed a strong smell in the screwdriver drawer of my toolbox. After some searching online, it seems like it's not uncommon for these clear-handled screwdrivers to develop a pungent smell.

Have any of you experienced this? Is there a way to get rid of the smell? Or is there no solution other than tossing them and getting another set with different handles?
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Stop sticking them up your a$$?

j/k

On a more srs note, have you tried cleaning them with rubbing/isopropyl alcohol?
 
Beer4Me said:
On a more srs note, have you tried cleaning them with rubbing/isopropyl alcohol?
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Doesn't work, tried soap, alcohol, and other solvents; the smell comes right back. So far coating them seems to have worked, though.

Ferzerp said:
I suspect that over time, both physical wear and UV will break down your coating though. Maybe not very quickly, but those old screwdrivers were made to last! Sure, you can re-coat them, but eventually the stink will probably return.
Click to expand...

I'll re-coat them if it comes to that. Beats dealing with the smell in the meantime.
 
Some of mine (also clear craftsman) smell like dirty foot cheese. I think they got moved to the back of my garage. I might go and find them to dip.
 
Hah...I know exactly what you're talking about. I've got a bunch of these from 15 years ago and they definitely have a specific odor to them. I never thought it was bad enough to take any action.
 
I have some other brand that smells bad. Each time I open the tool box I hold my breath so I don't get a whiff.
 
Sounds like the smell of cheap Chinese tools. Are craftsman screwdrivers really still made in the USA? Maybe they use Chinese materials. Good thing you capped off the smell. I think when something is off gassing that badly it can't be good for your health. We have a shipping cart at work and it shipped with rubber tires that off gassed for months. It was a really nasty smell. Eventually we threw out the tires and ordered solid casters instead. Much happier with those.
 
It's not a function of Chinese manufacture. Like I stated earlier, I have smelly Xcelite tools at work that are decades old and made in the USA.
 
NutBucket said:
It's not a function of Chinese manufacture. Like I stated earlier, I have smelly Xcelite tools at work that are decades old and made in the USA.
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This may be true but go visit Harbor Freight and MAN is that a pungent odor. I don't know if it's for the shipping/sea freight or something but it seems much much worse for Chinese tools to me than USA. We have so many tools in my shop from Germany and I can't think of any that have that sweet "built in China" smell. It could be my imagination, but Googling about the Chinese smell seems to hit a nerve for a lot of people. 😀
 
When my father died I got most of his tools. He had some of these Craftsmen screwdrivers that he stored in the original blister packs. Even now, 4-5 years after the blister packs are long gone they are still incredibly pungent.

Glad it's not just me that notices this. Seems silly but they really do stink bad.
 
tweakmonkey said:
This may be true but go visit Harbor Freight and MAN is that a pungent odor. I don't know if it's for the shipping/sea freight or something but it seems much much worse for Chinese tools to me than USA. We have so many tools in my shop from Germany and I can't think of any that have that sweet "built in China" smell. It could be my imagination, but Googling about the Chinese smell seems to hit a nerve for a lot of people. 😀
Click to expand...

Yeah. Walking around in a Harbor Freight store makes my eyeballs burn intensely. Strong smell of industrial oils.
 
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