"Smitty Two" wrote in message
news
Had occasion recently to move a bunch of stuff in order to replace a
clothes dryer. One thing that got moved was an old oak desk, with an
assortment of hand tools in one of the drawers. I discovered that the
tool drawer is quite malodorous.

I've run into this before. Years ago I worked at a shop where one drawer
of a rollaway tool cabinet smelled exactly like vomit. And, a few years
ago I bought a set of nut drivers in a plastic case (bought new) that
smelled awful. I aired them outside for weeks to no avail and finally
threw the plastic case away, which got rid of most of the smell but I
found that even the plastic handles still stink.

In that last instance of course, I identified the source of the smell,
but in those other two I did not. Anyone else have stinky tools?
Diagnosis? Remedy?

Spray with Krylon clear finish. I do this and also on metal tools to prevent
rust from high humidity.
If you think this would damage the plastic try clear shellac. WW