OT; Craftsman tools

[polska]

I leave some of my tools in my shed which is damp and I noticed that the Craftsman screwdrivers have a white crud on them.The crud scrapes off with a finger nail and is powdery. The plastic handles are shiney underneath the crud as it does not etch them. Has anyone else experienced this and what is the best way to clean it off.I tried washing it off and rubbing it off but scratching it off seems to be the only way at this time.Very time consuming.
No rust at all on the tools.

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[Dave]

I do not own allot of Win. rifles, just 3. On 2 the plastic butt plates have the same problem. 1 is a 74 and other is a 62, both were made in 80's + or -. I asked a Win collector about it and he said it was commen with them. Can't remember what he said caused it but it was one of those "they think" things. I imagine it just some chemical reaction of older plastic. I cleaned it off, by the way, but it comes back.

[Maury Krupp]

Craftsman hand tools?

The quickest and easiest way is to smack them with a hammer to break a piece off then take them to any Sears store and swap for free new ones.

Maury

[Emri]

I leave some of my tools in my shed which is damp and I noticed that the Craftsman screwdrivers have a white crud on them.The crud scrapes off with a finger nail and is powdery. The plastic handles are shiney underneath the crud as it does not etch them. Has anyone else experienced this and what is the best way to clean it off.I tried washing it off and rubbing it off but scratching it off seems to be the only way at this time.Very time consuming.
No rust at all on the tools.

I bought mine in the late 70's. They show the same trait. If you use them regularly, it won't develop. Leave them stored, they get the white "mold" or whatever it is. I also have plastic handled devices from other manufacturers that exibit the same thing in my tool box.

Ditto the others post about Winchester buttplates. They do the exact same thing!!!

Use a fine wire wheel on a power tool to get it off. Easy and quick. Won't hurt the handles, but, it smells. Don't know if it may be toxic, but I use a dust mask anyway.


FWIW,

Emri

[Dave]

I have noticed the smell of the Crafsman handles, when tool draw is shut up for long period. No white stuff yet, however. There are all kinds of chemicals used to make plastics beside the basic hydro-carbon base. These eventually evaporate I'd guess. Old Moss. 22's (1930'-40) with plastic TG's dried , shrunk and got brittle.

[John Kepler]

The acrylic plastic in the handles is degrading/oxidizing. Without needing to hit them with a hammer...Sears should exchange them! BTW, this is why I have Snap-On drivers (different handle chemistry!)! Remember, the best warranty is the one where the initial quality is so good you never have to use it!

[AKA Hugh Uno]

I go through garden hoses pretty quick keeping things watered on my estate (aka "Casa del Costo El Plenty") and figured out that buying a Sears hose for 3 bucks more gets me a FREE REPLACEMENT HOSE every 2-3 years when they crack (which they all do sooner or later). Save the cardboard cover and receipt and Voila!

Mold/discolaoration, who gives a dang about that?

[RayP.]

Read once that it was the sodium carbonate that forms on phenolic resin composition handles and does not hurt anything,some of my stored tools of all brands stored in lidded plasic boxes do the same thing.

RayP.

[John Kepler]

It's similar Ray, but those handles are acrylic and what's degrading is the plasticizer that keeps the handles from shattering like glass (which is "Phase 2" of this particular failure-mode)! Like I said, the OP just needs to take them to Sears and get new ones!

[Maury Krupp]

Only reason I suggested the hammer was at one time Sears was being picky about replacing tools that weren't "broken" but rather "un-maintained" (eg, rusted, corroded, etc).

Haven't tested that policy in a while but if it's still in effect then making sure the tool is no kiddin' "broken" will save any arguing

Maury