I was at salvage right when they opened. I saw a new face. A tower of a man with a full head of fluffy white hair. Must have been over 7-feet tall if he stood up straight. He was indiscriminately picking out plastic handled socket drivers and throwing them into a box.
After observing this for a minute or two, I thought to myself, “I bet he has met a smelly screwdriver or two.”
I piped-up, and not wanting to mince words — assuming he means business as he looked like he was as on a mission — asked very directly, “have you ever had a smelly screwdriver?”
Before I could even get the word screwdriver out, he belts back “vinegar then hydrogen peroxide.”
Could it be that simple?
I needed clarification. So I restate, not sure if we are talking about the same thing.
“So, we’re talking about the acetate handles that smell” he nods in agreement, “and how there are two stages of breakdown; there is the white powder which I knew that vinegar can cure, but the smell.”
He stops me after I say “smell” and says “the smell is caused by bacteria and the hydrogen peroxide gets rid of it.”
I recount how I tried everything and thank him for the advice, saying I absolutely will give it a try.
At which point, this mountain of a man stands up straight and as he does he has to duck to avoid hitting his head on the trellis above (which is easily at 6-1/2 feet off the ground). The top of my head does not even reach his armpit — and he is severely slouched and not standing up straight!
He grabs his box of about 30 screwdrivers (socket specifically) and gestured in a way that said “nice to meet you, have a nice day” as he trundled off.
Never saw him there before, have not seen him since.
Well, here’s to hoping this works … cause this is one smelly Husky 6-in-1 driver that I would like to save. Not like I can’t just buy a new 6-in-1 (which I have, but new ones have red handles and not clear like this one).
BTW, if you don't see any fizzing from the H2O2 when you pour it, especially if you pour it in a sink or something that needs to be cleaned, it has probably lost its effectiveness though it won't hurt anything to try it. Once it has been opened, it usually goes bad within about 6 months and a max of about 3 years unopened.
--Nathan, TX. Hire the lazy man. He may not do as much work but that's because he will find a better way.
I keep a jug of 30% H2O2 in the cabinet; its useful for all kinds of things, from killing fungi/bacteria to bleaching wood.
There's also a jug of 30% vinegar. Then there's the citric acid powder, oxalic acid powder (rust removal), potassium dichromate (oxidizing mahogany without staining holly inlays), butyl cellosolve (2-butoxyethanol) (great glass cleaner*), sodium benzoate (food grade, preservative for my pickles, 0.01%). Then all the usual solvents for finishing, and probably some other stuff.
BTW, after cleaning up the stinky tool, pour or spray it with acetone; it will dissolve the surface a bit and leave it factory smooth. Only a small amount is needed.
* make your own glass cleaner that does not streak: 1-2% butyl, 10-15% alcohol, and water. The butoxyethanol costs about $11 per pint and makes gallons of glass cleaner, at about $1 per. A national glass company replaced a large window in our home and gave me an aerosol can of cleaner that worked better than anything I had ever used. Went back to get more and they wanted $22 a ca; no go. Took the can to work and handed it to the head of our analytical lab and told him to tell me the ingredients - that what it was. So, for the last 20 years, I've been making glass cleaner for the neighbors. The only drawback is a little odor; the commercial stuff covers that with a reodorant (perfume), which I suspect may be what causes the streaking, perfumes being oily stuff.
I got the gallon of 30% from a friend in the chemical supply business, filled my jug from a 1000 gallon tank. You can find it online for about $40 per gallon. I also got some 40% from a beauty supply store. She would not sell me the 50% I wanted because I didn't have a beautician's license - a chemistry degree would not work, but a hairdresser can get all she wants !
