Plastic Toolboxes - vomit smell

[Foiled Again]

I recently got a wheeled Stanley toolbox - and when I opened it after 2-3 weeks, I swear it smelled like vomit inside. I had another smaller one before with the same problem. Am I delusional or is this something anyone else has noticed? BTW I had some Craftsman screwdrivers that were growing whitish mould on the handles - This is where the smell seemed to be coming from, so before transferring the tools, I literally had to scrub the mould off with Clorox Soft Scrub, and soak the handles in a strong bleach solution.

I liked the idea of a non-metallic box because the tools make less noise bouncing around, but I'm thinking they seal too tightly and ordinary sweat, etc. may be creating the nasty odor.

I'm getting ready to add a work box to my truck, so I don't want the same-o PHEW-O.

Thanks in advance for any help/advice,

Paula

[richinny]

LOL, i have a puke parts box i've aired out for 10 years, still smells like puke. i also have some whitish drivers, now i know what to do with them! the puke smell might be good to keep bears away?

[klattu]

I did have the same white mold/fungus or something on some Craftsman screwdrivers years ago.
Never did know what it was or why.
Took a wire brush wheel to get it off, think it came back a few times too.
Never had the smell though...or I just got used to it.

[dmreilly10000]

Same problem. It's the screwdrivers. I just ignore it now.

[Wayne&Sam]

Geez, I have a metal tool box I got from my father and I always remember it smelling like that. I've been wondering about that for 45 years... the screwdivers....huh.

[NevadaGeo]

I see a common clue: Ditto on the Craftsman screwdrivers. For 25 years I thought it was the plastic Craftsman tool box, It used to fit perfect under the seat of my '78 landcruiser until one day I got sick and it was in the line of fire; always thought I had caused the permanent smell in that box.

[2airishuman]

many of the old screw driver handles (clear with embedded colors) were made from some form of cellulose acetate....

now most newer makers are switching to compressed polypropylene, which should not smell the same....

the old acetate ones do give off a smell (like old camera film) and the odors can combine with the plastic tool box...

for a new olfactory treat!

i think jelly belly makes a 'vomit' flavored jelly bean too!

and old mechanics do drink a lotta beer and eat them nachos....


barf'n in yer tool box isn't macho.

cheers
2air'

[janetb]

What's the chemical compound that causes that nauseating odor of nausea? Because it's not just in screwdriver handles...Our ancient backpacking tent has that same smell and no amount of cleaning or airing-out touches it. 30 yrs. of misplaced sentimental value keeps it around (deeply buried in the attic) but this toolbox thing is the first I've heard of it being a broader affliction.
Had some initial odors in the A/S, but not that pilau smell, and nothing that couldn't be cured with a little airing out and a little black-tank education.
Good luck!
Janet

[2airishuman]

what makes barf smell like vomit?

depends a little on what is in the pot and from how far DOWN the digestive tract it comes...

anyway it's mostly the butyric acid concentration that does it....

barf odor

but again MANY products (your tent or the seam sealants or water proof coatings) contain cellulose acetate and cellulose butyrate...

now the big question IS....

what smells different after eating asparagus?

cheers
2air'

[Zeppelinium]

Originally Posted by 2airishuman

now the big question IS....

what smells different after eating asparagus?

cheers
2air'

and in as little as 4-5 minutes!!!

Zep

[janetb]

Thanks 2Air! Butyric acid. Hmmm. Very interesting.

[azflycaster]

This thread stinks...

[2airishuman]

Originally Posted by azflycaster

This thread stinks...

not if it's lemon fresh!

cheers
2air'


Eau D'Asparagus

u gotz some fast kidneys, and perhaps HIGHLY INTELLIGENT jeans, zep!

[richinny]

"and old mechanics do drink a lotta beer and eat them nachos...."

2air... i think that's a smell from a different place, isn't it?

[dwightdi]

The material in question was and is manufactured by Eastman Kodak. It is a very high impact or flexible material. There is actually a family of them made from cellulosic fibers. The plant used to be in West Virginia. The screw driver handles were made from "Butyrate" which contains butyric acid. In small doses this is what give butter its smell. The screwdriver handles were extruded and machined.

A related product was cellulose acetate which they original developed and used for photographic film. This material will degrade with time to form acetic acid. That is the smell you get from vinigar which is dilluted acetic acid. If you open old movie film canisters they may smell like vinigar and that is a sign the material is starting to degrade and will become brittle and no longer be able to go thru a projector. When they try to preserve olf movie film they store it a very low temperatures to slow down the chemical reaction

Another material in this family is Propinate. It also degrades to have an odor. These material were great in their time but are becoming more expensive now and product engineers are now specifying more stable materials.

[B4WEDI]

My box is an old military ammo can.

I put one of those little bars of soaps from a hotel in there, still in the wrapper and it cured the smell problem..... or changed it anyway !

My screwdriver handles are so impregnated with grease,oil, paint, you name it, that the mold can't take hold !

( hmmmm, sounds like an advertisng slogan ! )

[richinny]

thanks dwight, your answers seem to tell me why one of my cats loved to lick plastic!