For years I've encountered this issue, and it always perplexed me: why do a lot of toolboxes stink? I had always assumed it was related to heavy use with sweat and dirt and zero cleaning, but after I started encountering it on my own, barely used tools, I started looking into it. You can find some posts on DIY forums asking the same question, and how they could never clean the toolbox well enough to get rid of the stink.
Eventually I found someone who pointed out it was coming from the tool handles, and then they pointed out the culprit: tool handles made of Cellulose Acetate Butyrate. A thermoplastic, it offers excellent UV and solvent resistance that cellulose acetate doesn't offer. And it feels in the hand like a natural substance, something that is almost intangible, like a tool that is made by craftsmen, a characteristic that a polyethylene or polypropylene handle does not have. CAB also offers no splinters like the older wood handles. It also can be very clear. And when that plastic begins to degrade, it releases free acetic acid and butyric acid.
The odor of vinegar is a familiar sign to those in the film and photographic business; the cellulose acetate backing of film releases it as it degrades. I once visited a famous photographer's house and his office where he stored his negatives had that acrid odor--while for a photographer it reminds you of the darkroom, the midpoint of the creative process, it also brings to you vividly the end of the process--the decay of the work.
The butyric acid, one of the carboxylic acids, with a formula of CH3CH2CH2COOH, just smells like, in polite company like parmesan cheese, or like rancid butter or vomit. It's not nice above a certain concentration. Once I discovered this I immediately spent a little time sniffing each tool I had, and in short order discovered the ones that are the problem. They immediately got isolated from the rest, because the free butyric acid really does migrate and make everything unpleasant. I thought about giving the tools away, but really, who wants such a tool, even if free? I was going to throw them out, but that made me feel bad. And I think I've found a solution to stinky tools. I carefully fully coated the handles in two coats of shellac, a natural sealer, and now they don't smell to my nose.
37 comments:
Thank you so much for the info. We've been so puzzled by our stinky tool box. Your article is well written as well, btw. Thanks.
It took me a long time to check this out on the web, because I was certain it was something we did. I thought someone had spilled some toxic substance on the tools, or used them to mix something smelly. I had only just figured out, through the process of elimination, that it was the plastic handled screwdrivers. What in the hell!!?? We can put a man on the moon, etc. etc. Is this really necessary? Can we just get wood handles, or some other damn thing that doesn't smell, and let us get back to work without this LUNACY driving us crazy? Another ill effect of the space-age, let's get back to what we know works and won't hurt us, I don't need shiny objects, just tools that work and don't annoy.
So, now that we have identified the culprit, how do we neutralize the smell?
1. in the toolbox
2. on the metal tools
3. on the wooden and non-stink plastic handles
4. on the stinky plastic handles
I am at a loss as to why this comment was removed:
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Why toolboxes and tool handles stink.":
So, now that we have identified the culprit, how do we neutralize the smell?
1. in the toolbox
2. on the metal tools
3. on the wooden and non-stink plastic handles
4. on the stinky plastic handles
4. I've read that if you convert butyric acid by neutralization via sodium bicarbonate into sodium butryate it becomes non-stinking. But I've not tried it.
1, 2, 3: separation, extra cleaning, sunlight, and perhaps sodium bicarbonate. Once I removed the smelly items I cleaned the toolbox with a variety of cleaners to reduce the smell, but it really was the removal and sealing of the decomposing tool handles that stopped and started reducing the smell factor.
In the toolbox I tried Boraxo. Meh.
I tried spraying a metal tool with an old can of Gumout. It smells too strongly. so I wiped all the non-plastic tools with some Liquid Wrench (mind you, these are just some old things hanging around, and hence free).
I will try the sodium bicarb on the plastic handles. For now, I have wrapped the stinking tools in cloth and no longer store them in the old place. In fact, I wonder if I simply store them in an open basket, wrapped in cloth, they would stink less.
(I was the anonymous whose post was deleted)
I have the same issue with an old "coin Dealer" Briefcase, it holds 4 custom plastic trays which display coins under a clear plexi-glass cover which reek like vomit. It was made in the 80's and for a coin dealer to transport several trays of coins to a show. I'd like to use the trays, as they are great for displaying coins, and was thinking of coating with some type of paint or sealer to make them airtight. I read on another forum someone suggested Armor-all. I'm soaking them in my kitchen sink now in white vinegar and water and it seems to be working a little bit.
Old pinball platic parts from the 70-80's stinks the same! Bally and Gottlieb and possible Williams....I have a large box of replacement plastics for these pinballs and the bad odour of vomit reaches my nose every time I come near it! :( And I also have a set of Xcelite screwdrivers from 1985 (!) which still stinks to high heaven! (and always have) I have them in a small toolbox and everytime I open it I'm about to p*ke myself...gah!
I will now leave these screwdrivers in the sun for a week and probably coat them with some
clear laquer afterwards. Many thanks for the tip! :)
I took mine back to Sears. they were replaced even though they were twenty years old.
I noticed some older tools in an unused box smelling. I like the older tool. They were still around after others got broken, lost or stolen--ahem...borrowed and forgotten.
Try this.
You know those little bags of moisture absorbing crystals that say "don't eat" that come in the packaging for shoes and anything shipped from overseas? They absorb moisture. The also seem to keep my tools from rusting and stinking. (they work great in a camera bag to.)
I think it is called desiccant and as long as you remember not to eat it they last a really long time.
I don't know if my chemistry is correct, but I figured I could oxidize the butyric acid with something. So, I tried soaking in Oxyclean detergent/ stain remover for a couple of days. It seems to have worked, so far. I'll see how long it takes to come back. I used the powder that has some blue crystals in it. It also works for removing moss from our north facing asphalt roof. I also used it to get rid of the similar stink from old polyurethane waterproofing on fabric.
This is VERY useful, and I'll probably have to replace all the tools I have with CAB, but when I go to buy new ones on amazon, I have no clue how to find ones without CAB. Looks like Craftsman brand is infamous for this problem--any recommendations for non-stinky brands?
I'll have to give Anonymous' oxyclean idea a try. A little worried about leaving the metal tools in water for several days. Won't they rust?
That's a good question, as I've never seen handles described beyond "durable" and 'easy grip". Every CAB handle I've seen is either transparent with a dye color, or transparent with 50% painted. Klein Tools describes their handles as "tough plastic", which could mean anything, but they look just like other CAB (and they used it in the past).
I have what I suspect is a CAB screwdriver at work, but it was purchased new and is probably about 10 years old, and does not smell. Some CAB handles from the early nineties do smell, and I suspect if you bought new CAB handles now, you would have some time before they degraded, especially if kept in a cooler environment.
The Oxyclean thing I would hazard might be the conversion into a butyrate salt, as it is a basic solution, however I now see that sodium butyrate is listed as having "an unpleasant smell".
Keeping the metal out of the solution would be the way to go, perhaps keeping them vertical in the solution.
I dipped all my screw driver handles in clear satin lacquer hope that will help
Chris,
Did the clear lacquer take care of the smell? I was thinking about dipping mine in polyurethane.
CAB has not been used in tool handles since the 80s All the manufacturers are aware of the problem and stopped using it. My question is what is the best topcoat.I recently cleaned up a whole bunch of Xcelite nut and screw drivers. Shellac is neither water proof, alcohol resistant or durable. I have heard clear nail polish advocated but that is lacquer, another less than durable product. I have to be careful not to use something that dissolves CAB. Moisture cured or catylized polyurethane is what i have been toying with, though the single part stuff might be enough.
I know the exact distinct smell you are describing, and I have no problem understanding why it may be offensive to many people, but I am glad it does not offend me. Personally, it's more nostalgic to me, reminds me of my father's tools, so I don't feel the need to mask it from my own tools that now have that particular scent.
I only have a few tools with CAB from my father so my toolbox is not bad. My toolbox at work however smells like nothing else which is full of old Xcelite sets past on from others. I was thinking you could use a spray epoxy but then it would react with acetone. I think the best choice is product called plastic- dip which is a latex base product that forms a rubberized handle on the tool. If you have a latex allergy, you should try something else. If my box gets intolerable, I will use the plastic-dip since It should improve the grip of the handles.
I worked as an aircraft mechanic for a few months before changing my field to computers. I still have my old tool box, with many of the aircraft tools from 1997, and it's been smelling for as far as I can remember. I always wrongly guessed that the smell is from some decaying lubricant used on aircraft parts. Or worse, a spill over of waste/toilet water that had splashed all over the hangar floor one time and my toolbox was not too far away from it....yukh... Anyways, thanks for this article. Now I know what that stink is.
This finally answered my question about the vomit smell coming from my toolbox! I couldn't figure it out (I suspected this cheap plastic toolbox I was using was the culprit).
CAB has been discontinued for tool handle use for many years. Not a problem
There is also a white slimy coating that looks like mold. Sodium Bicarb and a stiff brush kills smell and coating. I need a fix to stop recurrence. I do not want to cover the color or size info. on the handles. I have cleaned them before. It comes back.
Is the Sodium bicarbonate dry, paste or solution?
I still have an old toolbox from the telephone company after I left that job in the 60's. I have many of the original hand tools, side-cutters, diagonals, long nose & screwdrivers. Well, even after more than 50 years, the screwdriver handles still have that odor and , as you had mentioned, will contaminate anything else they are near. Fortunately or unfortunately, after purchasing many excellent screwdrivers over the years, none are as good as these and that's why I still have them around, their handles are the largest handles made for tools that size and allow one to get an extraordinary grip on them (mfg by Bridgeport Tools).
Thanks for the tip on the decontamination!
Bob
I have been wondering about this vomit smell for several years.
I finally decided to look it up on the internet & lucky for me I found your blog.
THANKS.
Greg V
Why didn't I Google this sooner! It's perplexed me (and repulsed me) for years. My work partner had a huge tool box full of hard-to-find gadgets, but it smelled soooo bad. Then my own "tool box" (drawer of wooden chest) began too smell just like it. Now I know why! And to think I blamed it on Joe. Sorry, Joe
Thanks to everybody for the input.
Rose
I've been complaining to my husband about this odor for ages! I finally cleaned out the box...washed it and aired everything out in the sun only to find it didn't help one bit! Why not just put baking soda in a container with holes or charcoal or a car deodorizer in the box with the smelly tools? wouldn't that help?... rather than moving nasty smelly tools to another location?
I'm trying charcoal today and hoping for a change in the odor!
...thanks for the info guys and gals.... I "found" some of my tools over the years working in an auto salvage auction and at yard sales.... i kind-a assumed that it was an old trick to spray dear repellent or something on one's tools to discourage theft, or make the thief sorry he stole your tools.... Now I know...
This is proof of the benefits of the internet! Thanks for great info. I am so glad and relieved to read the comments. I do own "home-maintenance" in UK. The scary smell induced a paranoia. Like one of your other contributors, I crazily suspected a workman (who placed few boards into garage) of deliberately dropping a toxic substance into my previously clean tool-box. The smell is like evil chemical pickles. The odour compelled me (after cleaning out the tool box yet again) to give immediately a large random selection of my tools to a relative (before knowing it affects only those with acetate-type handles). It seemed to have arisen during the time since I commenced storing large tool box at floor level in damp cold garage. The miniature acetate ones (older?)kept in an indoors toolbox are not affected yet. Could toxic substance pass into body via skin? Please pass on our experiences to the tool manufacturers so that more perfect handle material can be developed. [The smaller hand size of females also must be considered more, to stop us ending up with finger arthritis (prevents us from texting!)].
Thanks to whoever started this, I really hope you get this and continue and to all who contributed. I just through away a really nice big plastic tool box because of the barf smell. I’ve put my screwdrivers thru the dishwasher and they still stink. I suspect from being in the hot garage the gases have been cooked right out. So I will try the ideas or I’ll take them back to Sears! Thanks again.
Thank you for this post! We were about to throw out our toolbox, thinking it must be mold causing the smell, when I happened to find this. Now we've smelled all the screwdrivers and identified the culprits.
I hesitate to coat my smelly tool handles because if the butyric acid and its smell recur, it will be unwashable under the coating. I have considered replacing handles with homemade wooden ones, but that CAB plastic is too tough to get off. I hate to part with tools that i have had for so long, but it is hard to justify keeping tools that I am reluctant to use because they make my hands smell like vomit.
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Toothpaste made the horrible smell go away. Idk how long for but it worked amazingly. I might try clear paint like someone suggested to keep it from returning
You guys have all these solutions for curing your smelly cheap screwdrivers.
Why not buy a new set? I like Craftsman for nostalgia but mine are on the way out. 20 bucks problem solved.
To the people saying "they don't use this material anymore", that is not at all true. Found this blog post after purchasing a new chisel set that smells absolutely awful.
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