stinkin' screwdriver handles

I am a tool freak and own a LOT of tools. I would say about 1/2 of my hand tools (socket wrenches, combination wrenches, screwdrivers, pliers, etc. ) are Snap-on and the other half Craftsman. The Snap-on branded tools are definitely of higher quality, but for the most part do not warrant the 500% price increase over the Craftsman. Truth be told, I stopped (for the most part) buying Snap-on and when I do buy a new tool (rarely these days) I will go get the Craftsman brand.

I did break a snap-on screwdriver handle and the Snap-on guy basically told me "sorry Charlie" so I had to break the tip and see him the next time he came around. Begrudgingly he did replace it, but I won't be buying any more tools from him.

I also needed a #27 Torx socket bit and the Snap-on guy charged me $37 bucks for ONE. I bought almost the identical ENTIRE SET from Craftsman (8 pc. set) but it did NOT include the #27 size for $19.99 on sale. Bottom line here is their prices are just ridiculous, while their quality and exchange policy isn't worth the HUGE difference IMHO. Not for nothing, but while the Snap-on brand is still probably the best quality, I truly believe that it is NOT as good as it used to be, and not that much better than the Craftsman to make it worth the extra coin.

I have not however ever experienced stinky handles.

YMMV

Chief38
 
Yes Virgina there is a Santa Claus and Craftsman screwdriver made between the years of 1968 and 1980 had stinky handles.

If they were stored in a contained tool box an allowed to get warm they will smell so bad, when you open the box they would peel the paint off the wall.

I worked for a million dollar home contractor in those days and I did the follow up warranty work on new homes. I would be in the new owners exquisitely decorated and fabulous furnished rest room, for example, and open my tool box to do a repair while the pretty wife was watching me. Then the smell from those handles would suddenly make her scream and put her hand over her mouth and began to gag. "My eyes are burning! What is that smell!"

Yes, they really smelled that bad. No joke. Craftsman then changed to the newer handles because of this.

About that time I went to work for another contractor. He saw me open my tool box one day and noticed those Craftsman screwdrivers. "They got to go and I mean now!" Their reputation for stinking up the atmosphere was well known amongest us trim carpenters and pretty much common knowledge.

I still have those same screwdrivers and today the smell has just about subsited. It only took about thirty plus years.
 
I guess I shouldn't have been surprised to learn the extent of the knowledge here, albeit from seemingly unlikely quarters, of an arcane symbol, not familiar to most people. In this neck of the woods, these flags would never be seen, there being no place, or reason, to fly them. That they're as widely recognized as they apparently are nonetheless surprises me...

Force 12 is occasional, seldom heard chatter on Channel 16 in the Great Lakes, usually briefly, just before the gear disappears...
 
Well I'll be darn I have the same problem this is the second tool chest they have been in and the stink just keeps following. Who would of thought that a screwdriver could be so stinky after 15 or more years
 
So, has anyone had Sears replace the stink drivers?

Is "stink" covered under the warranty?

I'd like to replace these drives, Why?, Cause they stink. But they are not broken, no, they stink."Sorry Sir, stink is not covered":D

Maybe under NOT SATISFIED.
 
Sears will gladly replace any Craftsman hand tool with no back-talk for just about anything. The only thing I have noticed lately is that they are rebuilding the ratchet wrenches and when you bring a busted one in they will give you a rebuilt used one if on hand; otherwise a new one. This occurs at some locations and not others, so when I have a ratchet issue I know where to exchange mine........ for a brand new one.

The Craftsman hand tool line up is still made in America (for the most part) and the quality of their tools is still very good, and in some instances (like their ratchet wrenches) has actually gotten much better. IMHO they are almost equal to Snap-on's now.

Chief38
 
jkc said:
Now, to a more intriguing question --- who can identify the message in Rule 3's avatar? Don't spoil it by blurting out the meaning, just reply in the affirmative if you know what it signifies, and, even better, reply in the negative if you don't. I'll add that I do know what it means, so don't be clever by trying to inform me...
Click to expand...

A guy could look it up, but even so, it takes a little digging.
 
I started asking for tools for my birthday and Christmases when I was 8 (1959). When ever I could save enough it was a real thrill to go to Sears and buy a new tool. Yes even back then the Craftsman screw driver handles had a smell....I loved that smell!...I just went out to the shop and sniffed the last remaining one I still have....alas the smell is gone :-(

Most of those past screw drivers have been lost, walked away or severely damaged. this last remaining one had the blade arced away in a circuit breaker box. I ground down the shank and made an awl out of it.

A few years ago my wife bought a big box of "Gumby-like" action figures (made in China) as giveaways for her kindergarteners from a school supply company. The odor was overpowering...they also seemed to be sweating WD-40...I actually think it was mold release...we threw them out...fearing they might be unhealthy for the kids.
 
I have some 30+ yr old Craftsman and Exelite tools that have the stink. They are so bad that nobody will borrow or steal them.
 
During the first oil crunch shortage in the 70's a lot of plastics were made from some strange substitute materials that may be the source of the order. I have some old/older/new Craftsman tools and yes some of them do have an "order", keeps my "friends"from stealing them when they are working at my shop, and drinking up my beer :)!
 
I have Craftsman tools and Snap-On too, but mostly Craftsman and screwdrivers from 40 to present day and I have never had any kind of order from them! I have no idea what you guys are talking about and so have no solution. huh?

Craftsman has started a new policy that they will not replace any tool unless they think it is from usage and not abuse. Snap-On is the same way around here. The Snap-on guy here won't replace tools hardly at all.

I will go buy NAPA brand tools from now on as they have a lifetime warrenty!

John
 
Just to let you know, I went out to the garage and sniffed my screw drivers. The wife caught me............
 
mr.jbk79 said:
If I were you, I'd buy a set of Snap On screwdrivers, yeah they are pricey, but if you use them alot you'll appreciate them. They work great and mine haven't smelled in over 10 years I've had them.
Click to expand...

Ten years, eh? I have Snap On tools that are over forty years old and they're as good as the day I bought them off the truck. The handles don't smell either. I do clean them now and again, probably every three years or so. Of course, I don't use them nearly as much as I used to when I was wrenching for my pay. What astounds me is the price of tool boxes these days. I mean, you can go into Sears, for crying out loud, and drop $3000 on a tool box, a drawer unit and a roll cab.

Russ
 
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