mold forms on cords, knobs, and tool handles

[The Daring Dufas]

Do they call you anything that you can repeat in polite company? ;-)

Yes, but it's a secret. ^_^

TDD

 

[[email protected]]

I wonder if this is an example of an actual good use for WD-40? Too many
people use it as a lubricant instead of what it was designed to be - a
tool protective coating...

Uh, oh...

 

[William Sommerwerck]

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[Al Schmidt]

Dan Espen wrote on Mon, 04 Mar 2013 11:31:47 -0500:

To my knowledge, it has never been figured out before
Here you go:
http://tinyurl.com/bwwkvgr

Thanks for the reference, but, unfortunately, there
were no pictures nor any discussion of the white residue
on the handles in that thread.

 

[Danny D.]

I took some more photos, but they were about the same as the others.
<http://802.11junk.com/jeffl/pics/white-plastic-rot/>
The particle sizes are too thick to get a decent photo due to the lack
of depth of field. I just wanted one that shows the plastic like shine,
that is characteristic of plastics, and not mold. I'll melt or set fire
to the stuff later this week.

Hi Jeff,

Here is a closeup of one of my 'white encrusted' screwdriver handles:
http://www1.picturepush.com/photo/a/12360594/img/12360594.jpg

Here is a smaller picture if that's too large:
http://www1.picturepush.com/photo/a/12360594/640/12360594.jpg

What would you suggest I do to confirm the identity of the substance?

 

[Danny D.]

It's not mold. It appears to be mold, but if you look carefully, it
doesn't "grow" in a radial pattern, as you would expect real mold to
grow. I've put the dust under a microscope to be sure. It's plastic
dust. Hit is with some heat, and watch it melt

Here is a big zoomable picture of yet another of my screwdrivers
with the white crust on the outside next to a battery with similar
looking white powdery residue. Do you think the crud is related?
http://www1.picturepush.com/photo/a/12361204/img/12361204.jpg

The question, since all my screwdrivers are from the 1980s,
is why some and not others would have the white stuff.
(Note: I inscribed the date on this screwdriver in 1981.)

I do think these white ones were those that I worked in hospitals
with at that time but I don't know if there is any connection.

 

[Danny D.]

Any hint as to the manufacturer of the screwdriver?

Hi Jeff,

They're all Craftsman screwdrivers, all bought in the
1980s from Sears. The 3 I have with the white stuff were
used when I worked in a hospital fixing biomed equipment.

I'll get it to you; I can drive to your office also.
It would be worth the trip just to put this decades-old
mystery to rest.

We could also try the Myth-Busters up in San Francisco,
but this might not have the cachet of blowing things up
(but maybe we'll find a superbug?).

(I'll take this over to email for the visit as I'm not so
free with my personal information as you are.)

 

[Danny D.]

the handles of my tools get a think layer of some sort of mold on them.
It's like a grey dust. (Or some other light color, I forget.)

As the OP, you have more responsibilities than the rest of us.

As such, would you kindly snap a photo of what you're talking about
so the rest of us can compare it to our screwdriver handles.