mold forms on cords, knobs, and tool handles

[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.]

On Tue, 05 Mar 2013 09:47:28 -0800, Jeff Liebermann wrote:

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?

 

[Jeff Liebermann]

On Thu, 7 Mar 2013 18:34:52 +0000 (UTC), "Danny D."
<danny@pleasedontemail.com> wrote:

On Tue, 05 Mar 2013 09:47:28 -0800, Jeff Liebermann wrote:

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.

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?

Scrape off some with a knife. Put the scrapings on a tea spoon,
spatula, or metal something. Heat over a low flame. The melting
point of acrylic is 320F (160C). Monitor the temp with an IR
thermometer. If it melts and is kinda rubbery when warm, it's
plastic. If it burns, it might be mold.

Your screwdriver shows a finer pattern of plastic rot than my hex
wrench. It looks similar but may be a slightly different plastic type
(presumed to be acrylic). I can't tell from here.

If you feel ambitious, scrape off a sample, and mail it to me (address
below is my office) and I'll put it under the microscope and post a
photo. Be careful with the packaging so the USPS doesn't think it's
Anthrax or cocaine.

Any hint as to the manufacturer of the screwdriver?

I'm still not 100.0% sure about the white stuff. For example, what's
this?
<http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-10937245/stock-photo-home-made-dry-wurst-with-thin-coating-of-white-mold.html>

--
Jeff Liebermann jeffl@cruzio.com
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

 

[Jeff Liebermann]

On Thu, 7 Mar 2013 19:39:56 +0000 (UTC), "Danny D."
<danny@pleasedontemail.com> wrote:

On Wed, 27 Feb 2013 09:29:42 -0800, Jeff Liebermann wrote:

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 stuff leaking out of the alkaline battery is potassium hydroxide.
It can be cleaned off with any weak acid. Just smear on some vinegar
to the battery first. If it fizzes and foams, try doing the same to
the screwdriver. If you get the same fizz and foam, it's potassium
hydroxide.

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.

Well, if it is mold, it has to be one of the slowest growing mold
infestations I have ever seen. I used to manage my fathers apartment
building and I know (black) mold when I see it. The plastic stuff is
nothing like it.

--
Jeff Liebermann jeffl@cruzio.com
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

 

[Jeff Liebermann]

On Thu, 07 Mar 2013 12:06:58 -0800, Jeff Liebermann <jeffl@cruzio.com>
wrote:

The stuff leaking out of the alkaline battery is potassium hydroxide.

Oops. The electrolyte is potassium hydroxide. The white residue is
potassium carbonate.
2KOH + CO2 -> K2CO3 + H2O
Sorry(tm).
--
Jeff Liebermann jeffl@cruzio.com
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

 

[Danny D.]

On Wed, 27 Feb 2013 09:29:42 -0800, Jeff Liebermann wrote:

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.]

On Thu, 07 Mar 2013 11:57:54 -0800, Jeff Liebermann wrote:

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.]

On Wed, 27 Feb 2013 02:21:50 -0500, micky wrote:

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.