8 Jan
2017
8 Jan
'17
11:16 p.m.
I sent this out to some friends at the end of December
-------- Forwarded Message --------
Subject: Stinky screwdrivers
Date: Thu, 29 Dec 2016 08:51:02 -0800
From: Al Kossow <aek at bitsavers.org>
To: Eric Schlaepfer <schlae at gmail.com>, Kenneth Sumrall <ken at
scrapheap.net>
CC: Hedley Rainnie <luvhed at gmail.com>, Alvaro <apg88zx at gmail.com>
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-153147.html
I've been buying a lot of Xcelite tools lately, and was wondering why some of the
handles stunk.
Sadly, it looks like the good USA made hand tools will all have their plastic handles
crumble eventually
though I have two Craftsmen nut drivers I bought in 1975 that are still perfect.
Xcelite isn't made in the US anymore. Bought a #0 Super-tru Tip (no longer says USA)
and it is absolute crap.
--
as an addendum, I just bought a new "Made in USA" Xcelite pliers, and the build
quality was an embarrassment.
now I understand all the interest in used hand tools on eBay
8 Jan
8 Jan
11:29 p.m.
On 1/8/2017 8:16 PM, Al Kossow wrote:
Sadly, it looks like the good USA made hand tools will
all have their plastic handles crumble eventually
though I have two Craftsmen nut drivers I bought in 1975 that are still perfect.
How many perished in liquid N2 back in the day. So sad.
thanks
jim
9 Jan
9 Jan
12:17 a.m.
On 01/08/2017 08:16 PM, Al Kossow wrote:
I sent this out to some friends at the end of December
I've got a few large (not the torque-handle thing) from the late 60's
Xcelite nutdrivers. They don't smell and they're in fine condition.
Must have been a formula change at some point.
Reminds of the issue with cellulose acetate-based film and tape. Most
conscientious people placed said objects in airtight storage containers,
which apparently is exactly the thing *not* to do. I'm not aware of any
process to reverse the decomposition.
Old plastics in general are a nightmare for museum conservators.
--Chuck
10:16 a.m.
Exactly the problem with tool sets that are kept in sealed plastic containers.
BTW, you NEVER want to keep anything that outgasses/chemically decomposes in
a sealed container. Sealed PLASTIC containers are even worse.
Reminds me that I need to throw out the plastic latching-lid tool boxes that I have.
On 1/8/17 9:17 PM, Chuck Guzis wrote:
Reminds of the issue with cellulose acetate-based film
and tape. Most
conscientious people placed said objects in airtight storage containers,
which apparently is exactly the thing *not* to do. I'm not aware of any
process to reverse the decomposition.
11 Jan
11 Jan
3:15 p.m.
s?n 2017-01-08 klockan 21:17 -0800 skrev Chuck Guzis:
On 01/08/2017 08:16 PM, Al Kossow wrote:
Haa. Ask the conservators at Bor?s museum about clothes made from
synthetic materials. They end up having to throw away designer clothes
I sent this out to some friends at the end of December
I've got a few large (not the torque-handle thing) from the late 60's
Xcelite nutdrivers. They don't smell and they're in fine condition.
Must have been a formula change at some point.
Reminds of the issue with cellulose acetate-based film and tape. Most
conscientious people placed said objects in airtight storage containers,
which apparently is exactly the thing *not* to do. I'm not aware of any
process to reverse the decomposition.
Old plastics in general are a nightmare for museum conservators.
--Chuck from 60's and 70's due to the fact that the
materials disintegrates !
And nothing can really be done - no pesticides which can
prevent
plastics from disintegrating.
Bor?s museum due to the town's history as a clothing industry cluster
(think New York's cloth industry but of course smaller) has a large
collection of clothing.
9 Jan
9 Jan
3:28 a.m.
New subject: Stinky screwdrivers
On 09/01/2017 04:16, "Al Kossow" <aek at bitsavers.org> wrote:
I sent this out to some friends at the end of December
-------- Forwarded Message --------
Subject: Stinky screwdrivers
Date: Thu, 29 Dec 2016 08:51:02 -0800
From: Al Kossow <aek at bitsavers.org>
To: Eric Schlaepfer <schlae at gmail.com>, Kenneth Sumrall <ken at
scrapheap.net>
CC: Hedley Rainnie <luvhed at gmail.com>, Alvaro <apg88zx at gmail.com>
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-153147.html
I've been buying a lot of Xcelite tools lately, and was wondering why some of
the handles stunk.
We have 2 or 3 sets if Xcelite nut spinners at work with the torque sleeve
and they've always stunk, I started there in 2004 and they weren't new then
so it's obviously been a thing for a long while!
--
Adrian/Witchy
Binary Dinosaurs creator/curator
Www.binarydinosaurs.co.uk - the UK's biggest private home computer
collection?
3:30 p.m.
New subject: Stinky screwdrivers
On Mon, Jan 9, 2017 at 3:28 AM, Adrian Graham
<witchy at binarydinosaurs.co.uk> wrote:
We have 2 or 3 sets if Xcelite nut spinners at work
with the torque sleeve
and they've always stunk, I started there in 2004 and they weren't new then
so it's obviously been a thing for a long while!
I have some Xcelite tools from the early 1980s. They have been stinky
for over 30 years. The large amber handles with the metal insert (for
screwdrivers and nutdrivers) even frequently accumulate a crusty white
"rind" that wipes off with a little effort, but returns after sitting
in a drawer for a few months. Definitely a butyrate stink (I used to
run chemistry shows at The Center of Science and Industry - one was on
Esters... we mixed a variety of alcohols with a variety of fatty acids
and let the audience smell the results... it was all fun and games
until I spilled 200ml of Butyric Acid on myself... :-P )
4:17 p.m.
New subject: Stinky screwdrivers
On 09/01/2017 20:30, Ethan Dicks wrote:
Esters... we mixed a variety of alcohols with a
variety of fatty acids
and let the audience smell the results... it was all fun and games
until I spilled 200ml of Butyric Acid on myself... :-P )
Ooooh! I know that smell. And it doesn't come off easily!
--
Pete
Pete Turnbull
5:31 p.m.
New subject: Stinky screwdrivers
On Mon, Jan 9, 2017 at 4:17 PM, Pete Turnbull <pete at dunnington.plus.com> wrote:
On 09/01/2017 20:30, Ethan Dicks wrote:
I was just put out because they sent me home but wouldn't let me take
the bus. I had to wait for my mother to pick me up.
-ethan
Esters... we mixed a variety of alcohols with a
variety of fatty acids
and let the audience smell the results... it was all fun and games
until I spilled 200ml of Butyric Acid on myself... :-P )
Ooooh! I know that smell. And it doesn't come off easily! 
6:04 p.m.
New subject: Stinky screwdrivers
Do a Google search on
cellulose acetate butyrate
the 'stink' is mostly acetic acid and as it has been stated, the key
is ACID, think what would happen if you poured a cup of white vinegar
inside you favorite classic.
Yea not a bad but the idea is the same.
I emailed the Apex Tool Group a year ago and their response was live
with the coating, which became a challenge. You can't clean them but
you can buff the handles and then polish. But there is no way to stop
the chemical reaction.
Saying that, does not explain why I have some "Parks Metal Ware"
drivers that have not decayed.
-pete
On Mon, Jan 9, 2017 at 2:31 PM, Ethan Dicks <ethan.dicks at gmail.com> wrote:
On Mon, Jan 9, 2017 at 4:17 PM, Pete Turnbull <pete
at dunnington.plus.com> wrote:
On 09/01/2017 20:30, Ethan Dicks wrote:
I was just put out because they sent me home but wouldn't let me take
the bus. I had to wait for my mother to pick me up.
-ethan
Esters... we mixed a variety of alcohols with a
variety of fatty acids
and let the audience smell the results... it was all fun and games
until I spilled 200ml of Butyric Acid on myself... :-P )
Ooooh! I know that smell. And it doesn't come off easily!
2749
days inactive
2751
days old
9 comments
8 participants
participants (8)
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aek＠bitsavers.org -
cclist＠sydex.com -
ethan.dicks＠gmail.com -
jwsmail＠jwsss.com -
pete＠dunnington.plus.com -
pete＠petelancashire.com -
stefan.skoglund＠agj.net -
witchy＠binarydinosaurs.co.uk