Chrome nickel tools

[l_bilyk]

What is chrolme nickel? Any good?

[kartracer55]

I BELIEVE chrome Nickle refers to the finish of a tool.

For example, Standard craftsman tools are not chrome plated, they are plated with a nickle/chrome mix. This is why they arnt shiney. The panels on thier wrenches and the heads of thier ratchets are shiney because they are ground smooth. This is the reason Craftsman sockets become dull after a while, and dont really shine like and Sk, allen, snap on etc. As far as protection, Nickle plating is part of the chroming process.

The reason they dont use chrome plating is because of costs. You can thank Senator Hilary Klintonovitch and her other EPA komrads for that one. There are huge taxes and restrictions on the chroming process. Thats why Huksy "black chrome" products are cheaper than thier identical, but chrome, counterparts.

Jim

[l_bilyk]

Oh nm.. thats just the coating

So then does anyone know what type of steel channellocks or klein tools are made of?

[kartracer55]

Some form of high carbon steel is what just about ALL tools are made off. Companies alloy thier steel a bit differently, and patent the alloy and its name. For Example, Armstrong Uses Armaloy, Bondhus uses Protanium, Billings used to use Vitaloy. Its all similar in composition. HOWEVER! what really sets tools apart is the processes they go through after they have been formed... IE oil quenching, tempering, hardening. I dont know enough to really give you much more on the details however.

Jim